Marriage - almost every girl dreams about their own future white wedding from a certain young age - though what triggers that nobody quite knows. The onset of hormones during adolescence, perhaps; or too much exposure to celebrity weddings and those featured in Disney cartoons.

However, for men, marriage is a universally-feared concept, and my guess is this is how the notion of a stag night was born - one final night of testosterone-fuelled hedonism, one last foray into the fray of the single lifestyle before the ball and chain are clamped mercilessly around their unsuspecting heels. Obviously hen nights were invented just to give the women something to do to take their attention from the teenage-like antics of the prospective groom and friends.

Over the years, stag and hen nights seem to have become more and more audacious. There seems to be a growing inclination to have stag parties overseas. With today's cheaper flights and ability to book party weekends as all-inclusive packages, it's no longer much of a hardship to arrange such a thing.

Abroad hen weekends have also become vehemently popular - while the cat's away, and all that.However, England can also work just as well as a party destination, and it won't give you that pesky jet-lag hangover, either. Hen parties in Leeds and other large cities are always a winner, and you'll see bands of women dressed in brightly coloured dresses and "Kiss Me" T-shirts almost every weekend.

As an Englishman, I have to admit that I have no idea how they celebrate such things overseas - would Britain be a viable target for Spanish grooms' abroad stag weekends. The likely answer is - not with our weather...

Alan Gall provides Abroad hen weekends with interesting articles. Please visit www.redsevenleisure.co.uk for more information.