If you’re getting married, then you may well be looking forward to your stag or hen do – a night of debauchery to mark the end of your single days once and for all. If, on the other hand, you’re dreading the idea of heading out for a night on the tiles and the thought of having to knock back shots and play party games, there are a few brilliant alternatives that you – or your wedding party – could consider instead. 

International stag and hens dos have become very popular in recent years, and it’s not unusual to see groups of friends filing onto a plane, themed T-shirts (and inappropriate props) at the ready. These city breaks usually take the form of a boozy weekend somewhere like London, Paris or Rome with plenty of partying thrown in for good measure. 

But there are alternatives if you don’t fancy drinking your way through a foreign destination. Retreats – of the spa variety in particular – are all the rage. If money is no object, then you could pick a countryside hotel for a few days of rest-and-rejuvenation, complete with luxurious beauty treatments, mindfulness workshops and yoga. If you’re on a budget, some city hotels offer special rates on treatments for groups travelling together. 

If you prefer to stay local, a green-getaway in the Maltese countryside could be the way to go, with some stag and hen parties hiring caravans or pitching tents so they can enjoy time in the wilderness. If you want to go all out, special events companies can organise everything from archery to zip-lining, thus adding an extra sense of fun and adrenaline. 

There are few things more fun in life than making something from scratch – especially when you’re part of a group. If there are any creatives among you, you could sign up to an artsy afternoon or pottery class, where a teacher can guide you towards a shared goal, like ceramic pieces for their new home.

If you’re all foodies, then what could be more exciting than a cooking class? The Mediterranean Culinary Academy can organise exactly that, with a focus on sustainable, in-season ingredients and regional specialities. You could learn to make fresh Italian pasta from scratch, whip up some Spanish tapas or produce delicious Greek meze. The academy provides everything you could need, including ingredients and chef instructor, and you will be guided every step of the way. Best of all, each class ends with everyone tucking into the food they’ve prepared and a celebratory glass of wine.

Perfect for the fashion conscious, an afternoon with a stylist could make for fun hours. Top local stylists could organise a fashion event just for you, with a shopping trip, photo shoot and personalised style guidance – followed by cocktails, of course. 

This one’s more for the hens, although the stags may enjoy it too. Just like in your teen years, why not gather a group of girls for an all-nighter, packed with midnight feasts, 1990s movies and DIY beauty treatments? 

Slumber parties are back in vogue as a way for adults to recapture a little bit of their youth, and they can be really enjoyable. Simply set up your space as you would have done back then – mattresses on the floor, lots of goodies and even a game of truth-or-dare. The question now is whether you’ll still have the staying power you did back in your teens. 

If you’d rather use your time to benefit others, then you could volunteer on your stag or hen party. Animal sanctuaries, elderly people’s homes, shelters and other charities would be glad to have a few hands on deck, even if just for a few hours. If this idea does tickle your fancy, do some forward planning by liaising with the NGO of your choice as to where your help would be most useful, such as by planning a full-blown project that you can complete in the time you have allocated. It will make for some wonderful memories!