Planning a hen party can be a big job from where to go and keeping to a budget to accommodation and finding a fun activity that will suit you and your girls. So to help you with your planning, we asked our experts Gemma from HenBooked.com and Jenni from Posh Fizz to share some useful advice and tips to help make the hen a success…
Gemma from HenBooked.com – View Profile
1. Start planning early to avoid disappointment – it’s important to start planning early, particularly if you are undecided on where to go and to find a date to suit the whole bridal party. For popular locations/dates, you will often need to book more than six months in advance.
2. Know what the bride likes and choose a suitable activity – it’s very easy to think of new and original ideas but remember it’s all about the bride-to-be so there’s nothing wrong with playing it safe if that’s what will make her happy.
3. Know who to invite and plan accordingly – if the mother of the bride or mother of the groom will be on the hen party then ensure your activities and venue are suitable.
4. Think of everyone when it comes to costs – everyone likes a little bit of luxury but be careful not to put anyone in an awkward situation when it comes to splashing out on the hen weekend.
5. Collect money early – no matter what, not everyone who’s invited will make it on the day. Start collecting money early so you will know well in advance who’s not coming. To assist with this, at HenBooked we offer a unique payment system so everyone can easily pay online.
6. Be careful when booking self-catering accommodation or anything with a fixed cost – as already noted, not everyone will make it on the day. To avoid going out of pocket yourself, try to ensure that everything is priced per person rather than with a fixed cost.
7. Include a fun intro so people get to know each other – not everyone will know one another on the hen party so do something fun that will encourage everyone to mix and get to know each other before the madness begins.
8. You’ll never please everyone – there’ll almost always be someone who is not happy but remember it’s all about the bride-to-be. For more information on destinations, activities, accommodation and to get booking your hen party, pop over to HenBooked.com.
Jenni from Posh Fizz – View Profile
1. The first key decision is location and it is so important to pick somewhere accessible. After all, no one wants a three or four hour drive with a hangover on Sunday morning! If you are thinking of travelling abroad, remember to book early to get a good deal on flights. Picking a date early and setting a budget are also essential to ensure that people get time off work, organise babysitters and have time to save.
2. In terms of accommodation, luxury is key for some whereas for others they just want a place to lay their heads. So decide between cheap and cheerful or central and luxurious, which of course comes with a heftier price tag.
3. The next fundamental factor is the activity choice. This is the element that people remember and tend to reminisce over at the wedding so it is really important to get it right! There are so many choices on the market with the old favourites like cocktail classes still going strong. But if you want something a little more original, how about a Murder Mystery with a twist where the Groom has been kidnapped and the hen party has to find him! Or have the group mould a naked man out of clay for some serious laughs!
4. Dinner and dancing also have to be considered and these should not be left to chance on the night. Find a restaurant that offers a set menu with lots of choices, so that everyone will be happy and the bill is easy to split at the end of the meal.
5. For a nightclub, try and arrange guest list entry with a reserved area. Or if you prefer something different, look at what’s on in the local theatres or comedy clubs that night.
6. Add in personal touches along the way to really make the Bride feel special, such as memory books, gift bags for the chicks, etc. Of course if you want to take all the stress out of researching and booking all of the elements and risking the unknown and untested, why not book a Posh Fizz Party Package which covers all bases! Only €50 to book and the Bride is free once there are 15+ guests! We ensure that all of our hen parties are not just great, but memorable for all the right reasons! See PoshFizz.com.
Image by Scarlet O’Neill Photography via Style Me Pretty
