Planning a pre-wedding, girlie get-together for a friend or family member? While it can be a challenge to pull off a party to remember, it’s also a privilege to be asked to take on the task.
If you need a little inspiration ahead of the festivities, though, here are some ‘hen dos and hen don’ts to consider, via the Weddings by Lumi team. Read on…
Hen Dos…
Take Plenty of Pics!
There’s a lot to be said for ‘being in the moment’ and not reaching for your phone during the celebrations, but try your best to take as many pictures as you can amongst your group.
A packed photo album or scrapbook can make a lovely post-hen do gift for the bride-to-be, or some of the more comical pictures could be enlarged and printed out for the best man to use in his wedding day speech. The latter is only a good idea, though, if the bride is someone who appreciates a joke.
Consider Non-drinkers
It’s highly likely that most of the hens on your invite list will want a prosecco (or three!), but do consider those who prefer to keep a clearer head or be the designated driver.
Make a pitcher or two of mocktails for those who don’t fancy knocking back boozie bevvies – here's a link to some luscious booze free recipes! And, if you want to go all-out, consider personalising the hens’ glasses with these fun, acrylic lips.
Create a Playlist
Hen party planning doesn’t need to mean spending an absolute fortune on gifts for the hens or decorations for the hotel.
Instead, you can throw a bash to remember by injecting some cheap (or free), sentimental touches into the day. Create a His ‘n’ Hers hen do quiz, for example, or put together a ‘pre-drinks’ party playlist to get everyone in the mood for the night ahead.
Hen Don’ts…
Don’t Do It All On Your Own
Been tasked to plan the hen party? After all, it tends to be the role of the maid of honour (or the bride’s sister or close friend) to organise the do. That said, if you can get another friend or two involved in some of the finer details, make sure you do.
It can be hard to fit preparations into your day-to-day life, so don’t let it get the better of you; ask for help and you’ll be glad you did.
Don’t Spend More Than You Can Afford
Get the hens together – via a WhatsApp group or otherwise – and try to agree on a budget before you make arrangements no one can afford. Then, if possible, secure a payment plan with the venue to make forking out for the hen do much easier for hen do guests.
Need to put a deposit down on a venue or an activity for all the hens? Don’t be tempted to foot the bill before waiting for everyone’s monetary contribution to make its way to you; you may instead be left paying for people who later decide they can’t make it.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Does the shade of the pink on the hen party invites not quite match the colour of the baby pink balloons you’ve ordered for the venue? Or perhaps you’ve since realised the theme you’ve chosen for the fancy dress night out is OTT.
Just keep things simple – and don’t sweat the small stuff. Once all the girls are together, catching up and reminiscing, no one will mind a jot about the little details you could have spent way too much time obsessing over.
Found these tips helpful? The bottom line is this: plan the hen party that your friend will love, not the one you think you should be planning. Think about budget; a get-together at someone’s house – with plenty of snacks and some good music – can be just as memorable as a lavish do at a carefully-researched venue.
Consider all guests’ likes and dislikes, where possible – as well as any accessibility needs or dietary requirements and, above all, have fun!
Until next time…