Hen Party Help

[MarbleGolden]

I'm organising a Hen for my friend.

She wanted a weekend away but something relaxed and quite low key, she doesn't want to see a plastic cock anywhere 🤣

So far I've booked -

A weekend in a "party house" there are 10 of us. It's basically a lively large house and has a hot tub.

The itinerary goes like this.

Friday arrive 3pm onwards to suit schedules, pizza and Prosecco, get to know each other, chilled eve.

Saturday I'll do bacon sanwhiches/veggie option. Then a nature walk (hen likes birds). Back to the house for nibbles, get changed etc, then out to dinner.

Sunday check out is 10am.

I've done party bags for everyone and I'm just about to order face masks with the grooms face on for photo props.

Should I be thinking about a game for Friday eve? Any advise or tip from hens you've been on? I've only ever been on 2 and one was a paid for trip to Dubai so not too relatable 🤣

That sounds lovely.

If not everyone knows everyone then maybe some icebreaker games. Eg, bingo where you find someone who....
Lives in the North
Has a blue bedroom
Goes running
(Whatever)

This sounds really lovely

id also say some ice breakers / intro games in case people don’t know each other

when you say “nibbles” for Saturday, I’d give the option of proper lunch. A bacon sandwich in the morning then just a few nibbles until dinner would leave me ravenous

make sure everyone knows what to bring too - are towels, hot tub towels, shower gel etc included?

Ice breaker games on the Friday are a good idea.

I've done like a slide show explaining things like where we're going , what we're doing and what to pack etc. I will send that out a week before.

Good point about the food on a Saturday. I might as another bridesmaid to cater for that, they could go a chili in a slow cooker or something.

You'll need more for Saturday. If you're up for breakfast at 9ish, nature walk for 2 hours and then lunch, what will you do all afternoon?

Also agree more food needed for Saturday, I would definitely need a proper lunch (not necessarily hot lunch but definitely more than nibbles, unless breakfast is huge and dinner early)

Maybe something like an afternoon tea for after the walk.

I thought breakfast from 10am then walk not until 12 as there will likely be some sore heads the walk is approx 2 hours if taking it really steady. Will def organise a more substantial lunch for the Saturday.

Mr & Mrs is always funny - see if you can get the groom to record his answers and play it as you go.

Deffo more food on the Saturday (I always worry about a lack of food when I go anywhere 😂)

I think I'm just difficult to please as breakfast at 10 would also be too late for me. I'm not really your target demographic I guess.

That does still leave 2 hours in the morning and 4-5 hours in the afternoon with nothing planned

Defo need games for Friday- doesnt have to be Hen related, I like articulate, something that gets people talking and guessing an answer.

Unfortunately there's always going to be someone who's not happy I find. If I can please the majority I'll be happy 🤣🤞🏼

I went on a similar hen a while back and everyone really appreciate the "free time" on the Saturday so they could relax before heading out for the night. Some used hot tub, some sat round chatting with music, some had power naps. It sounds like you've planned a nice weekend.

Not sure how it would work budget wise but how about a silent disco? You can hire sets. I went to a country house hen from recently and there was one which was a HUGE hit. Or a guided craft activity? Can actually be quite good fun!

It's my dd's hen this weekend and she wanted something similar. We are having pizza and nibbles, drinks, games and chat on the Friday evening, a yoga session and gin tasting have been booked for the Saturday daytime, followed by a meal booked in a restaurant for the Saturday evening, chill time on the Sunday morning before we all leave to return home after lunch. We're booked into two cottages which have jacuzzi's and it's all meant to be very chilled. Except I've now got Covid and probably won't be going!

DD went on one recently and they had a craft activity making flower crowns which they then wore when they went out for their meal. She said that was really good.

The place I've booked won't allowed outside vendors 🤷🏻‍♀️ and the ones they have on offer didn't look fantastic and were all quite expensive.

It sounds lovely to me.

As the weekend is to celebrate the bride, what about a quiz about her as an icebreaker ??? Just a bunch of questions to see what everyone knows about her. Also serve her favourite cocktail on Friday night.

Id take a few games just in case people want to do more stuff but what you have planned sounds great

Last weekend I went on a similar type of hen weekend in a lovely house. Saturday afternoon was quiet, snoozed, drank lots of tea, and laughed about our boozy 4am finish the night before. If your group is busy with jobs / families / life they will appreciate the opportunity for some down time (and to let the sore heads subside)

This is my logic. A few of us have young children but also really love a drink so I know the Friday night will be messy!

Try cards against humanity as a game - good fun
Like the idea of recording grooms answers to questions
ice breakers questions just folded paper in a bowl - gets the conversation started - maybe a few forfits - like you wash up / get the next round/ put the coffee on - if you don’t want to go too rude!

Agree with others, sounds great but I would have something else to do on the Saturday- yes its nice to chill for a few hours but basically all day to just sit around chatting from the time you get up until,what, seven in the evening (when you then just go for a meal which will be more sitting and chatting) apart from one walk might get a bit boring, particularly if there are any hens (seeing as you are doing icebreakers) that don't really know the others that well.

But then everyone is different - lots of people hate active hens. Personally I like the opportunity to actually do something if I'm going to go away - I would be a bit annoyed st spending money to stay somewhere and giving up my whole weekend to basically just sit around and chat, which I can do for free at home!

Cards against humanity was good when it came out 10 years ago and was shocking but I don’t know anyone who would find it funny now and it could really divide a group who don’t know each other that well

What about an option on Saturday afternoon for beauty therapists that will visit the accommodation for a massage, nails etc? Price list sent in advance and have to book your treatment in advance (no obligation). I've done that at a hen do before and it was lovely.

This was really helpful everyone, thanks :)