Holding onto those plates!
Hey there bride tribes! Were you looking forward to an epic hen party this year? Perhaps you were all packed and ready to hit the bars in a foreign city? Or had a case full of naughty games waiting for a wicked house party? Either way, it was going to be the hen party to end all hen parties, packed with your bride-to-be’s favourite things (not to mention those L-plates and naughty straws) and brimming with organisational flair. It was going to be the one you and your friends would be talking about for years to come.
But before you throw in the towel, it’s worth considering some options for rescheduling your hen party.
Whether you’re a bride, bridesmaid or the friend who’s best at planning, here are our top tips for rescheduling your hen party, re-booting your plans, and making sure that whatever happens, your bride-to-be is sent off to the altar in style.
1. Read the Fine Print
Before you start making phone calls and hitting the ‘cancel’ button, check what terms and conditions you’ve agreed to, in case there’s a cancellation fee or you’ve paid or a non-refundable deposit.
Once you know what you had agreed to, give your supplier a call. Lots of venues are happy to re-schedule
Just don’t leave it too long, as everyone else is also rebooking and next year’s dates are filling up fast!
2.Pick Your Perfect Date
If you’re keen to use the same suppliers, it’s worth checking their availability before you go through the process of figuring out when everyone’s free, as they probably already have a lot of bookings for next year.
Don’t stress out too much if you can’t accommodate everyone. As you probably realised the first time around, there’s bound to be a few people who can’t make the new date.
On the other hand, you may discover that some people who couldn’t make the original date are available for the new one – so be sure to go back over your original invite list and check!
3. Embrace the Change of Seasons
If money’s become a bit tighter or the wedding date is looming, consider switching to a winter or off-peak date – they’re sometimes a bit cheaper and lots of suppliers offer ‘off-peak’ prices.
Just remember that if you’re switching from a summer to a winter hen party, you may need to reconsider any outdoor activities you had planned.
Instead, look for indoor hen party ideas such as life drawing, cocktail making or a dance class!
4. Get to Know Your Home Town
If you had planned to travel abroad or a long way from home, consider whether it’s possible to do the same activities on a smaller scale. Can you meet up in your home town so no one has to book accommodation?
If you have guests that will need to reschedule flights, be sure to check if they can get a refund or exchange before you make any changes.
5. Take it Outside
If you’ve still got a summer date, why not consider a picnic or day at the beach?
Outdoor get-togethers have become the new way to catch up, and why not? It’s easy to space yourselves out, you can bring your supplies and you don’t have to book or pay venue hire! Just remember if you’re going to be drinking, you’ll need to find a place that has accessible toilet facilities.
There are plenty of outdoor activities and games you can play, you could even have suppliers come to you. How about a private chef, a bouncy castle or an outdoor dance party? Most hen party dance instructors have their portable speakers, so all you have to do is pick your favourite music theme and get wiggling!
Keep Things Chilled
Don’t stress too much if things aren’t going to be exactly as you had dreamed – whatever you plan will still be fun and sometimes having a change of plan makes things even better than before!