Ladies its wedding season and unless you've had the pleasure of panning a
hen party before, you may be a little overwhelmed with what seems
like a huge task! Planning the perfect hen party means that you are
required to ensure everyone has the “best time ever” and this
can seem like a big responsibility. Juggling staying local or
weekends away with must do activities, budget and not to mention if
you've got grandma coming too to cater for, are just some of the
things you will have to think about.
But fret not, here is our simple checklist that is guaranteed to
make you a party planning pro!
CHECK LIST
Firstly, decide on a date with the bride, ideally
4-6 weeks in advance of the wedding day. Not only
does that give the bride time to fully recover but it also gives
enough in between time for the guests to be comfortable in the money
department.
Confirm the guest list with the bride and get everyone's emails
and mobile numbers. Send out a 'Save the Date/ invitation ASAP so
that the guests can book time off work. You want to get in before any
other hen do's, weddings and holidays!
Ask if the bride wants to be involved in the party preparations,
many like to be involved to some extent i.e. choose a theme, location
or an always wanted to do activity, but usually this is a time
for the bride to relax and leave the planning to their closest chum.
If you have been chosen then she will already trust that you will
plan something suited to her tastes. A top tip is to ask her what she
liked and disliked about any other hen parties she has been on to
save any disappointment or embarrassment.
- Don't Forget About Grandma!
Remember that you may be catering for an array of age groups, and
probably a diverse group of people that know the bride from different
parts of her life. Don't plan something that will isolate the older
generations or any of the guests. You want to
plan activities that
everyone in the group can get involved in.
Grandma may well enjoy the butler in the buff but maybe not be so
keen on zorbing!
A jam-packed day is better than guests getting bored and wondering
off, but be
realistic about activities and timings.
You want your guests to be relaxed and having fun not flustered and
rushed. Make sure you give people enough time to get to and
from activities and enough time for the guests to glam up for the big
night out after. After all everyone will want to look their best and
may need a little more time after a day of say paintballing! So plan
your day wisely!
Its typically known that when one wedding comes around, they all
come around and suddenly you find yourself trying to budget for
multiple hen parties, weddings and presents! Not everyone will be
able to afford all the trimmings so whether your planning a local do
or a weekend away, do keep a budget in mind that will suit all your
guests. On average a Hen Party weekend away costs approx £200, this
should include 2 nights B&B, an activity, one evening meal, and
either bar passes or drink tokens if you're heading out on the town!
Sometimes if there is quite a varied group of girls, it is nice to
offer a balanced and flexible schedule. You may have pregnant
friends, yummy mummy’s, or some on a tighter budget then others. In
this case it's best to offer
options rather then
have to exclude members. For example if you're planning a two
night stay with an evening meal, drinks and an activity, then perhaps
offer the option of just one night stay with dinner and drinks. This
way the bride can enjoy the party with all her friends.
Whether your just jumping in a taxi from the hotel to town or
doubling up in cars for a road trip weekend away, you will want to
plan and pay for all this in advance and include into the budget. No
one likes being caught out for extra costs on the day and this will
also keep you from losing any guests on the way!
Allow for contingency money for unexpected extras. i.e. you could
add £10 to everyone's costs, and hopefully if all goes to plan then
it can go towards their drinks.
When all is planned and decided upon, write and send out an
itinerary letting the guests know what to expect on the day. You want
to keep all your guests clearly informed and be reachable if they
have any questions. You also want to build some email excitement here
too! This itinerary can be as detailed as you like with breakdowns of
times and even costs so that guests know what they are spending their
money on! If there are some surprise elements just make this
transparent to the guests that these are included in their costs.
Compile a pack list of essentials for the guests to bring. For
example while killer heels and a knockout dress may be obvious, an
afternoon of say go karting will require more casual attire. Remind
your guests to bring their cameras too to capture all the action!
- Group Games and Memory Lanes
Prepare a few games for group bonding and for fun fill ins just in
case there are any waiting around moments.
These often make the bride feel extra special too if they are
personalised to her. A popular game is 'Memory Lane'. Get each guest
to compose a short rhyme or riddle of a memorable time or experience
with the bride. The bride can then guess which friend wrote it and
explain to the rest of the group the story behind it, giving each
guest an insight into their story of friendship. Prepare to laugh
uncontrollably and to shed a few tears as you take a trip down memory
lane.
Coming up...
I hope that's enough to get you started on your party planning
challenge for now ladies, but if you want more ideas for party games,
there will be more of that in next weeks post! For more party
planning inspiration and DIY deco tips visit our 'Party Planning' page on our website.
xxx
www.lingerieshowers.co.uk
Credits:
www.pinkbuslondon.co.uk | www.makeameme.org | www.notonthehighstreet.com | www.alittleobsessed.co.uk
Its time to bring Lingerie Showers to the UK!
"What exactly is a lingerie shower" I hear you ask?! Well let me inspire you, a lingerie shower is your instant 'naughty or nice' theme for a hen party, birthday or just a great excuse to get together with the girls! Americans see this as a tradition, a right of passage even, meaning they've had a lot of practice fine tuning the details. However! I feel us Brits can still do it bigger, better, and classier...or maybe just crazier!!
That is why I'm introducing you to the party packages worth telling your friends about. Get your girls together and get ready to have a giggle!
Try a 'Lingerie Making Masterclass' where everyone gets to customise a pair of knickers and a garter. This can be as innocent or dirty as your mind can imagine, usually the latter after a few champagnes! Everything you need to get the party started is brought to you by a mobile host who will also make sure you don't get your knickers in a twist!
Perhaps you just love shopping for lingerie and even the occasional intimate product?! Then the 'Love Lingerie Party' is the one for you. Relax and enjoy in the comfort and privacy of your home, get a little silly and let the host entertain your friends with naughty games and prizes. Benefit from a bra fitting service and a unique consultation
demonstrating which colours and styles suit different shapes and sizes. Whether your looking for something frilly and flirty, super seductive, comfy or just like learning about new products then this will be a fun experience for you!
Feeling inspired? Then it gets better! What if I told you, you can combine the Love Lingerie Party with getting pampered by a spa specialist?! No I'm not teasing, this is actually happening to lucky ladies around the UK. Book a 'Lingerie and Pamper Party' for you and your besties and you too can indulge yourselves!
Can't wait then visit www.lingerie showers.co.uk
So that's it, we CAN do it better then the yanks! Follow me as I share party highlights, great tips and ideas for planning your party, how to pimp your panties for a special occasion and my party inspirations!
xxx
