The hen do

A hen do for a bride-to-be

Planning a hen do for a best friend, sister or colleague takes both time and thought. It’s a day that should ideally become a memory to last a lifetime – something to look back on with joy.

A good place to start when planning is to think about what sort of person the bride-to-be is. Is she adventurous and does she enjoy a challenge? Does she like games and being the centre of attention – or does she prefer a more low-key experience?

In many cases, people choose to skip the fancy dress and antics, and instead focus on creating a day where the bride-to-be gets to try something new, have fun and feel special. A bit of embarrassment is often part of the fun, though – after all, it has to feel like a hen do! Find products here→

Many hen dos kick off with a surprise ‘kidnapping’ – and this can be done in some really creative ways.

One example is when Annika Höge, now Mrs Braddon, was surprised on her way to work at Hälso Puls, a gym in central Stockholm. She thought a normal working day lay ahead, but instead a certain Tommy, sitting on his Harley-Davidson, had rolled in through the emergency exit. When Annika opened the door, he was sitting there waiting, ready to take her for a ride through the city – dressed in a leather outfit. The fact that he was also very good-looking certainly didn’t make the experience any worse. After an hour’s ride, they carried on to a motorbike club in Nacka, where the rest of the gang were standing ready to welcome her. That was the starting point for all the day’s activities.

Hen dos often have a packed programme. When Anja was getting married, for example, a recording studio was booked. Some of the participants had rewritten the song ‘Stand by Me’ with personalised lyrics about Anja, Joacim and their son Kalle. Anja sang the solo, whilst the others sang the chorus. The result may not have been musically perfect, but everyone was proud of the CD, which was played later during the wedding dinner – a much-appreciated surprise.

On the same day, Anja also had a private self-defence lesson at a karate club. The lesson was intense, filled with Japanese vocabulary and powerful kicks. Although the instructor didn’t take kindly to giggling and chewing gum – which led to a number of push-ups as punishment – the session ended with Anja being awarded a white belt. A fun and empowering experience for both the bride and her friends.

At another hen do, a tandem skydive was organised for the bride-to-be, Jessica. She was taken by surprise and driven to the skydiving club, where she was handed over to her instructor. Meanwhile, the rest of the group headed to Djurgården to set up a picnic with blankets, balloons and champagne. When Jessica later appeared in the sky and landed right in the middle of her friends, she was greeted with cheers and a toast with bubbly – a grand entrance that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Many hen dos end with dinner at a restaurant

One tip is to get ready together before dinner: have a swim in the pool, a bubble bath, a sauna and a glass of wine. The bride-to-be will probably find this absolutely blissful after a day full of all sorts of shenanigans. Now she can relax and take it easy with her girlfriends. Giggle, laugh and have a good old chat about girls’ stuff.

At Annika’s hen do, the day ended with dinner and a show at Wallmans Salonger in Stockholm – a restaurant where the staff both serve and entertain. The group had contacted the venue in advance to let them know it was a hen do. During the evening, Annika was surprised when one of the waiters started singing to her, got down on one knee and presented her with a red rose – to the cheers of the audience.

A handy tip is to appoint one person in the group to be in charge of taking photos throughout the day. By collecting the photos and adding personal and humorous comments, you can create a memory album. A photo book like this makes a much-appreciated gift at the wedding, which both the bride and groom and their guests can enjoy.

As mentioned, there are endless ideas for what a hen do can involve – you just need to use your imagination. The most important thing is that the bride-to-be feels noticed and celebrated. Often, all the antics are appreciated more than you might think, and the whole day becomes a warm memory to cherish – both for the bride and for everyone who’s there.

Are you planning a hen do? Here are my top three tips for making it a success:

It’s important to think about what this particular bride-to-be would like to get up to, what she’d appreciate. Never copy someone else’s hen do!!

Print out a schedule listing all the day’s activities and times. That way, everyone can keep track of what’s happening throughout the day.

Draw up a budget and get everyone involved to pay their share before the hen do. Then appoint a treasurer to cover the bride-to-be’s expenses during the day and evening. Don’t let the bride-to-be pay for anything herself – not even the taxi home at night!