Hens still havent paid me back?

You need to message people directly and/or name and shame in the GC. I am also organising my cousin’s hen and it’s a bloody nightmare - 17 people!!! I had to take out an interest free credit card to front the big house we are staying in. Thankfully all have paid me back.

You also have the option of asking you cousin to ask her friends

This happened with one of my friends hen dos. We agreed to split her share but then as extras were added it just got too much, the bridesmaids spoke to her and she was more than happy to pay her share of everything. In the end she only needed to pay her share of the accommodation.

Maybe message as above to say if not paid by X date I will have to ask for payment from the bride.

How adults can behave like this is beyond me. Next time, no one will take the responsibility for organising a group event!! Very Sad.

They're hanging back until the last minute for paying. Have you given them a firm deadline?
If not, do so now and make it a few days before the actual deadline. There may well still be stragglers.

I agree, name and shame them! Thank the ones who have paid. Make sure you make it clear that collectively, you’re £400 out of pocket. Cheeky fuckers.

Or a “thank you for the hens that have paid the money this week, I am still missing the money off 15 of you. Please make payment by the end of the week as I now really need this money and £
15 x £20 is a big sum”

YABU for not asking for the money prior to booking the hen do and paying for the bride in full and telling others to pay you back after booking. That’s your mistake really as you should never pay for others before receiving the money in advance especially if you cannot afford to lose the money. A lot of us have been there so it’s been and done now but don’t do it again.

YANBU for feeling frustrated that no one has paid you back yet. Give it until the end of the week and send a blunt but honest message to the hens “Hi ladies, I still have not received payment of 15 of you for the share of the hen. I don’t want to sound like a nag but I really need this money, it’s £20 each which might not sound a lot but when it’s £20 x 15 it is a big sum. Please send money in the next 24 hours”

This

on here this week is the only time I’ve come across the practice of covering the brides share. I think it’s ridiculous and brides who accept are frankly CFs!

Give them a deadline for which to pay it and in the future - always an agree a payment deadline up front.

This. Make sure to mention it's £400 in total. They may be thinking they'll just buy you a drink instead.

It would be bonkers for me because that's a lot for a holiday for me but presumably this is a group of people who agreed to pay that much so for them it's presumably a reasonable amount (or else they'd have said no).

I'm always surprised at people on Mumsnet who can't do a family holiday in the sun for less than £3000 but presumably for them that's a normal amount so I wouldn't say they've got more money than sense, they just spend differently to me.

Name and shame them if they don't pay. Say "thanks to Oliva, Chloe and Jess for their payments - still outstanding from Lauren, Emily and blah blah blah".

Another one here who actually loves hen parties and treating my friends. Every one I've been to has been a bit of a bargain because the people organising have worked hard to fit people's budgets and when you split a food shop/air bnb between lots of people it's usually a relatively cheap holiday.

But that's all irrelevant anyway because they agreed to pay so should pay. The one time I was invited on a hen do that felt too expensive for me I just said no thank you - no biggie.

Also I'm one of those who did the 'the only present we need is your presence' thing except I didn't write it like that, I just put 'no need to bring a present' and reiterated that to anyone who asked. Around 50% of our guests did give us money in a card/similar which we were really grateful for but I couldn't tell you which 50% didn't do anything. I'd suggest if people are feeling guilted into giving cash in response to a message saying they don't need to give anything, they consider just not doing that and then move on.

Tag them all in group chat.

Group message telling them its paid by x date or you will need to cancel the trip

For everyone suggesting she cancels. She can’t. They booked the fucking thing individually, read the OPs posts!

How can you know that when you’ve no idea where they’re going or what they’re doing?

“Shall I go ahead and cancel this booking whilst we’re still in the timeframe to do so?”

How is that Ops problem to solve?

Honestly me too! My parents kept hens in the 1970s for quite a few years but eventually got rid of them when DM worked out they were costing her more in feed than she saved on eggs.

This. Exactly this.

I would direct message everyone that hasn't paid, I mean come on £20 is nothing for them but cumulatively loads for you. A personal message reminding them will hopefully hurry them along

How many still owe you money? Do you know these people that well?

Was going to say the same thing.

Two ‘invoices’ would be odd and I’d probably assume I’d paid all I owed too!

When asking for the money I would clarify that although its only £20 each, it adds up to £400 that you are owed, so you really do need them to pay up.