A bit of a fun one today… the good ol’ hens party (or bachelorette if you’re more American)! Having had a hand in organising a couple of hens parties in my time, as well as being a bridesmaid myself, I have seen a bit of everything. From chilled weekends away to more wild nights out on the town with hens challenges. The beauty of a hens party is there are so many different ways to do it to suit everyone, spoil your bride and make memories with your gals! I hope these tips help, maybe you want to send this post to your bridesmaids…

First, speak to the bride

Maybe an obvious one, but first things first, have a chat to the bride. Usually the hen-party planning is up to the maid-of-honour and bridesmaids (don’t be afraid to recruit extra family/friends to pitch in too). So, if you’re on the bridal squad you probably know the bride pretty well and have an idea of the kinds of things she’d enjoy. You want to delight and surprise her and maybe you want to keep every last detail a secret… but, ask some questions and get a rough idea of any must do’s, no-no’s, and anything she’s secretly always dreamed of doing. Does she want a weekend in Fiji with her 4 best friends, a relaxing spa day or a festival-vibe all out party? Pick her brain then make plans behind her back!

Also, get her help with the guest list, does she want to invite her workmates, aunties and neighbours or just her ride-or-die girls? Get her to write this list. She will probably also have an idea of what everyone can afford and the date it should be held too.

Planning + Budgeting is key

Depending of the length of engagement, start planning the hens party as soon as possible. Life is busy and the more warning you can give your guests, the better, especially if some of them will be travelling for the occasion. If you’re going away or need to book accommodation, get onto it stat. Start giving all the guests a rough idea of what the plan is.

As the main organiser/s, don’t let all of the cost fall on you. Being a bridesmaid and even just a wedding guest can be expensive. Be realistic about what people can afford and make sure you’re up front about it and communicate how much + when payments are needed. By all chipping in, it makes it more affordable all round, and guests can plan ahead to save any last minute spendy surprises. Some couples will provide a bit of budget for hens and stags but often times it takes everyone putting in a bit to make it happen! Look at options for keeping costs down like using someone’s family bach as accommodation for the weekend, or having drinks at home rather than at an expensive cocktail bar.

Stop, collaborate and listen!

It’s important to have one or two people driving the organisation to keep things on track, but feel free to get all the guests involved too! Once the bride has given you the guest list, get in touch with everyone and make a group chat or Facebook event to communicate and keep all the important info in one place.

Ask the other girls for help if you need it. They’ll usually be more than willing and may even have some great ideas or contacts that will help in planning the party. As far as payments, Splitwise is a great app to use to keep track of everything. Try to combine everything into one amount to make it easy for everyone. Factor in everything from accomodation, transport, food, drinks, decorations, activities, etc.

Be flexible

When chatting to the bride about the guest list, figure out the vibe of the group as a whole. If it ranges from Grandmas, Aunties to Friends then an afternoon tea at home or a lazy brunch at a winery might suit all. Consider the crowd, Grandma might not want to attend a pole-dancing class with you or get down and dirty in the club all night.

You may find if the group is very diverse that you split up the day with a more family-friendly, relaxing afternoon and just your besties at night/for the weekend. Alternatively, you might plan for a separate kitchen-tea/bridal shower event instead.

If you’re planning a full day or weekend of activities, allow for a little flexibility with some guests that might not be able to make it to everything or can’t afford everything. For example, you might have a morning activity like brunch or a yoga class, then an afternoon at the nail salon, then a night-time event going out for dinner/dancing, playing hens games or a house party. Allow guests to come to all or give them the option of making it to whatever part of the day they can, suiting each individual’s schedule and budget.

If you’d rather not bother with trying to please all (fair enough!) then a weekend away with just the all-in guests is a fab idea. I know the stress of hosting an event, of last-minute bails, I’m-running-two-hours-late-can-you-hold-the-plane flakers and that dreaded chase of the RSVPS. Simplifying things may mean less guests but also less stress and a relaxing time for all.

Plan some fun activities but don’t go too overboard, allow some time to just chill, chat and have some drinks, what us girls to best.

Do something unique

Think about what you bride would like and plan some fun activities and a few surprises along the way, here’s a few thoughts that may spark an idea…

• Take a class- twerking, cooking, flower-crown making or salsa-dancing… try something fun and different that your bride will love and will get everyone in a good mood.
• Pamper party- go for a blow-dry, get your makeup done or spend some time at the nail salon together.
• Have a picnic or a grazing platter on the beach.
• Adventure time – go hiking, kayaking, caving, surfing or even skydiving together.
• Get in the water – head to a hotel rooftop pool with a view, go for a dip in the sea or take a cheeky skinny-dip together in the dead of the night (I’ve definitely been known to make this happen at a number of hens parties – it’s a good time).
• Set a dress code for the party: all-white-everything, Coachella vibes or The Great Gatsby?
• Plan some fun dress-ups for everyone- flower crowns, colourful party lashes, metallic temporary tattoos or hula skirts for all.
• Head to the R18 section at Look Sharp for some hilarious hens party props.
• Organise a photobooth or polaroid camera to capture the antics.
• Kareoke.
• Go to a musical, a comedy night or a cabaret.
• Create your own signature cocktails.
• Book a glamping weekend away.
• Have a BBQ and beach day.
• Organise some games – here’s some great ideas.
• Do a pottery class together.
• Embrace your inner-child and spend the day at a theme-park, trampolining or ice-skating.
• Group Fitness class like Zumba, Yoga or Barre.
• Go on a scavenger hunt in your favourite city.
• Get a projector and create an outdoor cinema.
• Make like Masterchef and have a cooking competition.
• Put together some fun goody bags for all your guests.
• Plan a murder mystery evening.
• Book a private dining space for dinner.
• Escape to the countryside for a weekend of farm-walks, wine and fresh air.
• Go to a music gig together.

Make it memorable

Think about a theme or activity that represents your bride most. If she lived in Mexico for a a year, make some tacos and margaritas. If she loves the beach, plan for a coastal theme or a beach picnic. Personalise the games, write down your favourite memories with her, get everyone to give her their favourite recipe and print out some old photos.

You might all go in on getting her a special gift like some sexy new lingerie or a special piece of jewelry.

Make it meaningful, it’s a perfect time to celebrate your bride, your friendship with her, memories together and the future to come. It’s not necessarily her last wild night, the end of her “singleness” or the end of your girl’s nights forever but it’s a fab reason to go all out and have fun, just-the-girls before the big day!

Capture it! Always gotta slide in the photographer advice. You might even book a photographer or photobooth for a portion of the day. Ditch social media and enjoy the moment, get a polaroid camera or some disposables.

I hope this got you thinking. It can be an overwhelming task to be in charge of organising this event, don’t let it stress you out. Remember to chat to the bride, call for help, spread the cost around and delegate the duties. Have a blast!

You can view my IGTV on this topic here.

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