Every bride wants a fun send off with her friends before The Big Day, but over the years stag and hen dos have become more and more extravagant.
Four-day trips abroad and spending hundreds of pounds in one night are now the norm, which can be hard if you’re a penny pinching bride, or if you’re a bridesmaid or guest who has already forked out cash for accommodation and wedding gifts.
Image by: Robert Bejil Photography
If you’ve been tasked with organising a fabulous hen do on a budget, pick one of these five fun ideas for a cheap party everyone will love and remember for years to come.
Pamper evening
Considerably cheaper than a weekend at the spa, a pamper evening offers the opportunity for you to get a gaggle of girls together to try out new make-up techniques, apply face masks and have a good gossip at the same time. Many beauticians and hairstylists offer party packages that, when divided between all the hens, could cost as little as £10-£20 per person.
Scavenger hunt
Turn your town or city into an adventure playground by planning a scavenger hunt for your hens. Depending on the guest list you could work in pairs or small groups, following clues and documenting your experiences with disposable cameras before arranging to meet up at a pub, bar or restaurant afterwards. Create a list for each team to follow, which could include tasks such as blagging a free drink from a bartender, swapping an item of clothing with a man and taking photos of bride and groom lookalikes.
Girly sleepover
Stock up on cheap party supplies, popcorn and DVDs, and journey back to your teens with a girly sleepover. Staying at one person’s house or flat saves on paying for a hotel, and if everyone brings one DVD to watch, they’ll be a host of films for you to choose from. This is a great idea if you have a small hen party, or if you want to continue the fun after a night out.
Come dine with me
Host a dinner party and ask guests to each contribute a dish, or bring a bottle of wine. Sharing the cost of food or drink will make it a cheaper night for everyone, and you could even introduce a competitive element to the proceedings, like Come Dine with Me style scorecards, or fun (and free!) party games.
Happy campers
If you want the celebrations to last for a whole weekend, but don’t want to break the bank, go camping! Take a road trip to one of the bride’s favourite nature spots, pack a tent, some warm clothes and a few bottles of bubbly, and get back to nature for a few days. Plan a weekend of long walks in the country or head to the beach to try your hand at surfing or body boarding – if you can handle the cold weather, these activities are much cheaper out of season.
Do you have any tips for a fun and cheap hen party?
Elise Lévêque is a lucky bride-to-be who loves blogging about wedding planning, especially for Wedding and Party Store. Elise lives for the weekend and loves to throw dinner parties, go on mini city breaks with her fiancé and photograph all her adventures.