One of the areas of wedding planning that you shouldn't have to worry too much about are the hen and stag parties. However, you definitely shouldn't just leave it to fate and hope for the best! Here are our top tips for ensuring that your nights run smoothly...
Who's organising it?
It's traditional that the maid of honour organises the hen do and the best man sorts the stag, but if you have more than one, or your top picks are long-distance, you may need to delegate. Be sure to be clear early on with who's organising the day, so that the ball doesn't get dropped. Alternatively, if you and your groom would prefer to organise (which isn't unheard of), let everyone know as soon as possible.Â
Make a guest list
It's important to let your best man and maid of honour know who you'd like to attend your party, and give them contact details. It's likely that you'll be inviting a mix of friendship groups, colleagues and family, so don't just assume that everyone knows everyone. If you'd like to split the party into friends and family (this is particularly popular with hen parties - after all, you may want your nan to come to a lovely afternoon tea with you and the girls, but would rather she didn't attend the party in the strip club later!), then be clear with who's invited to which part. Holding the two on separate days or weekends may be easier if this is the case.
Decide a date together
Gone are the days when your last night of freedom would be held the day before the wedding - now, we recommend holding the hen or stag around a month before the big day. Early on, it's wise to discuss dates with your maid of honour or best man and let them know a range of available weekends so that they can plan around you. Spring and summer weekends can often fill up quite quickly with holidays and other weddings, so getting a date in the diary ASAP is crucial.Â
Discuss important details
Once you have the essentials sorted, we recommend discussing a few ideas with your organisers. Remember that they'll likely want to keep most things a surprise, but it's important that they know any dealbreakers up front. For example, tell them if you'd prefer to stay in the UK or venture abroad, or let them know whether rude accessories or strip shows are welcome. If you're petrified of heights and water, then an activity day with high ropes and kayaking isn't likely to work well. The day is supposed to be fun for both the bride and (contrary to popular opinion!) the groom, so don't worry about speaking up in the early stages.Â
Do your groomsmen or bridesmaids need an extra helping hand? Help them find the perfect hen and stag organisers and suppliers here.Â