Hen Holdiays
A recent survey showed that the average expense of a hen party in 2013 was a rather beastly £157 per guest. That’s going to hit the bank account hard when all of your friends turn thirty and everyone wants to get married the year after. If you’re spending nearly £200 on a night on the town then perhaps this doesn’t seem value for money at all? If you were spending the same amount on a mini break in Europe then all of a sudden that £200 seems much better value for money.
Why Holiday
How often do you get to spend quality girl time together? Time without boys lingering about upstairs dying to be on the Xbox already as you watch Bridget Jones for the fiftieth time on the big flat screen in the living room? If we are honest we’d all like to spend more quality time with our friends and this is one event where you are pretty much guaranteed that all that are invited will come; even if only out of guilt or fear of missing out! So seize the moment Chief bridesmaid and arrange a hen holiday to truly give the bride something special to remember.
Destination
The first thing to get sorted is your destination which has to be interesting enough to get people on board but familiar enough so that people aren’t too outside of their comfort zones. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a weekend in Blackpool will obviously be cheaper than a weekend in Ibiza because of the travel. Often the aeroplane travel is offset by cheaper food, booze and accommodation costs at the other end with breaks abroad, so do check this out before committing to make sure you are getting the best value for money.
Activities or Relaxation
The one thing that strikes fear into potential hens is the possibility of being forced to an activity that normally they would run a mile from. So unless your group of friends is based around a certain activity and you know that particular activities are the way to go, maybe consider an alternative? You will never please everyone of course but perhaps going with the more chilled out options such as manicures, facials and hot stone massages you’ll get more happy participants.
Tradition
Whilst hen holidays are a rather contemporary invention, there is something to be said for keeping up old hen party traditions, particularly if you’re friends are expecting this. So by all means get the L plates, dress the bride up before you go out, go for fancy dress if you like and purchase a bulk pack of penis straws. You can even find banks of traditional games to play whilst out and about on your nights out or maybe if you’re daring, as you relax poolside nursing a hangover of an afternoon.
Suitability
Last but not least remember that the hen party is meant to give the bride to be a night to remember and that whilst all of her friends want to enjoy it too, ultimately your goal as her hens is to make sure that she has a killer time. Focus on this and you won’t go far wrong.