To think this would be a fun hen do?

[ObiJuanKenobi]

I'm getting married later in the year and starting to think about hen/stag dos.
I'm really not the party type and the thought of inflatable willies and a male stripper fill me with dread. I also don't want to travel abroad or anywhere for a big night out - it's just not me.
Most of my friends have a city break and a weekend out of the country for their hen dos and people always fall out / moan about the cost of it all and I really want my friends to have a good time and not dread the invite.

Anyway, I looked online at our 'local' Center Parcs which is an hours drive away and for a weekend (fri-mon) for 8 of us works out at £850 late sept/early Oct.
I appreciate there will be food and drink on top but DP and I have decided to pay £500 towards it so it works out at £350 split between the remaining 7 guests for 3 nights.

I thought we could fill up the cars with booze and food and hit the rapids and the spa and just have a getaway.

Would you be happy with this? We are all mid-late 20s.

I did this! We got the spa lodge and took our own food and drink. It was a laugh and stress free. Couldn't recommend it more.

Oooo good point about same sex groups I'll look into that!!

In terms of people not wanting to do the whole weekend I was thinking people could come for as little or long as they like (1, 2 or 3 nights) knowing my friends they won't wanna leave on the Monday though

@emwithme one of my closest friends had a hen don't, just her, me, and her male best friend. We had an afternoon/evening of cocktails, food and wine at various pubs, bars and restaurants in our nearest city, it was one of the most fun days out I have had

Yeah it will be a lovely hen weekend. Make sure you book into the spa!

I've been on a hen weekend at centre parcs and it was good fun. We spent the day doing mini golf and other activities. We had a rapids relay race when the pool was quieter which was hilarious.

Then in the evening we played drinking games like beer pong, I have never etc.

We wanted to go to the spa but we weren't very organised and by the tone we though about it we're all a bit skint, so for us the last minute cost just for access and then treatments on top was a bit out of budget, but if you factored spa access into your cost for the weekend then you wouldn't miss it too much.

We set up a direct debit into the account of the person organising it and paid £30 a month into it to pay off the cost, we all then paid in one month extra which went towards food and drink for the weekend.

I went for a hen party a few years ago. Stayed in a four bed house with hot tub. We had a brilliant weekend.

It sounds lovely, but have you looked into cottages/ houses to rent out as well? A friend had hers in a house by the coast, obviously the activities weren't on site but there was a pool and hot tub in the house, a gastropub a short walk away and I think they visited a seal sanctuary or some sealife thing and fed the animals. Obviously if that's not to your liking don't go for that sort of thing but Centre Parcs is quite expensive- so a house/ cottages with things you want to do nearby might work out cheaper and less generic?

Yes did this for my SIL's hen do, loved it.

Sounds great - went to a hen do in centre Parcs which was great fun. We were split over two villas next to each other, did one meal out and paid x amount to the bridesmaids who organised all the rest of the food. A few people did activities, most of us just chilled out by the pool! Good times.

The bride did mention we weren't technically allowed to be there as they don't allow hens, so we didn't shout about it and had no tacky veils/l plates so it was fine!

Will everyone get on?

I did exactly that for my hen do and had a great time!

We did archery and horse riding, but also spent an afternoon lounging in a hot tub and an evening playing hen do games.

A piss up with strippers and willy hats and L plates would have been my worst nightmare so it was perfect for me.

Sounds like a great hen weekend! In fact a friend did this and we had a great time.

It sounds great, much better than some alternatives.

My closest friend didn't want a hen do and so I gave her a hen don't. Invited her and a couple of our other close friends to mine. I lived in a basement flat at the time and my front yard was lovely, lots of pots of all manner of plants, flowers, etc. I put tea lights all down the edge of the steps done. in places all over the yard, we had some fizz out there, then when it got a bit chilly went in and ate lots of Tapas (that I'd made, because I wanted it to be special even if it wasn't a do), listened to music, chatted, drank enough but not too much. Totally laid back, just a really nice evening. I'd want to do the same if it was me.

But, if I was in my mid-twenties again, I'd love to go to or have your hen do.

@diddl yes we're all very close luckily

Yep, fabulous!

I'm so excited!!

Sounds great (minus the spa as it’s my personal idea of hell) but a cabin full of friends, music, food, outdoors, bike rides etc sounds fab!

Awesome idea!

Lovely 😊 really I would be so grateful if that was a proposed hen

Yup!

Yes - I would love this and I think you are being very generous as considerate of your guests to help out with costs.