Expert reveals her ultimate tips on how to have a hen party on a budget

Getting married is an exciting time in your life, however, sometimes it can cost a small fortune. You might even be feeling the guilt of your loved ones having to fund their attendance to your events, during a cost of living crisis.

Life insurance broker, Reassured polled 1,500 people to reveal the costs behind attending a hen party1. To be exact, you'll be out of pocket by £979 for attending the hen party. From a boozy weekend staycation in a local city or jetting off to somewhere sunnier, the costs clearly build up more than you first imagined. However, some brides seem to have no regrets with over two-thirds (68%) being glad to have had a hen party, with 65% having high expectations and expecting their bridesmaid to organise the party for them as a surprise! It now may not surprise you to hear that nearly half (43%) of hen partygoers believe they are an unnecessary expense. Nonetheless, 42% still felt pressured into attending such an event.

With this in mind, Reassured has spoken to Pippa Mason, party planner expert at Fizzbox to share the best way to plan your hen do party on a budget, without breaking the bank:

Location
Location is the most important factor when you first start planning. "London has been a popular destination for hen groups for many years due to its lively atmosphere, says Pippa. "However, there has been a 3% increase in the cost of hen do activities in this city in 2023. Oxford is also experiencing a similar trend, having seen the total cost of a hen weekend rise by 11% in a single year." If you are set on staying in the UK, she suggests a few key cities. "Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton and Bristol are the most affordable locations for hen dos in the UK, as the cost of hen do's in these cities has remained consistent for 2023." If you are looking for some fun in the sun, Pippa advises to head to Spain where hen do activities are always far cheaper here than other destinations abroad, think Malaga, Barcelona or even Benidorm for some hen do fun.

Timings
Same as booking a flight, costs can skyrocket during certain times of the year. "If you can, try and avoid booking your hen do over bank holiday weekends, as the cost of flights and accommodation will soar in price for these dates. If you can only celebrate over a bank holiday weekend, then stick to the UK to keep costs as low as possible."

Accommodation
It's important to be savvy when looking at accommodation options. If you're spending most of the time outside, you can look at cheaper options. "It's lovely to have your own space during a hen do, but if money's tight then why not buddy up with a friend and split the cost of your hotel room? Or, as an alternative option would be to consider a youth hostel or sharing the cost of a private home rental between the whole group."

A spokesman from Reassured comments on the study: "It is interesting to see people's general perception of hen dos and how much some people are willing to spend. When getting married it is always wise to plan ahead. Putting life insurance into place is a cost-effective way of ensuring the financial future of loved ones and as the UK's largest broker, we are on hand to help make sure you get the protection you need quickly and efficiently."

To find out more about Reassured and about the cost of such events you can follow this link: reassured.co.uk/the-average-cost-of-popular-new-traditions