A hen party is a special occasion to celebrate the end of a woman’s single life and mark the beginning of her journey towards marriage. It’s an unmissable moment, often organised by the bride’s best man, but can also be planned by the bride-to-be herself. Whatever your role, preparing for this unique event can seem complex, especially when it comes to ensuring that everything is perfect for the big day. How do you organise an unforgettable wedding day? The answer lies in good organisation and a well thought-out programme.
The bride’s hen party must live up to her expectations, with original activities that will mark the end of her single life. Everyone, from the bride-to-be to the girlfriends accompanying her, needs to have a memorable time. Whether it’s a weekend with friends in Paris, a puzzle-filled escape game or an exciting laser game, the possibilities are endless. The most important thing is to choose activities that match the bride’s personality and fit in perfectly with your schedule.
To help you organise a successful event, follow this guide with ideas and advice on how to structure your programme.
Summary
1. The planning
Start by talking to the bride-to-be about her preferences, interests and limitations to make sure the hen party is what she wants it to be. Every bride has a different idea of what she wants for her hen party, whether it’s a professional photo shoot to capture every moment or a more leisurely wellness activity to relax with friends. It’s important to take her personality and wishes into account to create a memorable event that’s just right for her.
Involving the bride-to-be’s closest friends in the planning is also essential. A get-together or discussion group will help to gather trendy ideas and ensure that everyone is on the same wavelength. This can include original hen party activities such as an escape game or a laser game, or more relaxed activities, depending on the bride’s preferences.
Don’t forget to discuss the logistics. Once you have a clear idea of the programme, it’s time to find a date that suits everyone involved. It’s crucial to choose a venue that’s accessible to everyone and to set a clear budget. The cost of activities, the hen party photographer, food and the venue, as well as other services such as a specialist for entertainment or a photo shoot, can quickly add up. So a well-defined budget will help you to manage the event in the best possible way.
2. The venue
Decide whether the hen party will take place close to where the bride lives or whether it will be a special weekend destination. When choosing the venue, take into account the types of activities you can enjoy at different times of the year. This will allow you to choose a venue that suits the bride-to-be’s desires, but also ensures that everyone can take part in the event.
Most hen parties close to home are less expensive, as guests don’t have to spend money on flights or expensive accommodation. What’s more, it’s easier to organise appointments to coordinate the availability of everyone involved. On the other hand, opting for an hen party in a more remote destination can offer a unique experience and an idyllic setting. It can be the perfect opportunity to discover a new city or a place you’ve never been before.
Here are a few points to consider before making your choice:
- Accessibility of the venue: Make sure it is easily accessible for all participants, whether by car or by train.
- Capacity: Check that the venue can accommodate the number of guests expected, depending on the preparations and activities planned.
- Available facilities: Check that the venue offers facilities that are suitable for the activities you want to organise, whether it’s a photo shoot or a special hen party activity such as a laser game or escape game.
- Budget: The destination you choose will have a direct impact on the overall cost. Make sure you draw up a budget to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Depending on your choice, you’ll be able to finalise the outline of the event and coordinate all the preparations smoothly.
3. The theme
Bachelorette party themes aren’t essential, but they can really add a unique and fun touch to the party. By choosing a theme that matches the bride-to-be’s tastes, personality and interests, you’ll create an even more special atmosphere for the event. For example, if the bride loves sporting activities, an outdoor adventure or extreme sports theme could be the perfect option.
This step of choosing a theme can give direction to the celebration. Give free rein to your creativity by exploring different ideas. It could be a themed evening, a trip to a special place or even a group fancy dress party. The possibilities are endless, and there’s something for everyone! If you have any questions or can’t come up with any ideas, just think about things that are part of the bride’s everyday life and what she likes best.
Here are a few ideas to inspire you:
- Favourite films: A film theme can be fun and original.
- Favourite food: Organise a dinner party around their favourite dishes.
- Her hobbies and passions: For example, a creative or artistic theme if she likes painting.
- Her favourite places: A travel theme if she loves discovering new destinations.
By exploring these ideas, you can add a little something extra to this memorable day. Remember, the important thing is that the theme reflects your personality and creates a unique moment. That’s how you’ll create a truly unforgettable hen party!
4. The activities
To organise a successful hen party, it’s essential to choose activities that match the bride’s tastes. A good idea is to vary the types of activities to ensure that there’s something for everyone. Take into account not only the bride-to-be’s personality and preferences, but also those of the participants, so that the experience is enjoyable for everyone. The programme for the day or weekend should be dynamic, but not too busy, to ensure that there are plenty of moments to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Start with a flagship activity, such as an interactive game, a creative activity or a wellness experience, and then add little touches to surprise and delight the bride at every stage of the day.
Here are a few ideas that are sure to please the bride-to-be:
- Interactive games and challenges: To liven up your hen party, organise games such as an escape game or a laser game. These activities encourage the participants to get to know each other better and add a touch of adventure to the day.
- Creative workshops: If the bride has a passion for art or fashion, why not organise a painting or pottery workshop, or even a photo shoot? This type of activity creates wonderful memories while providing a great group activity.
- Dance party or party: How about a private dance party or club, or dinner in a restaurant where the bride can let her hair down with her girlfriends? You can also plan a theme (for example, an 80s party) to add a bit of fun to the event.
- Surprises and the unexpected: To make your hen party even more memorable, add a surprise to each stage of the day: a special message, a personalised gift for the bride, or even a little mission to complete throughout the weekend. These unexpected moments create unforgettable memories.
- Pole dancing or burlesque dancing: For a sexy and fun moment, a pole dancing or burlesque dancing class can be a great idea. Not only does it add a touch of glamour, but it’s also an activity that brings the group together.
- Helicopter ride or parachute jump: If you want to mark the occasion with something out of the ordinary, why not opt for a helicopter ride or even a parachute jump? These thrilling activities will give the bride-to-be a unique experience she’ll never forget.
- Mixology classes: For a group that loves cocktails, a mixology workshop is both fun and delicious. You’ll learn how to prepare creative, personalised cocktails for the evening.
- Personalised treasure hunt: Organise a treasure hunt in a place that is symbolic to the bride, such as a neighbourhood she loves or a place where you have fond memories together. This activity can be enhanced with challenges and little riddles linked to the bride-to-be.
- A friendly brunch: There’s no better way to get the day off to a relaxed and convivial start than with a brunch. You can organise a gourmet brunch with local specialities or a particular theme (organic brunch, Italian brunch, etc.). This will allow all the participants to get together around a table, chat and enjoy a relaxing moment before the more intense activities of the day.
- Surprise evening activity: If you’ve organised a themed evening or dinner party, why not add a surprise moment such as the arrival of a magician, a fun photobooth with funny props, or even a musical performance (singer, band, DJ)?
Combining these activities will ensure that the bride-to-be has a day full of adventure, laughter and lasting memories.
5. Food and drinks
Depending on the time of day and the theme chosen for the hen party, it is essential to define the type of meal that will suit the atmosphere of the event.
If you opt for a formal dinner, this will create an elegant and intimate atmosphere, ideal for a calm and refined moment. A sit-down meal allows you to chat and enjoy table service, especially if you’re in a chic setting or restaurant.
The buffet is a more relaxed and festive option, perfect for a dynamic atmosphere. It allows your guests to serve themselves at their own pace and try out different dishes. It’s also a practical solution for catering for different dietary preferences.
Finally, an outdoor picnic can be an original and relaxed choice, especially if the event is taking place in a natural setting. Prepare light dishes such as sandwiches, salads and fresh fruit so that everyone can help themselves easily while enjoying the surroundings.
6. The decoration
Once you’ve got the main details sorted, you can turn your attention to things like the decorations for the hen party. If it’s at someone’s house, it’s pretty straightforward to organise, but if you’re hoping to have some nice decorations at a restaurant or hotel, you should call and ask the venue if they’ll be able to decorate and, if so, how far in advance you can arrive to set everything up.
What you can include in your hen party decorations:
- Photo wall
- Garland with the theme
- Goodies for guests
- Sash for the bride
The decoration will add a touch of magic to the event. From simple to elaborate, make sure every detail reflects the bride’s personality and the mood you want to create.
7. Les souvenirs
To make your hen party even more memorable, what better way than to capture these precious moments than by taking photos, writing touching messages or offering personalised gifts – every detail counts. Here are a few ideas to immortalise this special day and leave the bride with memories she’ll cherish for a long time to come.
Plan activities that will create lasting memories:
- Organise a professional photo session
- Ask participants to write messages for the bride-to-be
- Prepare personalised gifts
Choose gifts that will remind the bride-to-be of her special day. It could be a photo album, a piece of jewellery, a personalised diary or any other object that will be dear to her heart.
Weezevent offers solutions that are perfectly adapted to the organisation of a hen party, highlighting its online registration features. With Weezevent, organising a bachelorette party becomes simple and efficient, guaranteeing a memorable experience for all participants.
