Is this normal for a hen do?

[Worthyoflove]

My friend is getting married.

Hen do is in June and hosted at home as there will quite a few pregnant women and breastfeeding so a night out drinking is off the table. Instead will be games in the garden and a bbq and they’re asking for £25 a head. There will be atleast 10-20people there so not a small amount of cash.

Is this normal these days? It’s really put me off going. I’d rather bring some food to the bbq (I could do the whole lot for less than £50!)

Also I would seriously not like to go to a barbecue where you’d catered for 20 people for less than £50 😭

I’m just jealous tbh, consider yourself lucky you’re not being asked to give up a whole weekend and fork out £250 plus transport and drinks!

I agree with you OP, £50 is very steep for the cost of hosting one women and one child at a not very boozy BBQ. It's also really odd and a bit of a brass neck to charge people to attend what is after all a not very exciting event at her house.
Obviously it's cheaper than a traditional hen, but you get a night in the town for that, a resturant cooked meal, drinks at a premium for the location they're consumed in, so there's no comparison. Something being cheaper doesn't make it good value.

I've always had to pay £200+ for a hen do so I'd be delighted with £25

It certainly wouldn't work for a large party - but less than 20 is a small number, especially if it includes children. It's not hard to tell people what to bring. Especially as they're all friends anyway.
I personally tell people to bring what 'they' want to eat, and a bit to share. Works out quite well and they take the extra home if we don't want it. Also if they want any particular drinks. We just provide BBQ stuff, nibbles and 'standard' drinks.

You don't get 'a night on the town' - restaurant meal and drinks - for 25 quid. Don't be ridiculous.

You’re that person who quibbles an equally split restaurant bill because your dish cost 50p less aren’t you?

Aww, but if you don't go then everyone misses out on your joyfulness

Seriously, how can you be that tight to question £25 for a friends hen do.

Sounds very reasonable and like a hen do that I'd actually attend.

I don’t know why people are assuming the DD is a child, she could be 25 for all we know. If she’s a young child i doubt the friends are suggesting the full whack adult price, and why bring a young child to a hen?

Rented barbecues and staff, probably £300 min, plus food, plus entertainer for party games.

Decent meat £7 per head, salads £3, drinks £10.

What's the problem?

Because some people would bring delicious food and others would be scowling in the corner with their hot dog.

I didn't say you could. Your failure to either correctly read or correctly understand my post doesn't make me ridiculous.

True, but then shouldn't she pay for herself?

Is it a catered BBQ? If they have hired a caterer to come and cook the BBQ then I would have no problem with paying £25, especially if that cost was also covering drinks.

If it's just going to be cheap burgers and sausages and a plastic cup of cheap wine then I would not be happy to pay £25 a head.

How old is your DD? If she's a child then they shouldn't charge you adult price because she won't eat as much or drink, but also why would they be inviting children to a hen party, so I'm guessing she's an adult.

Multiple people have suggested the same, OP hasn’t commented.

Because then she should be paying for herself? How many 25 year olds want to hang out with their mum's mates anyway?

Also.. this is hardly a 'hen'. More like a bridal shower. But semantics don't change ideas about cost

Well I imagine that includes decorations, food, drinks, party games and bits for the bride so it's a very fair price. I'm sure they will make it very special for her.

I don’t think you are tight. I don’t understand why Hens have to cost people so much money. I also don’t understand why people have to buy ott expensive cakes and decorations. You can do this sort of thing for a lot less than people spend. And if you host an event since when did everyone have to split the bill for it all. As host you would normally accept the cost of decorating and then some food and ask others to bring certain food items including drinks. £25 a head too much in my opinion. £15 a head would be reasonable if it needed to be split.

And I miss out on the narcissism and plastic willys. It really is win win.

Yore being ridiculously cheap. I’m actually embarrassed for you. Maybe don’t bother going. Staying in is free after all. Plus, nobody actually wants a moaning tightwad around.

In the one hand it's cheap and low time commitment for you -one afternoon, done and dusted!

On the over, a small niggle they are making a profit. Would you still be bringing booze? Are they buying stuff for games that they keep? My brain would be wondering all this .

(I assume no alcoholic drinks provided in the £25 as most are not drinking)

Problem with BBQs is that you ‘have’ to over cater. If you only put down what people actually only eat it would look a sorry affair!

yea the organiser is probably making a little bit from it but at £25 I wouldn’t grumble. Food has shot up so I guess they’d prefer to over estimate than be left short on catering for that amount of people.

@Worthyoflove

stop being so tight OP!!