Organising a hen weekend may seem simple enough but it can become quite a handful, especially for first time chief bridesmaids! Now we don’t doubt your organisational skills here (after all we’re not praised as the “multitasking gender” for nothing you know) however there’s quite a lot to consider and prepare – even before you’ve actually book anything! For example, are you having a hen party in Bath? Or a sun soaked Barcelona hen do? How many hens are going? Which hotel will you be staying at? What colour party sashes do you get!?
These are all important things you need to think about before you actually plan a hen party. O.K. maybe not the colours of the sashes but actually it’s all these small details that actually make or break a hen do. So to help you out, we’ve compiled a useful list for you to refer to (in case you need a bit of extra help!)
- Introduce yourself to the other hens
After all they are probably going to see you wearing silly party boppers and sipping one too many cocktails so it’s probably a good idea to get to know them. So if they live close by, invite everyone round for a drink, introduce yourself as the hen party organiser and bounce some party ideas around the group (obviously the bride-to-be will have to sit this out if you want to keep it a secret from her.) Get everyone’s emails and phone numbers too, that way you have contact details in case anything happens prior or (heaven forbid!) during the hen party.
- Plan where you’re going and what activities you’re going to do
Now that you’ve got a good idea of what everybody likes/doesn’t like you’re more prepared to plan and eventually book the best hen weekend ever! So decide whether you’re staying at home or going abroad. Also, once you’re at your destination what activities are you going to be doing? Will you be having a pamper day? Or an action packed adventure day? Answering these questions and popping them down on paper is crucial as you have to take into account everyone’s different tastes and budgets.
- Transportation
Not as exciting as deciding that party boppers to buy but transportation is important nonetheless! So make sure you book a mini (or a limo if you feel like being glamorous) to transport everyone around accordingly. If however, you plan to take taxis everywhere then make sure that you take out some cash beforehand and tell the other hens to do the same so they can all pitch in. Obviously don’t drive if you’re drinking, unless of course you’ve got a hen who doesn’t drink or you’ve managed to sweet talk your dad/uncle/boyfriend/brother/butler (delete as appropriate) to chauffeur everyone around.
- Get some hen party accessories
Now no hen do is complete without a few silly accessories! Which is why, it’s a good idea to get some before your big weekend. However if you’re worried about them ruining your carefully planned outfit – then fear not! Because many hen accessories shops now offer a variety of different accessories so you can mix and match according to your ensemble. Although we’d argue that the whole point of hen gear is to be funny and silly. In fact, we recommend not over-thinking it and just let loose and have fun! After all when else can you justify wearing a pink, rhinestone cowboy hat!?
- Keep everyone informed of your plans
This makes sense, after all if you’re planning a go-karting weekend and all the hens have only packed heels then that’s just unfortunate (and impractical.) So ensure that everyone is up to date with what’s happening, where you’re all going, what they need to pack, if they need to update their passport(s), get anything special and do this before you book anything, to avoid any hen party disasters.
Alternatively you could outsource all the planning to a professional hen party organiser like Hen Heaven (shameless we know!), as they’ll book, arrange and plan everything for you, while you get on with your life. Seriously though, regardless of whatever you plan to do, if you follow these tips and use your own savvy, then we’re sure that you’ll be able to plan the best hen party ever!