When you talk about hen parties, people automatically think of wild nights out and lots of alcohol. And while that’s great fun, it isn’t always what suits everyone for a hen party. One idea that has come back in popularity is the idea of a garden party and it also makes a brilliant hen party alternative. You can even spice it up a bit by having buff butlers along to serve snacks and drinks to your guests! Here are some tips on how to have a summer garden hen party.
1. Have an alternative plan
It’s nice to think that the British weather always plays along but let’s be honest, that isn’t true. So while a garden party is a great idea for a hen party, you will also want an alternative plan if the weather plays chaos. It might be something as simple as a venue with an indoor area as well as an outdoor one or even a gazebo for everyone to shelter under.
2. Make sure you are protected
Funny enough, if the weather does play along, you still need to protect your guests. Again, a shelter like a gazebo or other semi-indoor area might be the perfect way to give a break from the sunshine. And hand out little sunscreen bottles when people arrive to help them remember to protect themselves from the sunshine if it makes an appearance.
3. Have a central activity
One of the reasons hen parties can be a bit awkward is that you bring together a group of people who only have one or two things in common – a shared friend or family member, usually. This can be awkward for everyone so a great way to break the ice is to have a central activity for everyone to get involved with. This can be anything from a buffet to a life drawing exercise to a series of fun party games – just pick something that is suitable for the people coming along.
4. Encourage people to mix up
Another pattern with a group is that people tend to stick with who they know and not always mix with others. There’s the work group and the family group and the small group of college friends. Try to get people to mix up – seating them in a random order is a simple tactic if you are sitting down for a meal or buffet. They will then start to chat with others and this new friendliness will carry over to the wedding.
5. Have a brilliant gift bag
Remember when you went to a party as a kid and came away with a goodie bag that was almost as much fun? You can do something similar with a hen party and theme it towards surviving the wedding or other fun things. Or if you were doing something at the party such as an activity or craft, the goodie bag could encourage guests to carry on with it, giving them something to keep doing as well as loads of fun memories.
Buff Butler Blog
Hen party inspiration, planning tips, real event ideas and behind-the-scenes stories.