|
 It’s every girls dream to be asked to be a bridesmaid – whether your aged 7 or aged 30, it still a fantastic feeling. But being a bridesmaid can often mean the task of organising a hen night or even hen weekend falls under your control. So where do you start? How do you make the hen party one to remember, and one to remember for all the right reasons?
Having organised a few hen weekends in the past, I have compiled a couple of tips to help you plan the hen party of all hen parties – after all, it’s down to you to give your friend the send off they deserve.
Follow these 10 easy steps for hen party bliss and lots of side splitting fun:
1. Ask the bride: The first thing you should do is quiz the bride – what are her likes and dislikes, what is her idea of a hideous hen party, would she prefer 1 nights or 2? Does she have a preferred location for the event? By asking the bride a few questions prior to starting your research you can save yourself a lot of time and effort and avoid making any faux pas.
2. Collect numbers: Ask the bride for a list of invitees and their relevant contact details. Make a note of any guests who are pregnant, vegetarians or those unable to travel – this might affect where and when you hold your hen party. The number of guests attending can also affect the price you pay for the hen party – as a general rule the more that attend the cheaper it becomes.
3. Do it yourself: Although it may take a lot of time and research, designing the perfect hen party yourself will work out a lot cheaper and allow you to personalise the day .
Take a look around hen party websites using itineraries and popular destinations as inspiration. Visit forums, ask your friends and even pick the brains of other people attending the hen party – you’ll be surprised how many great ideas will be shared.
Think about what the hen normally does on a weekend and what her hobbies are? Can you tie anything in with her wedding theme or set up any surprises to shock the whole group? The more unique the party is, the more it will be talked about and remembered.
4. Pick a great location: The location is often decided upon because its central or easy to reach, positioned close to where the hen lives or in some cases, where the preferred activity for the weekend is based.
5. Source accommodation: If your plans involve a night away it is probably easier if you sort the accommodation for the whole group. This way you can keep the group close together and have the potential to save pennies by sharing rooms.
A nice alternative to a hotel is booking a cottage or serviced apartment for the night / weekend. That way you can decorate before the bride arrives, eat breakfast when you want, enjoy pre dinner drinks and games in the cottage and even eat in one night to save on food and drink bills. If you have a tight budget, why not plan an activity in the cottage such as a dance class, BBQ, home spa or outdoor games in the garden.
I have always found Owners Direct a useful website source as you can search for and book a cottage or apartment directly with the owner rather than through an agency. If you are looking for a hotel deal instead try searching on Octopus Travel with a database of over 50,000 hotel worldwide.
6. Keep track of costs: Keep a log of all costs so you can work out exactly how much the weekend will cost per head. If it is working out too expensive, look at the most expensive areas and try and cut back. Organise lift shares for the group, ask everyone to pay a little bit extra so you can organise a kitty for the night out, negotiate entrance fees for clubs or activities and be cheeky when talking to suppliers! You never know what freebies might get thrown in.
7. Send out a plan by email & collect money: Keep everyone informed by regular email contact. The more information you include on the email, the easier the hen party will run. Once you are happy with the plan, confirm numbers and tally up the cost per head. The sooner people know the full cost the easier it is for everyone to budget.
I have always asked party goers to pay their money directly into my bank account so I can cover deposits and supplies in advance. This also gives party goers the option to spread the total payment over a few months or pay the whole lot in one go. It’s up to them!
Another idea, have you thought about covering the cost for the hen? If it’s a large group you might be able to cover the brides cost by all paying an extra £5 which could be a nice touch?
8. Games: No hen night would be the same without some outrageous fun and games. So get creative. How about a Mr & Mrs Quiz, drinking games to get the party going (maybe a boozy pass the parcel), a quiz about the bride with outrageous secrets you know about her, guess who the baby photo is, or maybe some childhood games like hide and seek or musical bumps. Whatever you decide the aim of the game should be to embarrass the bride, have lots of fun and for all the girls to get to know each another.
Click here to see a list of fun Hen Party Games or sample Mr & Mrs Quiz.
9. Fancy dress: Come on girls – no hen do should be without a spot of fancy dress. Whether its cow girls, Moulin Rouge, naughty nurses or 80's clobber – whatever the theme it is guaranteed to provide you with a lot of attention and fun. Don’t forget to let everyone know in advance so they have time to source a suitable outfit. The more outrageous the better. You could even organise the bride's outfit for her to ensure she stands out from the crowd!! Click here to get some costume ideas from Amazon.co.uk .
10. Confirm everything! To avoid any slip ups on the day, do a quick call around the week before to check everything is in order. Email everyone a final confirmation for the weekend including your mobile number for on the day and finally check the weather forecast for the weekend. You may need to put together a contingency plan if you are relying on good weather.
Whatever you plan – I am certain the bride will have a great time. The main thing is to give the bride a night to remember surrounded by all her best friends. So good luck – and happy planning!
Related articles:
Related Products:
| Wedding Insurance | Fancy Dress | |
Lifestyle 