Hen's Night Dos and Don'ts

Have you just started thinking about your hen's night? Have all the women in your office been regaling tales of hen's night disasters? Don't worry - it won't happen to you. Give your chief bridesmaid this Dos and Don'ts Guide from hen's night experts Sexgear.co.nz - then relax and get on with your wedding plans.

As the maid of honour, it is your responsibility to throw the hen's party - to give your friend a night she won't forget, but for all the right reasons! Even the sweetest girl can get a little 'bridezilla' with pre-wedding nerves, so here are a few guidelines to make sure she's a happy little hen!

DOS:

·       Do give yourself plenty of time. Organisation is key to a successful hen's night, so allow yourself plenty of time to send out invites, book venues and arrange the finer details (like games, decorations and accessories). This will mean less stress and the avoidance of any panic at the last minute.

·       Do consult the bride about the invitees. Hen's nights are usually intimate and sometimes mildly embarrassing, so it's more than likely that the bride will only want her closest friends there. Special tip: invite a good friend from overseas to surprise her!

·       Do ask the bride what activity she would like to do or what tone she would like the evening to have. The Luxury Hen is unlikely to want an adventurous outing. It is her night - one she doesn't have to organise so she can enjoy herself. It's best to follow her wishes to the tee.

·       Do set yourself a budget. Depending on what you plan, the expenses of a hen's night can rack up. The Hen should not have to pay for anything, so you should talk to the rest of the bridal party about splitting the costs. Most guests will realise they have to pay for their own dinner etc, but to be sure, subtly remind them on the invite. Also, don't hesitate to run the budget by the hen, as she will know what all of her friends can afford.

·       Do ask for a brief. You know your friend well - that's why you were bestowed the honour of organising her last night out as a single lady. If you know that she's very controlling and likely to turn into a 'bridezilla' if everything isn't just so, don't be afraid to ask her for a little guidance. It'll make your job easier, and she'll get exactly what she wants.

·       Do insist on RSVP's. This gives you the advantage of inviting other people if some guests cannot attend. The last thing you want is for the hen to only have a handful of guests.

·       Do keep travelling to a minimum (unless you've hired a limo). It's best to have a maximum of 3-4 destinations. This means less time/money spent on taxis and minibuses, and more time/money spent on having fun. There's also less of a risk of losing people.

·       Do have Nurofen, water, Berocca and hash browns ready for the morning after!

DON'TS:

·       Don't allow the Hen to get carried away with the male attention. It's her last night to pretend she is single - but if the need arises, remind her that she already has a mate!

·       Don't get her a stripper if she says she doesn't want one. This is the number one cause of friction at hen's nights. No matter how funny you think it will be, if she has said she doesn't want one, respect her wishes and leave it well alone.

·       Don't overindulge in the bubbles. As chief bridesmaid and chief organiser, you need to be of sound mind throughout the night to make sure everything runs smoothly.

·       Don't hold the Hen's Night any less than 2 weeks before the wedding. This will give everyone plenty of time to recover before the big day.

·       Don't forget your camera! You will certainly want to capture all of the priceless moments. Special tip: It's a nice touch to put the pictures in an album and give them to your bride before or on her wedding day.

For more hen's night tips and ideas, or for all of your hen's night accessories, visit our Hens Night pages at Sexgear.co.nz.