How to do a reasonably priced hen party?

[Bebepoor]

In an ideal world everyone would live close enough to one another to come out for a meal, go to a bar, maybe a club and then go home again but that’s not the case here. I think probably becoming more and more common?

Bride and MOH live in W. Mids. One bridesmaid in Cornwall. One in Glasgow. Six other close friends - London, N. Wales, Sheffield x 2, Gateshead & Kent.

Someone (or probably multiple people) are going to have to travel 5 hours + so I think 2 night better than 1 to make the travel worthwhile? And what part of the country? God everything is so expensive. Looking at £200 pp not including travel and before food and booze.

I just had a local one and a couple of close friends didn't come. There was a no pressure invitation. They were traveling a long way for the wedding so I made it clear they weren't to out themselves out trying to get to it.

It was only one night.

I've been on a couple of full weekend hen dos. I will go to no more.

Put themselves out.

Mine was on the city i lived in and was a student in. It was where I met DH and most of my friends. We did cocktail making, had a meal and went to a cheesy nightclub. There were enough spare beds/sofas that no one travelling had to pay for a hotel. I don't know costs but I'd guess maybe 50?

Hire a big self catering place somewhere with train/coach links. Friday night drinks and supermarket pizza/salad that you cook yourselves.

Saturday, local activity (for cheapness a cheesy/fun scavenger hunt where the bride to be has to find things locally, do dares etc, like sing a Katy Perry song in the town square, ask for directions as an American tourist). Afternoon board games, drinks. Sat night takeaway. Plus all the usual photos of brides, mr & Mrs quiz, other hen party games etc. Sunday go home.

We’ve done several like that and it’s worked out much cheaper than £200. If you want a bit more pampering book someone to come to the house to do massages etc.

Thank you all!

I’m thinking Birmingham or Bristol. Have found some promising accommodation in both. Either way poor Cornwall and Glasgow are going to be spending a lot of time travelling. Lots of good ideas here.

What does the bride want?

Is there a 3-line whip on attendance or does she understand that people may not be able to attend due to costs?

When my MoH planned my do, I set out my requests - inexpensive, no overnight trips, and no costumes or tacky sashes / quizzes / lists of tasks to complete etc.

In the end, we still spent £70 each, but for that we went zorbing and on Segways, had champagne at home while we got scrubbed up for dinner, a lovely fancy meal out and cocktails at a speakeasy - plus taxis between the locations.

And I paid for myself - absolute stipulation. Two of my mates were unemployed and I knew they had saved up for this, so was keen not to take the mick.

I would come to where the bride is and see if it's possible for the bride and others who live locally to provide overnight accommodation for 1 night. Sofa, pillow, duvet, towel for a shower in the morning, and some breakfast. Otherwise look for a Travelodge or similar in the area for the non local guests.

If it's good weather then I'd have a park picnic and decamp to a pub when it gets cold and dark, if weather were iffy then just pub (eat there). But maybe I'm quite boring.

I'm going on one in Central England soon. Got a cheapish place to stay, beauty/massage afternoon tea in the afternoon. Comedy club in the evening. We are eating in both nights. Is £200 a head including accommodation, meals, drinks in and both activities.

It's not just the money, it's the time too - not everyone wants to spend their entire weekend on a hen do.

I think the best option would be to come up with something reasonably priced overall (i.e. not a 'cheap meal' with lots of non-optional extras ("I thought it would be nice to give the bride a present/we all buy a new outfits so wear the same colour clothes/go for drinks in Very Expensive Bar beforehand...") with the option of free/reasonable accommodation, and be OK with the more far-flung invitees deciding not to come.

Personally - and this is a cynicism borne from many an extortionate hen dos (and occasional recriminations when I've declined because I simply don't have the money or indeed will to spend my weekend doing 'girlie' shit that makes sandpapering my own eyeballs seem vastly preferable) - I'd go with something the night before the wedding. Hen dos aren't compulsory!

Greece and Turkey are very cheap at the moment. May be cheaper than UK breaks