Some bachelorette parties are forgotten by the next morning. Others the bride tells in full detail years later, because what she lived through was like nothing she’d ever seen. This is one of those stories.
A few months ago, a group of friends got in touch with us to plan a bachelorette party in Barcelona. They didn’t want the usual: no limo, no strippers, no dinner with a mariachi band. They wanted something intimate, different, and with a real surprise. What they put together went beyond anything we’d seen before.
Hen parties are changing. Media like El País S Moda have been documenting how groups of friends are looking to break bachelorette party clichés: less show, more experience. Less chaos, more real memories. What we’re sharing here is exactly that: how a group turned a morning in Plaza Cataluña into something they’ll never forget.
The surprise was double: a self photo studio and a sister from Iceland
“The surprise was double. On one hand, taking her to an unexpected place: our self photo studio in Plaza Cataluña, right in the heart of Barcelona. On the other… secretly flying in her twin sister from Reykjavik, Iceland.” — Tami (Wonderstory)
The bride had no idea. She hadn’t seen her sister in months — her twin lives in the capital of Iceland. The friends had coordinated everything in secret: the flight, the moment of arrival, the studio booking. They wanted the first stop of the bachelorette party in Barcelona to be something the bride could never have imagined.
The choice of location wasn’t random either. A self photo studio 50 metres from Plaza Cataluña, in central Barcelona, with balconies overlooking the square and natural light that pours in during the mornings. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary for a hen party in Barcelona, no one else in the city offers this format yet.
If you’re planning something like this, our bachelorette party at our self photo studio page has all the details to book and surprise.
Why Plaza Cataluña as a starting point?
Location matters. Plaza Cataluña is one of the most accessible meeting points in Barcelona: metro, FGC, bus and commuter trains all converge there. For a group coming from different parts of the city — or with guests travelling from abroad — it’s the easiest place to start the day.
Plus, central Barcelona mid-morning has something special about it: the Mediterranean light, the buzz of the square, that European feel you don’t find everywhere. Starting a barcelona hen do there already puts the whole group in the right mood.
How a photo session without a photographer works
The most common question when someone hears “self photo studio” is: do the photos actually turn out well without a photographer? The short answer is yes, and there’s a technical reason behind it.
The studio works with a semi-transparent mirror: you see your reflection, but behind it there’s a professional camera you can’t see. In your hand you have a remote control. You stand in front of the mirror, you see what you see — your face, your posture, the energy of the group — and when you like what you see, you click. No one watching you. No pressure. No awkward moment of not knowing what to do with your hands while the photographer counts down.
“Our photo studio in Plaza Cataluña is perfect for celebrating an original bachelorette party. It has loads of natural light, that authentic European and Mediterranean feel, little balconies overlooking the square, and a very Barcelona atmosphere that wins you over the moment you walk in.” — Tami (Wonderstory)
The setup before they arrived
On the day of the hen party, we set up the room before the group arrived: mirror ready, camera placed behind it, remote on the table, and a good selection of props — colourful hats, party glasses. The girls had thought about their outfits: vibrant coloured tutus, the kind of clothes you only dare wear when you’re surrounded by your friends.
They plugged in their Spotify playlist. First up was “Material Girl” by Madonna. Then came “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Between champagne toasts and dancing in front of the mirror, the vibe was pure celebration.
The space was completely private. No photographer, no one watching, no interruptions. Just them.
As Daz Daz shares in her Google review:
“The process was flawless and we had an amazing experience from start to finish… Even without photographers behind the camera, we had a human connection that we loved.”
That’s exactly what sets this format apart: without a photographer present, the group relaxes in a way that almost never happens in a traditional session. The photos that come out of it aren’t posed. They’re photos of how you’re actually having fun.
According to The Knot, 15% of bachelorette parties already include some kind of photo session as part of the plan. The self-photo format is the pressure-free version of that trend.
The most beautiful moment: the reunion in front of the mirror
The friends had timed the sister’s entrance for when the group had already been in the studio for a while, energy high and laughter flowing. When she opened the door, it took the bride a few seconds to process what she was seeing.
“Two twins hugging in front of the mirror, not knowing that moment would be captured forever. It was moving even for us to see it afterwards in the photos.” — Tami (Wonderstory)
The mirror captured that hug with everything it had: the surprise, the tears, the immediate laughter that followed. Nobody had staged it. Nobody gave directions. It just happened, and the camera was there.
An hour and a half that flew by
The group spent an hour and a half in the studio. They danced, took photos together, individually, in pairs, just the two twins. When they finished, all the images were sent automatically to their email, ready to download and share.
To round off the bachelorette party gifts that day, the group continued the celebration heading to Sitges to keep the party going by the sea. A plan in two acts: the emotion of the reunion in central Barcelona, and the party under the coastal sun.
Why this format works better than the cliché
Vogue España sums it up well: more and more groups are looking for original and different bachelorette parties, leaving behind the oldest traditions in favour of experiences that actually make sense for that specific group and that specific bride.
The self-photo format fits that shift for several reasons:
- Total privacy: the space is yours alone for the entire session
- You choose the music, you set the pace, no pressure to finish by a certain time
- Photos are sent to your email the same day — no waiting days for the photographer to edit them
- Works just as well for a group of five as for one of 15
For smaller groups, the format also has extra advantages we explain in detail in this article about bachelorette parties for small groups: when there are fewer of you, the intimacy is greater and every photo carries more weight.
Is it only for bachelorette parties?
No. The same space and the same format work for any plan with friends in Barcelona: birthdays, reunions, visits from friends abroad. The common thread is always the same: a group of people who want to spend time without pressure and walk away with real photos. According to Hola.com, the original bachelorette party plans that brides keep coming back to are the ones that give them something to talk about: an experience, not just a night out.
A bachelorette party in Barcelona can be something else entirely
The photos from that day aren’t the typical photos of a group posing. They’re the hug between two sisters who hadn’t seen each other in months. The laughter in front of the mirror wearing colourful tutus. The champagne toast before anyone was even ready.
“Photos don’t just capture how you look — they capture how you feel.” — Tami (Wonderstory)
That’s what makes an original bachelorette party in Barcelona different when the plan starts in a place like this: nothing is forced, no one is directing you. Just you, your group, and whatever happens naturally in front of the mirror.
If you’re planning something similar, book your session on our bachelorette party at our self photo studio page and tell us what you’re planning. We make room for surprises.
Tami · Photographer and founder of Wonderstory I’ve been capturing real moments in Barcelona for over six years. Every article I write comes from what I experience in the studio with my clients.
