Hen’s parties are a lot of fun. It’s a day and night filled with cocktails, laughter, delicious food, best friends and love. It’s also a pretty special event marking one of life’s great milestones, so it’s little wonder why planning a hen’s party can be stressful, as naturally you want to ensure everything is perfect on the day for the bride.
When it comes to planning the best hen’s party ever, the number one tip is to make it one that your bride will love. While trends come and go, and Pinterest boards do look tempting, if you go with your gut instinct and think about what your friend would really like, then you won’t go wrong.
From choosing the right venue to the food and drinks, as well as the styling and activities, here are five top tips for planning a hen’s party (stress free) that will be one that the bride, and her hens, will remember forever.
Choose the right venue
From a grassy area overlooking the harbour to an elegant venue where everything is looked after, the sky’s the limit for where you can host a hen’s party. There are a few things to factor in when deciding where to have it however, as on the day you will want the group of hens and your bride to relax, enjoy and do as little of the heavy lifting as possible. It’s a great idea to choose a beautiful restaurant or upscale bar where you know the food and drinks will be excellent, the service friendly and attentive (and great at topping up empty glasses!) and can provide you with great music to have a dance. And the best part? There’s no washing up.
Get creative and think about the special touches
While you can opt to go with a theme for the hen’s party (think tropical, all white, 70’s) another great idea is to get creative with the special touches that will make the day and night memorable for your hen! Styling is everything when it comes to the hen’s party, and can really set the tone of the occasion. You can never go wrong with fresh florals, candles and a beautiful table setting. Tongue-in-cheek decorations (like having the groom’s face on a balloon) can also inject some fun and playfulness into the day! If some of the bride’s friends can’t make it to the hen’s party, another great tip is to organise a video message of them sending their love to the bride. And, a goodie’s bag filled with Panadol and Berocca never goes astray.
Plan some activities and games
Everyone loves a long and boozy lunch. Though you can go the extra mile on the hen’s party and give your group lots of laughs and memories by planning some activities and games, too. For one, it will give you some time between drinks, though it will also ensure everyone will go home with lots of laughs and new memories. Horse riding, an 80’s aerobic class, a luxurious spa weekend, a cocktail making class and pottery class are some ideas for activities to do! See how well the bride and her groom-to-be know each other and plan a fun question game of “who is more likely” (and you can get your groom to answer the questions beforehand). And, towards the end of the night you can always head to karaoke—an oldie and a goodie—and never fails to deliver on the good times.
Think about food and drinks
Arguably one of the most important elements to factor in on the day of the hen’s (besides what to wear!) is the food and drinks. If the food is too heavy and stodgy your group may be more likely to be sitting down wanting a nap as opposed to dancing the night away on the dance floor under a disco ball. And let’s face it, no one likes to go hungry at an event either, with the drinks going to their heads.
If you’re organising the hen’s yourself, assemble an array of platters that everyone can graze on throughout the day, like antipasto platters (with a beautiful selection of cheese!), as well as some more substantial plates like sushi, sandwiches, wraps, salads and pastas, to share. Chocolate dipped strawberries are always great for a sweet treat. And when it comes to drinks here’s all you need to know—champagne and cocktails! One upside if you choose to have the hen’s at a venue is that everything on the day and night is taken care of, so there’s more time to enjoy.
Go with the flow and enjoy it
While you may be the most organised person in the room, the truth is that some things just never go to plan! And sometimes all that’s left to do is just go with the flow. The most important thing on the day is to be present with your bride and group of hen’s and enjoy the experience for what it is—a wonderful celebration of love. And the great thing about love is that it’s not always perfect. Your friend will already appreciate how much effort you’ve put into the day, so if there’s a mishap, laugh it off, have a sip of champagne, look around at the room and all the special people, and remember, at the very least, it will make a great story.
The Atrium Bar at The Star Gold Coast has an unforgettable hen’s party experience with its Baby, One More Night Hen’s Package. Featuring chilled sparkling rose, Blushing Bride pink gin & tonics, and a section of premium cheeses and chocolate-covered strawberries, every last detail for the bride-to-be will be taken care of.
The Atrium Bar’s Baby, One More Night Hen’s Package serves 12 guests for $499. To book your new celebration, please visit: https://www.star.com.au/goldcoast/bars/atrium-bar
