How to Plan a Hen Do: The Ann Summers Guide

Talk to the bride

No doubt the bride is going to be up to her ears in plans for the big day itself, but she may well want to be involved in organising her Hen Do. Planning duties traditionally falls to her girls, but the party should reflect what she wants to do.

Ask if she has any preferences on location or activities - there's no doubt she'll say yes! But you may be thinking a beach and booze-fuelled trip to Ibiza whilst she may prefer heading to a strange city to explore. She'll also have her own very specific ideas about the guest list – which can be a tricky one. But this is your girl's time to shine, so grab a pen and take note of what she wants, as her wish (plus a few surprises) is your command.

Pick a date

Second only to the date of the wedding itself, the date of the Hen Do is essential, so it's key to get the bride's input. But most of all you should follow one golden rule...Do not, we repeat, do not plan a Hen Do the night before the wedding.

If things go according to plan, the bride and her bridesmaids may not be in any state to walk down the aisle. At least a week or a fortnight before is a minimum, but between four and six weeks before gives plenty of breathing space in the money department.

Make sure that you start planning the day well in advance. This gives you time to sort the location, hotels if needed, the gift bags, and get any activities booked. It also allows guests to take the time off work and makes it less likely that there will be diary conflicts.

Planning is your new best friend

In order to pull off the perfect Hen Do, you're going to have to get organised. While this does include sorting the date and getting everyone to pay for the hotel (we recommended setting up a WhatsApp chat or private Facebook group), we also mean in terms of the activities!

We'll talk more about the type of activities you can go for shortly, but right now it's time to channel your inner Monica Geller and plan plan plan. If you're going paintballing before hitting the club, the bridal party won't be pleased with 15 minutes of prep time in between.

4 ideas for a Hen Party to remember - or not

If you're looking to do things a little different, or are sticking with tradition and just need something to break up the drinking, then you're in luck. There's so much you can do, so let your creativity run wild and find something that everyone will love.

Follow our advice and you're guaranteed to give your best girl the send-off into married life that she truly deserves. Now all you have to do is survive the hangover.

What to take on a Hen Do

The Essential Stuff

For a bash that'll last from dusk till dawn, there are a few things you'll need. Having been on our fair share of Hen Dos, here are our recommendations... Plasters - because dancing all night in high heels can kill. Chewing gum - for fresh breath! Hand sanitiser - because bathrooms always run out of soap. Hair clips - no one wants hair in their face when dancing! A mirror, mini makeup, and lip balm. You're good to go!

The Fun Stuff

Start as you mean to go on by popping a miniature bottle of alcohol. Gin, whisky, or even champagne will go down a treat as a cheeky shot before you head out on the town. And don't forget to throw in a few shot glasses - you never know when you might need them! We'd also recommend adding some chocolate to nibble on between locations; perfect for much-needed surge of energy.

The Silly Stuff

A Hen Do isn't complete without having some naughty supplies up your sleeve, and here at Ann Summers we declare anything that can be penis-shaped, will be penis-shaped. From tiaras and veils and feather boas to willy straws and willy chocolates, we have absolutely everything you could ever need. You can thank us later.

The “Morning After” Stuff

If you're planning a true send off for your girl, then you might wake up the next day feeling a little worse for wear. But with some proper planning, your hangover doesn't have to be crippling. The little bags might sit separately to your party bags, but they'll certainly be well received. Ideas for what to include are: water (for obvious reasons), painkillers (for even more obvious reasons), chocolate, make up remover wipes, and sunglasses. Trust us, they'll all thank you later.