Hen do’s: an essential pre-wedding ritual for brides-to-be and their friends to celebrate the official end of single life. Looking back, not much has been written about hen parties before the 20th century, however, historians expect there has always been some sort of ceremony that marks the transition from being single, to being married. This means, for those planning the hen for their friend, they’re also continuing the age old tradition of celebrating the last leg of single life with their nearest and dearest.
While switching from single to married might not seem as big of a deal as it did way back then, hen do’s are still an essential part of getting married. And if you’ve been tasked with planning one, it can sometimes seem a little daunting. Here’s 3 important tips to remember when planning a hen party for your bride-to-be:
Stay on top of organisation
Keeping organised when planning a hen is one of the most essential parts of making sure everything goes smoothly – you don’t have to worry about anything going wrong if you already have a solution up your sleeve. Take the stress out of the event by planning your travel ahead and prebooking your train tickets if you’re taking your hen party to a city. As for communication? Make a WhatsApp group and add all the hens in. This way you can message everyone in one go, organise a meeting place and time, and get money from people so no one is ever without cash for too long.
Speak to the Bride beforehand
The best part of a hen party is seeing the bride’s face when she realises exactly what you’re doing. However, it’s important to get a rough idea of what the bride actually wants so she can fully enjoy her day. Ask the bride the following questions beforehand to subtly gage an idea of her ideal hen scenario: Do you want to go abroad? What type of budget should we work to? How far ahead of the wedding would you like it to be? Do you have any definite no-nos? With these questions, you can make sure your day is on to a winner.
Remember the extras
Sometimes it’s all about the added extras. Hen party bags, personalised t-shirts, sashes, piñatas, hangover kits, matching PJs… there is so much you can do to make your event truly unforgettable. However, with statistics suggesting the average hen party costs £357, it’s also worth working out how much you can take from the budget for all these added bits without it costing you a fortune. Not every bride wants a humungous cardboard cut-out of the groom…
With the above three tips, we’re certain planning your hen do will go without a hitch.