To ask what you would expect to spend for a hen do

[Seaglass87]

I'm arranging a hen do for a friend and I don't know anyone going. She wants a weekend away somewhere (seems to be the standard thing these days). Obviously people have the option of opting out if it is too expensive/ not their thing, but I'm wondering what people think is a reasonable amount all in for a 2 day getaway in the UK?
I've asked other friends and I'm getting wildly different amounts and I'm just trying to get an average really.

Not my scene but I’d think £200 -£300 would be reasonable. Good luck with arranging the hen do though!!

Tough one, because I am not convinced that you could get away with spending much less than £300-£400, if you want to actually have a good time and factor in hotels (or Airbnb / similar), food and drink, activities, travel etc. Plus paying for the hen herself.

HOWEVER - I do think that is extortionate. Hen and stage dos are just out of control nowadays if you ask me.

Going away for the weekend for a close friends hen do in Aug.It's £150 each for the accomodation plus money for food etc... I think that is fair. Not sure I'd pay it if she were not a close friends though

Sorry - typing fast...£150 for the accommodation

She is NOT expecting us to pay for her though - there are only 6 of us and shes organised it herself

I would pay £0 I loathe them. But I think £400 for a weekend is about average.

I've paid 250 for accomodation, food and a couple of activities for a hen weekend in the UK next month which I think is about standard? With only 6 people going id ask your friend for a budget. People have very different disposable incomes!

Just hearing the word hen do sends a shiver down my spine. The pressure to go and the pressure to pay, eurgh. I think about £150 is the most I would expect to pay in the UK. Shared accommodation in a house rental or something isn't expensive per person. We did one in Brighton once which was great. A meal out can be about 30 a head. On the night out everyone can buy their own drinks and you can choose an activity that isn't extortionate or depending on the weather, walks or the beach etc.
I really resent people who arrange something super expensive. Unless you know that all those invited are very well off then it puts people in a very difficult situation as if they decline it could upset the bride which no friend wants to do. You can still have an amazing weekend and spend less, lots of the fun can be free.

About 250 for a 2 day in the UK including transport, accommodation, activities, food and rough spends on drinks etc. 300 at the absolute maximum, if it's a more well off group who are happy to spend on extras, but really the people planning should try and keep costs down towards 200 as much as possible.

I've just turned one down because I've got better things to spend £250 on. It's all getting a bit daft.

I'm shocked that anyone would be prepared to spend more than £50 on a hen do!

I would budget £1000 but hope to god it was a lot less than that!.
I'd rather over estimate and have money than underestimate and panic how I can afford it.

I would wriggle out of organising it.

If you can't, then set up a WhatsApp/Messenger group and ask the other hens.

I personally think the 'cost' should be kept low and people have the option to pay extra if they want to. So let everyone buy their own drinks, some might buy loads of cocktails and others just one bottle of wine. Make the meal separate so if someone wants to my just buy one main course and no starter they can. People tend to split the bill but it's obvious when someone has clearly had a lot less and most people are considerate of that. The daytime activity can also be optional, so some might be happy just joining for the evening etc or doing their own thing in the day.
I think asking for a huge upfront fee is unfair to people and the vast majority don't want to pay loads on a hen do.

For me, that would be £0. A night out is fine, anything else, especially involving extensive travel, is excessive.

Rather than asking on here where expectations vary wildly, I think you have to contact each potential hen do participant and ask for their budget and realistic expectations.

I think it depends on group of friends- age /children .

I would ask bride to set up a whatsapp group and talk to potential goers.. some may be a no so looking for different size of accommodation .. you need to try and agree a date. A weekend in August will be far more than mid September.

@Seaglass87

I'm arranging a hen do for a friend and I don't know anyone going. She wants a weekend away somewhere (seems to be the standard thing these days). Obviously people have the option of opting out if it is too expensive/ not their thing, but I'm wondering what people think is a reasonable amount all in for a 2 day getaway in the UK? I've asked other friends and I'm getting wildly different amounts and I'm just trying to get an average really.

It's impossible to ball park figure this, isn't it? it depends on peoples incomes, what they like doing. Sorry, but for me, I'd rather spend my time off and 300 quid going somewhere sunny - minus a load of drunk women!

Exactly what does your 2-day getaway involve? Because if it's the infernal spa weekend where I have to get my kit off in front of some relative skinny strangers, you can forget that too.

One of my thoughts would be how close said hen do is in calendar terms to wedding and if my partner was going on the stag. That can v quickly add up

Depends on attendees.

When I was childfree & earning good money with no commitments in my late 20s/early 30s I’d be happy spending a couple of hundred on a hen weekend.

Now I’m late 30s with DC & a house that needs complete renovation I’d be reluctant to do more than a night out, unless it was a sister / best friend

This is not going to be very helpful sorry but for me it completely depends on if it's something I want to go on! I always roll my eyes on here when people are aghast at the very idea of spending time! with their friends! paying! for fun! (as pps have proved).

To me, if it's with people I like, the hen do is just the 'reason' for the trip, but it's just a trip away with mates, which I like going on. Like any trip you have to pay for food and accomodation so as long as it's not extortionate I wouldn't begrudge any reasonable amount.

If it's someone I don't know/like as much so don't want to go and don't feel obliged (and literally the only person I would feel I'd have to say yes to is my sibling), then I'd just say no thanks can't make it and spend nothing!

Basically I would make sure the basic costs are as low as reasonably possible (travel, accommodation etc), then make everything else optional, so people can choose what they want to do rather than being forced into yet another sodding cocktail making experience!
e.g. fri afternoon: cheap pizzas or takeaway, drinks in the accomodation.

sat morning: go ape adventure for those that fancy it, chilled walk around the park for those that don't

sat evening: cocktail making experience for those that want to, sit in the bar with a drink for an hour for those that don't. Meal out (perhaps a set menu so no stress about splitting the bill). Onto a bar for those that want to, back to accom for others.

sun morning: spa for those that want to, mooch around shops or early departure for others.

If it was a weekend away I'd want the activities to be low key and affordable like a family weekend away. I have no interest in drinks like cocktails or prosecco, just a couple of pints of cider with a meal out, or a pint in a pub garden in the sunshine. If it was a drinking orientated hen do or a spa or pamper one then I wouldn't be interested in paying out for that.

I personally think the 'cost' should be kept low and people have the option to pay extra if they want to.

I agree. I have an absolute loathing of hen dos, and an away fixture is even worse. Still, if it’s something everyone genuinely wants to do then great but it’s so easy for the costs of these things to ratchet up and up (“Oh but it’s Bride’s big day and we want it to be SPECIAL!”) so keep the costs low, and let people dip in and out/pay more as their time and money budget allows.

As for general costs, it really depends on the type of accommodation, where it is and when (this year is going to be more pricey than usual, I should imagine). As a ballpark figure, some friends and I were considering a weekend away in a cottage and I think it would have worked out about £50 per person per night.

I wouldn’t do a 2 day getaway. I honestly hate those hen dos. However, £100-£150 for a decent hen do round here (west mids) with either a cocktail making class or spa day first then on the town at night would be more than acceptable.

I paid £200 for my share of a 12 bed house we rented for the weekend, to include food that we all helped prepare, afternoon tea brought in and stuff for games

You need to ask her about her friends really. She'll have a feel for what's acceptable

I think £150 for accommodation and let people pay for their own drinks and food because some might be non drinkers. Unless she confirms they all are, in which case I'd say £300 all in