Planning a hen party for your best friend can be an exciting yet at times, stressful experience. There may be dramas along the way, and you might face a few obstacles, but with a little bit of preparation and a clear focus, you will be well-equipped for hen party success. If the thought of strippers, inflatables, and feather boas send shivers down your spine, don’t panic! There are plenty of cooler hen party alternatives to arrange for your BFF to give her the send-off she deserves. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to get the party ball rolling…
Don’t plan your dream hen do
It’s important that you remember this is not your own hen do! While you might enjoy a luxe spa day, will the bride-to-be appreciate it as much as you? Think about her likes and dislikes, and be sure to take these into consideration when planning any activities. Just because you love something, doesn’t mean the bride-to-be necessarily will too. This is definitely not the time to be selfish, so put the bride first and plan around her tastes.
Do set a budget
It’s easy to get carried away when it comes to planning the ultimate hen party, so it’s important that budgets are set early on. You will also need to consider what the rest of the party are thinking in terms of spend, and be understanding and accommodating of differing financial situations. Money is a sensitive topic, after all, and you don’t want any of the hens to feel like they’ve been priced out of the celebrations! This is definitely worth creating a group chat for; this way, everyone will be on the same wavelength and can agree on a few of the basics.
As the organiser, you’ll likely be the one responsible for paying deposits and then recouping the funds from the other hens. So it’s important that you work out how much you can afford to be out of pocket while you gather up funds from everyone, and what you’ll do if you find yourself in need of cash for an emergency while you’re waiting for the hens to pay you back. Do you have savings or a 0% credit card that can cover you up to a point? Can you ask everyone to give you their money before anything is booked, so that you’re not out of pocket at all? Or, can you ask a few of the hens to settle their bill with you sooner than planned to help your cashflow?
If you’ve exhausted all the possible options, you could consider taking out a short-term loan to make sure your emergency gets taken care of while you wait for the hens to pay you back. Borrowing like this should be treated as a last resort, but it’s worth researching if you think it’s an option you may need.As each of the hens sends their money across, you can repay the loan, with a goal of paying it back as soon as possible. Make sure you can afford the repayments without the money you’re owed by the hens, though, just in case one of them starts dragging their feet about paying you back!
Don’t leave it until last minute
Leaving the finer details until the last minute will only cause you unnecessary stress and panic! You may find that certain activities get booked up and are unavailable on the dates you want, or are more expensive to book at the last minute. Wherever possible, finalise all plans as soon as possible and ensure that everything is booked and everyone is aware of the schedule. It may seem over-the-top, but compiling an itinerary and emailing it to the everyone in the hen party is a good idea to ensure that all attendees understand the plan of action.
Do think outside the box
Hen parties have come a long way from the stereotypical clichés of whistles and cowgirl hats. Try and think outside of the box here, and research unique hen party ideas that will set yours apart from the rest and create memories to last a lifetime. Themed afternoon teas, gin tasting, pottery classes and glamping are all fun ideas you could incorporate into your weekend. How does a mini hen party festival sound? Pitch up a few tents, throw over some fairy lights, stock up on blankets and reminisce over toasted marshmallows!
Don’t forget to have fun
It’s party time! All of the hard work is now over, so it’s time to let go of any stresses and make sure you have the best time possible. Don’t overthink it, and try not to worry as this will only give off bad vibes and dampen spirits. Grab a cocktail and have the time of your life.
Photo: Scarlet O\’Neill Photography via Style Me Pretty
