Planning a hen party can be a stressful task, and with more and more brides opting for weekends over one last night of single life, there's even more pressure to get it right.
To help you create the perfect celebration, Amy Greenshields, party planning expert at cardfactory spoke to 10 recent brides and bride-to-bes, unveiling their hen party dos and don'ts. Using this insight, Amy shares her top tips for 'kissing the miss goodbye' in style.
Do: Make it a weekend affair
Historically, hen-dos were commonly a dialled-up girl's night out, however in recent years the celebration has transformed into a much more elaborate affair - from mini-breaks to trips abroad. In fact, 9 of the 10 brides we spoke to now expect their hen-do to be a weekend event.
One bride commented: "I think one evening is a bit too short to be able to do all the fun activities and games etc that you typically expect on a hen do now". Another bride also highlighted how a longer celebration "gives you the opportunity to have quality time with each person that has put in the effort to attend".
Don't: Leave it too late
There aren't official guidelines for how soon before the wedding a hen party should take place, and depending on your planned activities, seasonality may play a role in choosing the date. However, the majority of brides want at least a month between the hen and the wedding.
Three months prior to the main event came out as 'the sweet spot', giving both the bride and guests plenty of time to recover - physically and financially - before the big day.
Do: Include alcohol-free options
Hen and stag dos have a stereotype of being highly-boozy affairs. But, with a study revealing that 11% of couples are having or deliberating having a dry wedding1, it's only natural for hen parties to follow.
All ten brides highlighted the importance of there being sober options at every stage of the hen-do. Even for brides who do drink, there was a common theme of wanting at least one day or one activity sober. And, as one bride highlighted, no one wants "people to go home feeling rough after a weekend away."
Don't: Overfill the itinerary
As hen-dos become longer and more elaborate affairs, a common mistake is to jampack the schedule with back-to-back activities, leaving no downtime for the bride or her guests. However, the majority of brides agreed that having scheduled downtime on a weekend hen-do is essential.
Amy comments: "Spending 1-2 nights with a large group can be quite overwhelming, especially when you're socialising with people that you might not know as well." "If you're in charge of planning the hen-do itinerary, be sure to include an hour or two for people to do their own thing. Whether it's to have a power nap or just simply to get some headspace, scheduling this downtime will ensure that no one gets burnt out and the vibes remain energy-filled."
Do: Clearly communicate the budget to guests
The price of bachelorette parties has soared in recent years, now costing more than double what they did just a decade ago2. Despite 4 of the 10 brides expressing concern over the rising costs of hen-dos, the most common budgets expected were revealed as '£100-£200' or '£200+' and only 3 of the 10 brides wanted oversight of the budget being spent.
Amy advises: "If you're in charge of planning the hen-do, consider broaching the topic of budget, firstly with the bride (if you think they'd want to know) and then with the guests before deciding on plans. "Be upfront about costs so everyone knows what they're getting themselves into and is happy to pay their share."
Don't: Spoil the surprise!
Outside of the date and the guest list (which all brides wanted oversight on), the majority of brides wanted the rest to be a complete surprise.
Amy says: "Try to keep most of the hen-do a surprise for your bride to add to the excitement. Only tell them the 'must-know' details such as the date, any guest requirements and, if necessary, the location."
Do: Make it fun with novelty additions
Whilst the cruder cliches of hen-dos have fallen out of favour with modern brides, novelty games and extras still have a place according to 9 of the 10 brides surveyed, with 4/10 even going as far as saying it's essential.
Amy says: "Trivia quiz games with a personalised bride-centric spin, such as 'never has she ever' and 'would she rather' are a great way to show the bride-to-be just how much everyone loves her."
When it comes to fancy dress, having a colour theme came out as the preferred option. Amy continues: "A themed hen-do can help bring guests together - working particularly well for larger groups when celebrating out and about. A more subtle take on this is to introduce a colour theme whereby the bride wears one colour (white) and then her hens all dress coordinately in another colour. "This is an accessible, cost-effective and tasteful theme which still allows the bride to stand out and doesn't infringe on guests from looking glam!"
Amy concludes: "A hen-do is a love-filled, joyous and fun event, whereby the bride's closest friends and family come together in her celebration. Planning the perfect hen do is no small feat but keeping this bride-backed advice in mind will hopefully help you on your way to creating an unforgettable celebration."
For all the essential hen-do decorations and accessories, visit cardfactory.co.uk/party/shop-by-occasion/hen-party
