So there’s a wedding on the horizon and you’ve been tasked with organising a hen weekend! It’s a daunting job for some and if it’s something you haven’t done before, our first time guide to planning a hen party will set you well on the way to the perfect pre-wedding celebration.
Sophisticated Hen Parties
For some, the very mention of a hen party conjures up images of lots of pink and glitter, and the bride-to-be- being pushed along in a supermarket trolley; it used to be all about the bride’s ‘last night of freedom’ and sometimes, it could get quite out of hand! These days hen parties tend to be more civilised, more about getting together with a good group of friends for a refined celebration of the bride’s close friendships and her new role as a wife; people are getting married at an older age these days – the 30’s is average in the UK, so it tends to be a quieter affair. Think afternoon tea on the terrace, lounging by the pool, soaking in the hot tub, sauna sessions, movie nights watching a favourite film.
Hen parties are about sharing memories and laughter, good food and drink, and chatting away into the small hours, so one of the most important factors is a beautiful backdrop. The perfect answer is a weekend away in a large self-catering holiday house, and that’s where our luxury hen group houses come in. They fit the bill in every way – you’ll have exclusive use of indoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, games rooms, and movie rooms, so any worries about the weather are immediately banished.
These are houses you can dress for the occasion, each one has an Extras page listing suppliers who can help to make your stay everything you want it to be. There are florists to come and make it all look beautiful, caterers to cook up a special celebration feast for you, mobile therapists to pamper you, and there’s entertainment – life drawing, archery, laser clay shooting, dance classes, craft workshops, pottery painting, cocktail masterclasses, even a casino night.
Don’t try to organise it all on your own because that’s when it gets stressful! Enlist the help of one or two others in the party, ask the bride what type of hen celebration she wants. Will it be a themed weekend, a sophisticated and relaxing few days away, or something involving activities? Our Things To Do pages will give you inspiration for off-site activities like paddle boarding, country pursuits, off roading and alpaca walking.
So top of the list on a first time guide to planning a hen party are the guest list, the venue, the date and the budget:
The Guest List
Invite everyone the bride-to-be wants there – think friends, work colleagues and relations – it’s quite normal to include the bride’s mother and mother-in-law nowadays.
The Venue
Picking a venue is easy with Sleeps12. Our large holiday homes sleep up to 30 guests and have plenty to keep you smiling. Choose from gorgeous locations in the countryside or near the sea, where you’ll have lots of space and the loveliest surroundings, whether it’s a country house or timber-clad lodge in Somerset, a big cottage or sea view house in Devon, or a luxurious barn conversion in Nottinghamshire. Think about getting there - travel times and access from major routes, sharing lifts and picking people up from train stations.
The Date
The easiest way to confirm the date is to check what suits the bride, set up a WhatsApp group and throw a few dates out, then book the accommodation as soon as you are all in agreement. Next book any activities, caterers and entertainment. A few weeks before the hen weekend make sure you’ve got any props you’ll need, such as fancy dress, old photographs, etc. and get organised for food. You can either allocate items for each person to bring, or an easier way is to arrange a pre-ordered grocery delivery with the cost factored into the budget.
The Budget
You should have an agreed budget to work to; sometimes all costs are met by the bride’s family, but more usual is for the total price to be split evenly between all guests (the average UK spend is £300-£400 per person, including accommodation and food). Rental of our large group holiday houses starts from £60 per night each*, but you’ll also need to factor in food, entertainment, activities and travel. Getting money out of people can be one of the trickiest things and you might need to keep chasing a few people.
And then you’re all set to go! Make the most of every moment in your luxury hen party house, have a good catch up, capture the smiles and the laughter with lots of photos, and make amazing memories. Book soon!