Hen Nights

How to organise the perfect hen night? Well, start with the guest list. If it's just your closest girl friends, who'll be up for a weekend of party games and dancing, problem solved. If you have a mixture of female friends and relations to consider, things can get more complicated.

Probably best to put your guests into compartments and arrange different celebrations for different people. Take your posse out on a light-hearted bender, but don't invite your mum or aunt along! They'll feel inappropriate and your friends won't be able to relax. Then take Mum and older relatives and friends along to a special pre-wedding dinner or elegant afternoon tea, or treat them to a pampering stay at a spa. That way, everyone's happy.

Traditionally, your chief bridesmaid takes a hand in organising all this. However, drop some heavy hints beforehand so that she doesn't book a strippergram when the very thought makes you cringe, or plan an extravagant weekend in Spain when you're saving hard for the wedding. If she's a good friend, she won't go far astray. Hold the hen night/weekend a couple of weeks before the wedding, so that you can all recover in time for the big day, and give your hens plenty of notice beforehand. Tell them you'll understand if they can't make it, and don't be upset if some guests drop out due to previous commitments or lack of cash.

Talking of which... it's been estimated that the average spend per hen is just under 200 pounds. If this sounds like too much, and you know it will put the event out of court for some of your friends, then tailor things down. A fun night on the town or a garden party with champagne can be just as memorable as a weekend on the Costa Bomb!

For more hints and tips that will help take some of the stress out of organising your big day, check out our wedding information pages. They're an indispensable source of wedding planning tips and style advice for any bride to be and we are adding to them all the time so make sure you visit us again.

And don't forget to browse Henry Kaye's complete range of of stunning wedding shoes (for brides, bridesmaids and pageboys alike), stylish pageboy outfits, gorgeous bridesmaid dresses, and exquisite wedding bags and beautiful wedding accessories.

Megan Wedding Shoes

Tallulah and sash bridesmaid dress