Hello, brides-to-be and fellow readers. I hope you're all enjoying the dismal month that is November and that you're all looking forward to Christmas. Me, I start looking forward to Christmas straight after Bonfire Night but that's because I'm actually only 12. For those that got married during November, well, I'm sure it wasn't at all dismal. Greetings to Tasha and Donna whose civil partnership at Terraces Bar and Grill was rounded off by fireworks everywhere! Lovely.
Anyway, today's lesson is...The Hen Do. Yes, I know this is the subject that will strike terror and dread into the soul of your Chief Bridesmaid as it is her, ladies and gents, who will be tasked with this oh-so-joyous task and as I know, it can be stressful to organise. You, as the Bride will be the centre of attention and it will be worth it in the end. (By the way, I MAY do a blog on stag nights but then again I may not. It's my blog. Pffft).
And so. Given that I live in God's own city of BrightonandHove, and in view of the fact that Fat Boy Slim is the Mayor (or at least he probably should be), I highly recommend Brighton as your hen do destination of choice. It's certainly a city that knows how to have fun and as you probably know, you don't have to look very hard to spy random groups of women dressed up as policewomen, nurses etc having fun - unless of course, I'm a bit behind the times and our public sector is allowed alcohol on duty whilst moving in a pack formation.
Brighton's lively eclectic mix of people and its vibrant mix of culture and trashy makes it a tippity top party destination and I recommend it to the house. I've narrowed down my recommendations to just ten but don't consider this list exhaustive, contact me for some ideas if you don't see anything you fancy. One of my "things" is organising hen weekends and being creative about the whole thing and I love doing it.
One thing, though: I don't do sleazy. If you're looking for that sort of thing, there are ways and means of finding it (a few clicks on Google) but as your Wedding Fairy Godmother, I may have a fit of the vapours if you ask me to organise male strippers. This is a willy free zone. No willies, OK?
On this, I recommend you to have a quiet word with your Chief Bridesmaid about what you don't want and also you may like to agree an approximate budget. Remember that those who care about you may certainly want to come and celebrate your forthcoming wedding but may not be earning a shed-load so do be sensitive. Don't become a Bridezilla any sooner than is strictly necessary.
Let's go...
Firstly....Your Theme (otherwise known as What to Wear)
This is quite an interesting subject. On more than one occasion I've been able to spot the Bride amongst her hen friends because she's the one looking glam and lovely whilst her slightly overweight friends look a bit, well, frightful. PVC leggings don't really suit everyone, I find (snigger). Other hen groups I've spotted have made me want to go and ask if their Mums know that they're out dressed like that: the full Moulin Rouge look (without the safety of an overcoat for later on) being sported by a group of very young women whom I saw once just made me feel rather protective.
I wish I'd had a camera to capture the very chic ladies dressed as the Jean Paul Gaultier Sailors, turning heads and getting many admiring glances on the seafront last summer. However, I DID have a camera to capture this group of ladies, dressed as Disney figures on a hot and sunny Saturday in July 2010. A 360 degree mirror is a must, I'm sure you will agree:
THINGS TO DO
The "Hen do" can last over a weekend so I thought you'd appreciate the following ideas:
10. A trip on the Brighton Wheel
Launched last month amidst a degree of controversy and a lot of debate about whether it spoils the view for residents, this appears set to be a permanent fixture on the sea front. I must admit I was a bit taken aback to see it there as it looks a bit out of place, however I hear that it's lots of fun and that you can see for miles and miles. It's £8 per adult but they offer bespoke group and party bookings so it may be worth checking out.
http://www.brightonwheel.com/packages/group-bookings-and-parties/
9. A Treasure Hunt or a Brighton Walk
Sounds dull? Don't think so! Think about it - how do you fill the hours before you can legitimately start drinking? Remember that a) Brighton is full of really cool history, including some grizzly bizarre murders, the hilarious Prince Regent and his floozy Mrs Fitzherbert and b) it has some interesting architecture that really IS interesting. Clearly, I am my Father's daughter, who was a member of the Antiquarian Society.
A treasure hunt splits you into two groups and you race against the clock to find clues and win prizes, woo hoo! As the Bride you could have a quiet word to make sure that your team wins but you didn't hear that from me.
I like the look of this lady:
http://www.brightonwalks.com/Treasure%20hunts.html
and this local company looks good, too:
http://www.thebrightontreasurehuntcompany.co.uk/
8. Make your Own Pop Video
Now then now then, this sounds like brilliant fun. At £70 each, it's not a cheap option but if you and your hen pals have always wanted to be pop divas, here's your chance! Decide on a song and a theme and then at a studio in Brighton, you're all greeted with a glass of bubbly and after some make-up and styling, a choreographer takes you through some bustin' moves. You get a copy of the DVD once it's been edited and lo...your moment in the sun is captured for ever.
Have a look at the website, there are some other creative ideas for you here as well:
http://www.adventureconnections.co.uk/activities/hen_pop_party.jsp
7. Fish Pedicure
I wondered about putting this in as there's been a bit of adverse publicity about this in the press in recent weeks, however, if you fancy trying this out don't let it put you off. You and your feathered females sit on squidgy benches and allow small fish (Garra Rufa fish, to be precise) to eat at the scuzzy hard bits on your feet. This, I'm told, is very relaxing and actually works. I must admit that submitting my feet to this treatment would constitute cruelty to small fish so I'll pass, but if you fancy it, have a look at:
http://www.asasespa.co.uk/
6. A Boat Tour from the Marina
This is LOTS of fun and there are quite a few companies who will offer hen groups exclusive use of a boat and a couple of nice chappies to sail it. If you ask nicely, you can take drinkies on board as you sail from the Marina to the Pier and back. Check the weather beforehand as if it's rough you may need to have a plan B. Trips normally last about an hour and if you're the Bride, you can be Queen of the World. Like this:
Or, you can just be some sad old soak, like this:
Any resemblance to your hard-working wedding planner is entirely coincidental.
Oh, another thing...Don't forget to go to the Marina via the Volks Railway near the Pier.
6. A Spa Day
A typical hen do activity but nothing wrong with that. Again, not cheap so think hard about whether a Spa Day AND cocktails AND dinner AND a night club is within everyone's budget before you book it. However, you may feel that there is some sort of being good/caning it later equation here and it's hard to argue with this philosophy. Gather with your clucky ones, don white dressing gowns and towelling flip flops and acknowledge that your body is a temple.
There may not be a whole lot of space if you have a large party so my advice is to check numbers with the venue. Check out The Hilton, The Grand Hotel or my favourite:
http://www.thetreatmentrooms.co.uk/treatments/
5. A Tutored Wine Tasting
Lovely idea. Here's the deal: BEFORE you start on the serious partying, get your friends together late afternoon to try very good wines and to learn about them. Find a venue of your choice (or I can source one for you) and discover the wonderful world of high quality wines. Remember also that you may be on the look-out for a decent supplier of wines for your wedding and this is a great way to find them. I promise that there are no spitoons involved (what a wonderful word that is). I highly rate this chap:
http://elwoodwines.co.uk/index.html
4. Going on The Pier
Not going on the Pier would just be plain rude. There are slot machines, fish and chips with champagne, karaoke, more slot machines, a ghost train, bumper cars and...The Dolphin Derby: People battle it out to get as many balls down holes as they can while a dolphin races across in front of you. It's uniquely Brighton and has its own song and a Facebook page. Who knew?
4. Going out for Dinner
Hey, you need to eat to soak up the booze and to give you energy for al the jigging about you are going to do later and you have come to no better place than Brighton. Places I would recommend are Casa Don Carlos, a fab tapas restaurant in The Lanes, Breeze Restaurant in Trafalgar Street - chic and fun, Browns in Duke Street (equally chic), and Al Forno in The Lanes - not chic! But cheap, filling and loads of space if you have a crowd.
There are a great many restaurants in Brighton, so either give me a call for advice or check out:
http://www.visitbrighton.com/eating-and-drinking
3. Cocktails
Oooh yes. You either love them or hate them (me, I only like Margaritas and only then without the salt) but they're rather glitzy glam and hey, you get to nick the umbrella and swizzle stick thing to take home afterwards. Again, lots of choice of really good Brighton-based cocktail bars:
Koba Bar, 135 Western Road
Hotel du Vin, 2-6 Ship Street
In Vino Veritas , 103 North Road
Valentinos - New Road, next to the theatre (recommended for people-watching from the balcony)
Cosmobar, 21 New Steine
Just don't blame me if your friends tell you the next day that you told everyone in the bar that you loved them.
2. Comedy at The Komedia
A great place to laugh like a drain at some very funny people, have a few drinks and chill out. You'll see many up-and-coming comedians here and then when they're on the telly you can feel all smug that you saw them before they were famous. The Krater Comedy Club has a special offer for its 10.30pm show at just £10. Very good value.
http://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/krater/
And finally....drum roll for the most fun ever on a hen night goes to:
1. Silent Disco
This odd, slightly bonkers concept has been around for a few years and has taken off big time. Here's how it works: In a nutshell, people dance to music being listened to on wireless headphones, the signal of which is broadcast by an FM transmitter. In general there are two different channels which means that you're often wondering why someone is vogue-ing when you're doing the birdy song dance. The effect is quite splendid, a bit like this:
2. Download music to your iPod
3. Link up iPod to transmitter
4. Put on headphones
Dance around like a loony. I can't really say why this is such good fun, perhaps if you know, you could enlighten me. The main company that provides the equipment is
http://www.silentdiscolondon.co.uk/
So, that's all for now - well done if you've managed to get through to the end of this and I hope you've not all lost the will to live! Anyway, I hope you enjoy your hen do, whatever you end up doing and that if you have to wear a veil with an "L" plate on it, you will find it in your heart to forgive your friends for this minor transgression. Remember that I'm chocca full of ideas and part of my remit is to help you to plan anything and everything to do with your wedding.
Also...have I missed anything? Any shocking omissions that you need to tell me about? Let me know below!
Give me a call on 07816 684 756.
Bye for now,
Susan
