Hen Parties

the big debate: your hen party. weekend long extravaganza or one night wonder?

Julia Braime

Found on brit.co, photography Paige Winn Photos

image source, photography by Paige Winn Photos

This morning, our big debate is one for the hens.  We’re wondering whether your

hen party

will be a stretched out celebration or a one day affair?  Grab a coffee (or hey, if you’re on Rachel’s side, why not make it a cocktail?), it’s time to open the floor…

Found on showmeyourmumu.com

image source

rachel says: make it a weekend

I know, I know – it’s too much time away from home, it will be expensive, people will struggle to get time off work, but it will also be one heck of a good time! In my eyes if you can stretch a birthday across a few days why can’t the same be done with a hen do? After all, you only live once!

If the trip is planned in advance and well thought out so your gals have plenty of forewarning about what’s coming they will have time to save and make necessary arrangements work and family wise meaning weekend-long celebrations aren’t out of reach for all.

Indulging in a full hen weekend away not only gives you quality time with the leading ladies in your life, but it also gives you lots of time to really explore your chosen location and to let down your hair after all that stressful wedding planning – girl you earned it!

Agreed a weekend hen do is undoubtedly going to cost more than a one-night knees-up but hens can choose to make it a budget or blowout affair. For example, great value hen party packages are available with accommodation, activities, and in some cases, food and drink, all in. There are also some fab cheap breaks abroad which can work out cheaper than remaining in the UK and will give you and your girlies the opportunity to catch a tan before the big day. Meanwhile for those sticking to home turf there are some gorgeous rural retreats and city centre apartments available for groups to hire and take their own food and drink along to save money. If you take up the rural option you can also make your activities cheap too – think chilled out walks (to the pub), sunbathing (if the weather is kind), DIY pamper sessions and afternoon tea.

If push to comes shove and some girls are governed by work, family or budget restrictions it might be that they can just join you for part of the celebrations (if you aren’t travelling too far from home that is). Having different people arriving at different times can also help freshen up the group and mix people together more gradually.

When all said and done, just like your wedding should be what you want, so should your hen do and if that means a weekend away your gals need to get packing!

Found on yesbabydaily.com

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julia says: one night only

I have three little words for you: Three. Day. Hangover.

That’s what my last weekend long hen do did to me (and all the other ones before that). Girls, in the days of Deliciously Ella and Reformer Pilates, it’s just not the done thing to be sweating vodka on a Tuesday morning.

Ok, I get it. Your hen weekend is your last big hurrah with your girls (and if he’ll believe that, he’ll believe anything), an excuse for a bit of R&R (or G&T) in a fabulously glam city location or a chance to get away from wedding planning for three glorious lost days. But, I’m here to argue the side for less is more – a side I’m not usually sitting on – and like everything I do, I’ll sure as hell give it my best shot.

These days, I’m a bit of a convert to the mind-set that if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing really, really well. Why even try to keep the excitement going over a three day session? Why not concentrate all your spa bliss, glam-up enthusiasm, cocktail quaffing stamina and dance floor energy into one perfect 24 hours that you’ll remember forever as a brilliant burst of fabulousness.

No awkward, used all the conversation up yesterday, pauses. No splitting of the group. No hungover activity drop outs. No latecomers turning up on day two and wondering why the rest of you are all feeling a little flat.

Just a perfect day of all your best girls (or guys) together, doing something fun, and doing it with fully committed gusto.

It’ll be cooler, cheaper (something your hens will all be secretly pleased about) – and you’ll have saved yourself 24 hours of “down time” to recover before diving headlong back into the wedding planning, er, work, on Monday morning.

Think about it. And spend the saved night’s accommodation on a knock out, one night only ensemble.

That’s chicomics for you.

Have fun!

Found on blondeepisodes.com

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what you said on facebook:

Kerri: “Blow out in Amsterdam with my closest friends and then going to have a meal in the UK so that everyone can come.”

Sophie: “I think the key is to keep it flexible so as many people as possible can join in as much or as little as their budget and family commitments will allow.”

Allison: “I’m having a meal & cocktails on the Saturday night then spa day on the Sunday. Staying at home though, just less expense for everyone & everyone has a choice if they want to come to meal or spa or both.”

Rachel: “Blow out in Barcelona, day out in York and work friend drinks… so I’d say I’m blowing out!”

Found on kitesista.com

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