How can I tell pal I'm too skint to go to her hen do?

However, since she announced her engagement a lot has happened in my life. My partner has lost his job and is still unemployed, and we've been struggling to pay the bills and the mortgage on my wage alone. We have quite a bit of debt and were currently trying to remortgage.
My friend who's getting married doesn't know the details – no one does – and she’s having a big hen weekend, which is going to cost a fortune. I can't afford it without putting myself into more debt.
It's a spa weekend with expensive treatments, plus the cost of travel and meals. Then there's the actual wedding to think of - I need to buy my own shoes and then a wedding gift, plus pay for a night in the hotel.
I feel it's spiralling out of control and if I don't do something about it soon, I'm going to fall into a hole I can't get out of.
I do feel bad because the bride is a nice person and a good friend and deserves to have a lovely time, and I don't want to let her down.
I feel embarrassed and don't know how to tell her. Please give me some advice.
Coleen says
FIRSTLY, please do not be embarrassed. If she’s a really good friend, why don't you meet for a coffee and explain?
Say how excited you are about the wedding but you're struggling financially at the moment and you can't ...