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Many people are now deciding to combine their hen and stag parties, and what better night to celebrate than Valentines day?
Combined parties are a great idea as they tend to cut down expense, and are particularly useful if you are getting married abroad or having an especially low key wedding. This gives you the perfect opportunity to gather all your friends together to celebrate before the big day. Celebrating together is also a great way to cut out on the tackier side of the hen party spectrum and means that you are free to invite the inlaws and other family members, making it all-inclusive.
It may be that you decide to take everyone away for a country retreat or activity weekend. This is generally a good idea, as there tends to be something for everyone, and catering will often be provided meaning that you will be free to enjoy yourself without having to do any of the work.
If you want something a little more low-key and inexpensive you could think about holding a dinner party. Invite around your friends and have a refined evening of entertainment that everybody can enjoy. If you really want to push the boat out, try putting traditionally romantic food and drinks such as oysters and champagne on your menu. Decorate your table with elegant place settings and romantic furnishings. This will also be fantastic for your single friends, as no one likes to be alone on Valentines day.
Beware though, if you are planning to take your friends out or booking a venu for a disco or similar, Valentines is one of the busiest nights of the year for pubs, clubs and restaurants so make sure you book well in advance and beware of people trying to push up prices – don’t be afraid to negotiate!
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I’m often told that some people just don’t want to make too much fuss when it comes to their hen party, with the all important day on the horizon, sometimes there just isn’t the time to organise a big night on top of all the other things that need to be sorted out and would prefer to do something a little more low key.
Organising a simple dinner party is a great way to get your friends together to celebrate your last night of freedom. Get in some good wine and create a menu that suits your tastes and your schedule. You may want to put something sophisticated together, and create a fine dining experience in the comfort of your own home, or you could keep it simple, create simple pasta dishes or you could even get something from your favourite takeaway if you don’t have the time to cook for large groups.
Decorate the table and give everyone personalised table placements to make things a little more special, and if you want, you could even have a theme – Hollywood glamour or black tie would be perfect for a refined evening spent in the company of the ones you love.
Make sure you have good background music too, as this will help to set the mood. You may want to make a playlist or perhaps you have a favourite compilation CD but this will help to alleviate any awkward silences.
As for entertainment, again, this depends on your taste, you may be content just to sit around the table with good drinks and decent conversation but you may want to do something a little different. Murder mysteries are always good fun, simple to organise and can be played throughout the course of the evening. If you find you want something a little more raucous, there are plenty of drinking games you can indulge in.
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It’s easy to get sucked into the same old ideas when planning your hen night, crawling the bars of your home town, adorned in trashy outfits and tacky accessories, but maybe you want to do something more original?
A few weeks ago a friend was telling me about a wonderful idea that hadn’t occured to me – ghost walks. I did a bit of research and found that there are loads of places throughout the UK that specialise in haunted hen nights. If you live in an ‘historical’ town or city then you will already be on the doorstep of some thrilling ghost walks. These already cater for groups and can give you a great, interesting night without breaking the bank.
If you want to get out of town for the weekend, Britain has some of the most haunted hotels in the world. Obviously, you might want to check with your friends before you go ahead and book these as this will be some people’s idea of hell, but it will certainly furnish you with a weekend that you will never forget! Often too, these hotels are old stately homes and castles, and therefore surrounded by beautiful countryside and luxurious interiors if you can get past the spooks!
There are also a growing number of companies who specialise in ‘Haunted hen nights’ and can put together a package tailored to your needs, these often include food, snacks and drinks and range from the ultra-sophisticated, historically focused to the more trashy. Either way, there is bound to be something for all of you.
What’s great about these nights is that they tend to be able to cater for quite large groups too so you won’t need to leave anyone behind and, as far as party planning is concerned, prices are about average, ranging from about £50 – £70 per person.
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If you’re going out of town for your your hen party, you’ll need to think about getting a hotel sorted out early. This depends on your budget and the activities you have planned.
BUDGET
If you and your party are on a tight budget, you could think about staying in a hostel. Although hostels have a bit of a dodgy reputation, they have seen a massive rise in standards over the last few years and many are now better than your bog-standard bed and breakfast. The beauty about staying in a hostel is that if you book early enough you can often hire an entire dorm, this means you won’t have to sleep next to strangers (unless you want to, of course!) and you’re free to do whatever you want. They are generally right in the centre of town too, meaning you won’t have to pay extortionate prices for taxis back from your night out.
MID
There are a fantastic range of mid-budget hotels throughout the UK and Europe, offering you a comfortable night’s sleep at a reasonable price. Premier Inn, Travelodge, Novotel and Etap are all good places to start your search. Again, by booking early you will be more likely to find the best offers so make sure you start planning well in advance of your planned party date.
LUXURY
You might want to push the boat out a little bit, and who wouldn’t? If you can afford to, your hen party is the perfect opportunity to spend the night in luxury. The UK in particular has some of the most beautiful luxury hotels in the world, whether you’re after a break in the city or a country retreat there is something out there for whatever you desire. It’s worth checking the internet first rather than booking directly as there are many companies out there who offer rooms at a fantastic price. If your group is quite small, you could even think about booking a suite. It’s your night, make it special.
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Many people are now looking to take a trip away for their hen parties, seeking the excitement of big European party cities like Amsterdam, Prague and Barcelona, but there are locations a bit closer to home. Scotland is a brilliant destination for party goers. Whether you’re seeking the party atmosphere or something a little more laid back, just north of the border you can find everything you want from your hen party and more!
Edinburgh is world renowned for its stunning architecture and its extensive and vibrant history but it also has a thriving, world class nightlife! The Scots are well known for their wonderful hospitality and you will find it in abundance in this beautiful city. You will also find a range of quality hotels ranging in price, and a fantastic shopping district. Fancy a bit of culture? Edinburgh castle is an obvious attraction, and there are a number of fantastic museums and art galleries, The Scottish Whisky Experience in particular is well worth a visit! There are also a vast array of festivals happening throughout the year, and there is something for all tastes, so check before you go.
Glasgow too is fast gaining a reputation as one of the best party cities in Europe. There are literally hundreds of pubs throughout the city (the Glaswegians pride themselves on their drinking culture). It also is a hotbed of stand-up comedy and has one of Europe’s hottest Burlesque scenes. If football’s your thing, why not take a trip around Celtic Park and Ibrox and then round things off with a look around the Scottish Football Museum?
Heading out of the city, Scotland also boasts some of the most picturesque countryside in the UK and there are a huge number of stunning hotels, spas and golf resorts if you want something a little more laid back and refined.
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Fancy doing something a little bit more out of the ordinary for your hen party? Need some unusual hen party ideas that don’t involve getting blind drunk and having a stripper gyrate in your face? Why not become the stripper yourself for the evening and take yourself and your friends for some pole dancing or burlesque lessons?
Image via Wikipedia
Pole dancing and Burlesque parties have seen a huge surge in popularity over the last couple of years, with thousands of women taking the opportunity to gain confidence, learn some new moves and most importantly, to have fun!
There are classes all over the country and range in size, price and experience.
Whereas some classes focus more on simple pole dancing, there are loads who seek to give you the proper burlesque experience, letting you get glammed up and strut yourself in the most tasteful of ways. These classes are fantastic and will focus on your posture and confidence before teaching you the captivating art of Burlesque strip tease. Many people comment on just how liberating they find these classes to be, not to mention fun. So don your heals, let go of your inhibitions and get dancing! You’ll be feeling as sexy as Dita Von Tease in no time!
Prices are generally pretty good too, the average being from around £220 for a group of 5, depending on your location. There are loads of companies out there who are more than willing to add a few extras for you too such as spa treatments, food and cocktails and there are also plenty of packages which incorporate these classes and add meals and accommodation to boot. All this really depends on your budget, but you are guaranteed an experience you will never forget, and maybe help the bride learn some moves to keep her and her newly betrothed entertained on their honeymoon 
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It can be difficult to know what to do for your Mormon hen party – especially if your friends don’t practice. Hen parties are basically synonymous with lots of alcohol and male strippers, but that doesn’t have to be the case and there are plenty of ways you can have fun without compromising your beliefs.
The first and most obvious way is to gather all your best and most fun friends. You might want to keep things low key, just get in some good food and films and see where the night leads you. Karaoke is a firm favourite amongst hen parties, as are the dance and sports games you get on certain consoles, these will help you all interact with each other, particularly if there are certain members of the group who are unfamiliar with each other.
Next up, think of some games you might like to play. If you have favourite board games; get them out! Or, if not, there are loads you can play with just a simple pen and paper. For example, each person gets a piece of paper and a pen and writes a girls name then folds it over and passes it on to the person on their left; then a you write a boys name and continue passing it along writing a scenario, location, and final outcome. Once this has finished, you hand it to the person on your left for a final time and each person takes it in turns to read it out – the outcome is usually quite hilarious!
If you want to do something outside the house, laser tag, go-karting and outdoor pursuits are also a great idea, or indulge yourself at your local spa or hotel. If that doesn’t sound appealing, why not head to a local restaurant for some fine dining, or head further afield for a spot of sight-seeing or some sunshine?
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Do you want to do something different for your hen party?
One creative bachelorette party idea is to have a kid’s theme with a bit of a twist.
First, get some invitations – you can pick these up from most high streets and they’re relatively inexpensive. Send them out to all your friends and let them know your theme. Encourage them to dress up as a character from their childhood – perhaps someone from their favourite cartoon or TV show.
When booking your venue you should consider size requirements. Indoor bouncy castles are immense fun but can take up quite a lot of room so if you’re looking to go all out with this one, make sure that the venue is OK with it first.
For snacks, things like party rings and space invaders are always a good idea but if you want to do something a bit more sophisticated, consider a chocolate fountain complete with fruit and marshmallows.
No children’s party would be complete without jelly and ice cream, and alcohol jellies would be perfect for your hen night. Usually alcohol jelly shots are made with vodka, but you could also try rum and pineapple or champagne jelly if you want to do something a bit special!
When it comes to games, musical statues, twister and musical chairs are all great games to play – you’ll be surprised how competitive you all still are!
Make up a pass the parcel and fill the layers with dares and forfeits – how far you want to go is up to you! Inside you can also put a mix of things from both the past and present so, in one layer you can have a novelty toy like you got as a youth and in another something a little bit more adult.
This is the perfect opportunity to get dressed up, be creative and nostalgic and have some good old-fashioned fun!
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Let’s face it, not everybody wants to go out and get totally obliterated on their hen nights, especially if it is close to the wedding itself. What bride wants to show up at the alter with bleary eyes and stinking of gin?!
Luckily there are some beautiful, non-alcoholic cocktails you can try for something a little bit different without risking a hangover.
Virgin Mary
Almost as classic as its alcoholic counterpart, a Virgin Mary consists of tomato juice with a dash lemon or lime juice, tobasco and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Season with pepper and garnish with a stick of celery. This is also a great boost of Vitamin C the next day if you do end up with that hangover!
Shirley Temple
Over ice, pour a small bottle of ginger ale and add a couple of teaspoons of grenadine then garnish with an orange slice and cherry.
Sunset
Take a couple of tablespoons of lime juice and top with fresh orange. Top with a dash of grenadine and garnish with a slice of orange
Sex on the Beach (Non-alcoholic)
A classic cocktail in its traditional form, a Sex on the Beach is still tasty by replacing the peach schnapps with peach cordial, and top with orange and cranberry juice.
Pina Colada (Non-alcoholic version)
A Pina Colada is a massive favourite amongst drinkers, but you can make it non-alcoholic by filling a glass ¾ full with pineapple juice and topping with coconut cream. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple.
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It’s your last night of freedom, the venue’s been booked and you’re looking ahead to your new life of matrimony, so what better excuse to go all out throw a wild bachelorette party?
Gather all your friends together and decide on a theme. Either get some t-shirts printed up that represent your group or decide on fancy dress; French maid outfits are always popular, devil horns, handcuffs, tiarras, garters and sashes will all help to complete the look. You can get most of these items on the high street now, but there are also a tonne of places specialising in party wear online.
This may well end up being cheaper, especially if you end up buying in bulk. You’ll also want to stock up on accessories while you’re at it; there are loads of places you can buy novelty items such as dick shaped straws and confectionary to get you all giggling.
The best way to start your wild hen night is with some drinking games, you might have some ideas of your own, but ‘I Have Never’ is a good one to start with as you don’t need anything but your own stories and imagination! The more you drink, the filthier the stories!
Truth or Dare is also a really great way to get everyone going, especially those members of the group that are a little more shy.
For more wild times, why not indulge the group by hiring a stripper or taking everyone for pole dancing lessons followed by a night on the tiles – you never know, you might even get the opportunity to show off some of your new skills!
One word of warning though, if you’re planning on getting totally out of control and giving your bride a proper send off you might want to head out of town to avoid embarassment, and definitely leave the mother-in-law at home! Also, make sure you take your camera to catch the action and most importantly stick together and stay safe!
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