How do you organise the perfect hen party? We asked Tristan Tristar, from Adonis Cabaret to reveal his top planning tips – and he should know… He’s arranges wild nights for 35,000 hens every year!
Who to invite?
Now this can be a nightmare before you even start! Usually this is left to the maid of honour so give her a bit of direction if you need to. Is she expected to invite ancient Auntie Ethel or the old school friend that no one but the bride can stand?
If you think people will clash, split the day into different parts – the tranquil safe spa day is ideal for the mother-in-laws and party prudes and the wild evening is perfect for the party girls. If there is an extreme divide, consider having two hen dos. There’s nothing worse than having one or two people that don’t join in with the fun, or worse, ruin it for everyone else.
Save the date
Choose a day or weekend at least a week before the wedding and do not, under any circumstances, hold the hen night the night before the big day. Plan well in advance so that you can maximise the numbers who are able to attend and remember this is the bride’s big night so make sure all her best friends can be there.
Money talk
Cash is king and money can be a real deal breaker for some people. Make sure you set a realistic budget for your girlies while retaining the feel of making a special effort for the bride. It can be a difficult balance and may well effect the ‘who to invite’ list above and the ‘location’ below. But don’t settle for ‘I’ll pay you later.’ This only leads to resentment when you find out that the particular friend just splashed out on new shoes! And don’t leave it up to the bride to collect the money – this should be a job for the chief bridesmaid, too.
Location, location
Do your research! We have seen all varieties of hen dos, from a night at someone’s house or at the local pub, to international city breaks in Europe and beyond. Marbella is a top destination this season and there are some amazing deals to be had at the moment. A hen night is often an excuse for some quality girl bonding time and so location can be key. Wherever you decide, make sure you check out the best places to go (and the places to avoid!) before setting off. It may sound silly, but if you choose to go abroad then check that everyone has a valid passport – you don’t want any tears at the airport!
Collaborate with other guests
I know this could lead to a minefield of arguments but try to involve the other guests. Don’t be so vague as to ask ‘what are we doing?’ because this will result in a barrage of conflicting ideas, but let them know your plans and see if they can add anything to it. Remember, there will always be someone who doesn’t agree, but you can never please everyone, so go with what you feel the bride will want above all.
Plan your activities
Most brides want their hen dos to involve a good party and probably a little bit of naughty drinking. The most popular evening activities are comedy clubs, drag cabaret, strip shows and then onto a nightclub. Adonis Cabaret, for example, puts all of those brilliant activities together in one venue, to make it easy for you and give you just the right mix for everyone. But also consider some day time activities – a girly spa day, beauty treatments or afternoon tea – to make the bride feel really special.
That said, don’t go overboard
It always seems that there’s not enough to fill the day but once you are all together catching up and gossiping, time soon flies. Be flexible with your plans, if the group seem to be happy, don’t rush off to the next activity just for the sake of being on time.
Communication
This seems really nerdy, but how many rows do you think are caused when big groups are drunk and lost in a strange city? It is not long until everyone will really start to panic. Make sure everyone knows when and where to meet on the day. Perhaps send an itinerary out beforehand and exchange mobile numbers. Once you are all there, establish a meeting point just in case anybody gets separated from the group and mobile batteries die during the evening.
Pace yourself
This is especially important if you are out for the whole day or weekend. You don’t want the bride (or anyone else) to be legless by lunch time and not be able to enjoy the evening shenanigans. So make sure you factor in some down time for eating and re-hydrating with soft drinks and water.
Relax, enjoy the day and have fun!
Remember a hen party is all about having fun, so do it! If you’re planning your hen night for you and your girlies Adonis Cabaret organise amazing evenings all year around, so you know they know how to throw a good party! If you’re still looking for more ways to plan your last night of freedom, our Hen and Stag Parties section has everything you need!
