To say the majority of us don’t enjoy hen weekends

[ShrunkInTheWashAgain]

It’s the forced fun, the excessive costs
bring back a simple night out on the town

or do you actually enjoy it ?

I've never been on a hen weekend. I avoid them and hen nights too. When did the trend for whole hen weekends start? I think it's quite recent. I've been on 3 hen nights in my life. The first was my own (drink in couple of drinks in local pubs) with mum and mil invited. My friend, we went dancing in a club and she also had a couple of guy friends on her hen. Then there was my friend who got a limo to take us to the nearest city and then it was just a few drinks. None involved anything like dressing up, willy straws etc. Many other friends didn't do anything. We all married in the nineties.

Nope. I can’t stand forced fun and loud lairy behaviour. Like others have said, a night out is fine or a more chill weekend. Plus, I can generally only afford one holiday a year if that, so I’m not spending an insane amount of money on a holiday that’s not with my husband and daughter doing stuff I dont like

I went once and turned the others down. It was not my thing.

I’ve never been on one I enjoyed. But I think the only type I would enjoy would be a weekend abroad somewhere warm with no stupid games.
Unfortunately the only ones I’ve been invited to have been weekends in the U.K. With stupid games or forced fun. A girls trip away in the sun sounds much more fun

You're right. I didn't have one.

I love them and am happy to attend for my friends. A local night out doesn’t work as many of us have to travel anyway.

But I’m not a mumsnet competitive under spender and under socialiser. I also enjoy the wedding, shocker.

Agreed. I am in my 30’s and have been on several and can count on one hand how many I genuinely enjoyed (mines included 😂)

I loved my friends hen weekends and I’m so glad they’ve transitioned into time with friends now.

everyone, in their early - mid 40s now, still married so no second hens on the horizon - but two women-only weekends planned in the next 6 months. I will have a lovely time, miss my school aged children and come back recharged and happy to see my family.

I hate them & they always cost a fortune (& oftenseem to cause rifts in friendships)!
A lovely friend of mine was horrified that I wasn't planning on having a hen night at all, let alone a weekend! She took it upon herself to organise me a small suprise one. She knew I'd hate anything like the stereotypical hen night so she invite a few people to her house and we had cake and prosecco on picnic blankets in her back garden. It was perfect and such a kind gesture.

I have been known to make an excuse why I can't do the classic evening drinking bit. So take part in the fun daytime activity and make my exit swerving the messy evening drinking bit.

Could i ask where was this I am currently arranging a hen weekend for a friend she doesn't want the traditional get drunk and make a show kind of party, this sounds like something she would really enjoy.

A couple of nights in my twenties, a few in my thirties. All good fun.
But when they started becoming weekends/week long activities I hung up my inflatable penis and fishbowl of blue drink.
They have become these epic heavy experiences that can't possibly live up to expectation.

It depends. An evening out to do an activity/meal/see a show or a weekend away somewhere nice (spa or city break) I'd like, tacky bars full of screechy hens and 'laddish' stags, horrendous costumes and phallic paraphernalia - no thanks.

Thankfully most of my friends veered towards the former. The few that did the latter aren't close friends and we've definitely drifted.

My idea of hell is a hen do

I was invited to one last year and I politely declined.

Totally agree. They are too long and too expensive. Also put too much pressure with caring and child care responsibilities etc.

Maybe I've just been lucky but I've enjoyed all of them over the last 25 years!
Met some lovely people. They've been a wide range of activities - not the stripper etc type.

The brides have all been good friends that I genuinely liked and their friends have been similar people. No bride zillas or dramas.

never been to one, just read about them on here

YANBU

I didn't have one and neither did most of my friends but I've been on a couple. I enjoyed them to some extent but it was very much obligation. Lot of drinking was definitely needed! It's an odd dynamic really - brides enjoyment at the centre but organised by someone else and can be a bit 'tick box'. Quite different to doing something with friends/acquaintances where everyone is an equal and there is no feelings of obligation.

I have only been on ones which have been uk based. Spa days, meals out etc, one of my favourites was when we all went to see a band we liked and stayed over afterwards. Another one we went to the most wonderful Greek restaurant- amazing night eating, watching the entertainment and plate smashing!

My friend is getting married this year and we are going to an abba themed bottomless brunch. I know most of the people going and I am looking forward to it.

I do loathe though what some hen dos have turned into - bridezillas wanting instagram lifestyles, forced fun, forcing people to have to travel abroad at great expense and use precious holiday. Wedding attendance is costly enough without this nonsense.

’cohorts of the damned…’

Thank you for making me laugh this otherwise rather dreary Sunday morning!

I think normal people do like having fun (not at an excessive cost). Its not fair to ask on here where people hate weddings, going into the office or even opening their door ...

Mg friend was at her Dil to be's hen weekend. It basically consisted of drinking and more drinking until the bride to be vomited all over a pub table. They were made to clean it up then thrown out.
My friend went back to the hotel and left them to it
Gross but sadly not uncommon behaviour.

I hate them as well. Only been on one and it was fun. It was in Blackpool and I was mid 20’s but I got overwhelmed with all the people. For mine which was only 4 years ago I just had a meal and night out where I live.

I misread that as the majority of us don't enjoy the weekends 😅 which I disagreed with.

Don’t like going on them and didn’t have one. Myself and my partner had the night before together