AUTHOR: 'JOONDALUP RESORT' - HOTEL, DINING, WEDDINGS & GOLF
So, you’ve landed yourself the maid of honour gig and now you have lots of planning to do. One of your biggest responsibilities is to make sure your bride-to-be has the time of her life at her hen party before the big day. This is her last hurrah as a single woman, so you need to make sure the night is full of wonderful memories and good times. So if you’re ready to organise the hen party to beat all hen parties before your bride flies the coop, you’ve come to the right place. Follow Joondalup Resort’s top tips for throwing a memorable hen do that will have her smiling and everyone talking about it for weeks after; for all the right reasons.
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DON'T LEAVE IT TO THE LAST MINUTE
It may seem like a no-brainer, but things can start to go off track if you don’t have some serious party plans set in concrete early. So plan well in advance to avoid any last minute problems and allow smooth sailing on the actual day. Start by ensuring everything is booked in early and you give your guests enough notice by sending out an email outlining the day, so they all know what to expect.
SAVE THE DATE When it comes to choosing the date for the hen do, pick a day or weekend at least a week before the wedding and do not, under any circumstances, hold it the night before the big day. In fact, having the hen party at least a month to six weeks beforehand is best. This way, it won’t interfere with the bride-to-be’s pre-wedding routine or catch her during any intense pre-wedding jitters. TWO HEADS THINK BETTER THAN ONE Don’t be afraid to ask for help by collaborating with the other guests (or at least the other bridesmaids) as their input might ease the load off you. Don’t be so vague as to ask, “what are we doing?” because this can result in a barrage of conflicting ideas. Instead, let them know your plans and see if they can add anything to it. And remember, there will always be someone who doesn’t agree, but you can never please everyone, so go with what you feel the bride will want above all. 
CHECK IN WITH THE BRIDE-TO-BE
All too often forgotten is the need to involve the bride. After all, it’s her hen party and even if she wants it a total surprise she may have a list of things she definitely wouldn’t want.
Big boozed bash or quiet luncheon? Family friendly daytime activity or girl’s night out? Every bride-to-be is different, so ask her questions and find out what she wants. THE GUEST LIST The most important question to ask your bride and one part of the party planning she definitely should be included in is who to invite. Don’t just blast her contacts - check in with her about her must-have guest list. Some may want to include family and others may prefer just the girls. Some may also like to split the day into two separate parts - the safe spa day for the mother-in-law and then the wild evening for the party girls. Either way, check in with her first. 
SET A BUDGET WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK
It’s important to set a realistic budget and stick to it. As the maid of honour, it’s your job to collect the money, so keep in mind to be sensitive to people’s budgets, as you don’t want to be stuck footing the bill!
Make sure you give your guests a heads up on the price and what’s included before you get the go ahead. Then set a schedule for them to lodge money to a designated account because if you can collect the money beforehand, it makes for a far more relaxed atmosphere on the day. 
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Before choosing the perfect location for the hen night and/or weekend, it’s important to do your research first. A hen party should feel different to a normal night out and is a great excuse for some quality girl bonding so location can be key. Whatever you decide, make sure to check out the best places to go (and to avoid) before setting off. And even if you’ll be in your hometown, consider staying at a fancy hotel and enjoying the facilities for something extra special.
GET CREATIVE
PICK A THEME
When picking a theme, skip the generic and go for a theme she’s never heard of before and you know she’ll love. Try something completely outside the box and go glamping, paintball or a yoga retreat. Or if you know she’ll appreciate a good old girl’s night out, stick with that but get creative and make it a night she won’t forget with special group outfits and exciting activities.
PUT A NEW TWIST ON AN OLD ACTIVITY
Nothing starts an exciting night off like the laughter and fun that comes with hen party games. We all know about the kind of games you traditionally find at a hen party: Pin the veil on the bride, make a wedding dress from toilet paper, bridal bingo and the list goes on. These games have stood the test of time because they’re appropriate, inclusive and fun for all. But why not up the ante? Sure, tradition is great, but switching things up is fun too. One idea many brides currently love is a hen party scavenger hunt, where you divide your guests into groups and send them off to find and/or collect a wide range of essential items on a checklist. Not only is this exciting and new, but allows the girls to bond. GO EASY ON THE GAMES On that note, while a few well timed games are essential as icebreakers and mood setters, too many can feel forced. So if the conversation is flowing and the group seems to be happy, don’t rush off to the next activity just for the sake of being on time. Instead, just go with the flow and consider dropping a game or two to allow the girls to have their own fun. 
BE PREPARED WITH PARTY FAVOURS & SURVIVAL KITS
PACE YOURSELF
When the celebrations kick off, it’s easy to forget to pace yourself. This is especially important if you’re out all day or weekend. You don’t want to bride to be legless by lunchtime and not be able to enjoy the evening, so make sure you factor in some time for eating and hydrating. Even better, why not make up a survival kit for all your guests? This includes all the must-have items to survive the day and/or weekend such as painkillers, mints, heel pads and mini bottles of water.
LEAVE WITH SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
Every hen should have fun party favours, but it’s up to you as the maid of honour to make them fitting for your bride-to-be’s taste. Have your guests leave with a favour that makes them remember her unforgettable hen party. This could include anything from the bride’s favourite candy and chocolate to customised shot glasses and wine glass charms. 
MAKE THE BRIDE-TO-BE FEEL SPECIAL
Show the bride-to-be how special she is with some thoughtful touches. This could include doing an activity she loves, having her favourite cocktail on hand, or even personalised keepsakes such as a photo book with messages from all the girls. It’s these little, inexpensive details that will make her feel loved on this once in a lifetime day.
RELAX & HAVE FUN AT THE HEN PARTY!
Last but not least - the hen party is all about having fun, so do it!
A hen without a little stress is as rare as a hen without feathers, but try to keep cool, calm and collected and remember why you’re doing this in the first place. If the drama emerges or plans hit a bump in the road, grin and bear it. The hen party is the kick off of the wedding celebrations for the bride, so keep it as stress-free as possible so she has a great time before heading down the aisle. For the start to a memorable evening, or the landing pad from a night out, Joondalup Resort has you covered with luxury hotel rooms, elegant pool, a fun cocktail menu and fine dining. Contact Joondalup Resort to book your hen’s night plans or to find out more about our wedding venues and packages 
ARTICLE RELATED TO HEN PARTY PLANNING:
If you loved the hen party planning tips outlined above, we think you will also love the following planning inspiration. Straight from the professionals themselves, these 5 tips will help make your planning journey a breeze. Click here to read the article now! 
AUTHOR BIO - JOONDALUP RESORT
HOTEL, DINING, WEDDINGS & GOLF!
Joondalup Resort holds events for any size in their numerous function rooms, 3 restaurants and cafes, and luxury accommodation with 27 hole golf course (all available to the public).
Website: www.joondalupresort.com.au
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