While your best friend is planning her wedding, why don’t you give her the surprise of her life by planning a kickass bridal shower or hen party as we like to call it. It’s definitely supposed to be a fun affair, so why not make the execution easy too? Here is a guide for all the bridesmaids involved so you can give your friend that perfect party!
1. Block Dates BEFORE Anything Else!
Check with all the bridesmaids, especially the out of towners on their availability. Figure out how much time can they spare and then send the invitees.
AY recommends to send personalized invites to the girls attending. The maid of honor should make sure to run the guest list past the bride to ensure that no one has been missed out.
2. Decide On The Budget For The Party!
This can be a tricky issue as well. So make sure to be fair. Sometimes, the bridesmaids don’t know each other and may hesitate to discuss the budgets openly. But, make sure to get this settled to make decisions quicker!
AY recommends involving a planner since budget discussions tend to get awkward and this way rationalizing and justifying costs and break ups becomes easier. A lack of communication can be quite the party spoiler.
3. Pick A Venue That Works For The Majority!
After discussions with the bride about what she’d like to do ideally, decide upon a venue that is suitable for the kind of vibe you are looking for. Whether it’s indoor or outdoor, make sure to do recce of all the shortlisted places before finalizing the venue.
AY’s take on both scenarios:
In case, you’re planning to have it Indoor or a Home/Villa.
- You can decorate it anyway you like.
- The music can be played purely by your theme and preference.
- You can be innovative and flexible with the food & caterers.
- You can be more bold and kinky especially when it comes to the games.
- There are no restrictions for your dress code as you can be in something strappy or simply your pajamas
If you’re planning to go to an Outdoor Venue/Hotel/Restaurant
- Tends to be better for a more formal affair
- More apt when your guest list includes people who aren’t as close to the bride
- The general theme and menu is more fixed and can be convenient if the hen party is planned on short notice.
- Since outdoor places have in house staff it makes it more hassle free as everything is taken care of and is included in your budget.
4. How To Settle On The Theme/Decor!
Once the above three is sorted, figure out the theme for the event. The theme helps you style the evening. As for the décor, it gets decided once the theme is set. The ideas and creativity for décor are quite limitless and are easier to execute with a set theme and budget.
AY recommends that when doing so, the Bridesmaids should reflect on the 3 Ps: Personality, Passion & Preference of the Bride to be as the day is all about her! So, go down memory lane and gather everything about her pre-married life to make sure she remembers these memories fondly.
5. What About The Food & Drinks?
While designing the evening, you can choose the food & drinks in accordance the theme and setup of the venue. Always order more food than you think you’ll need as the hunger pangs always kick in at the end of the event.
AY recommends that you include the Bride’s favorite dishes or flavors and add funky names to the dishes giving it that extra punch.
6. How To Keep The Fun Factor High?
Besides, the music and the dancing, playing games at a hen party has been there for years and is therefore a must do! While some games have a bold theme, some are sweet and make for great ice breakers. Games with a sentimental touch are great bonding activities and helps the bride reconnect with all her bridesmaids.
AY recommends having a preset list of games and the needed items. Make sure to personalize the game as much as possible and involve Her to Be Hubby in it somehow, giving her an element of surprise!
7. Favors For The Girls Who Made It To The Event!
Nothing like a personalized giveaway from a fun night where you’ve created so many memories. Depending on your total budget, you can decide on the size and cost per favor. These could be a bunch of small elements or one big element.
AY recommends that the favors should be the same and uniformed but at the same time ensure they are personalized and even better if in theme with the party. E.g.: make sure the favors are labeled or have color preferences as per each bridesmaid.
8. What All To Keep In Mind Closer To The Date?
A majority of how successful the event will be is as per how thorough you are with the planning part of it! Don’t forget these last minute checks to ensure all is going to end well!
- Check your RSVPs. You need a confirmed number at least 5 days prior so that any necessary changes can be made.
- A week before the event a formal and personalized invite should go to the bride. You can add a gift or some items that she would need for the hen party.
- About 3 days to the event, follow up with all your planner/vendors to ensure there are no delays.
AY recommends that it’s important to have at least one or two bridesmaids (in case of no Maid of Honor) who can make quick and on the spot decisions as it can be difficult for everyone to be available always. Do you know what they say about too many cooks?! So choose the person unanimously.
Stay Fabulous,
Absolutely Yushi
Contributed by Ayushi Misra, the founder of Absolutely Yushi, India’s first company that exclusively specializes in bridal showers and bachelorette parties to make The Last Single Affair, unforgettable.
Ayushi has always loved curating special moments for her close friends since she was very young. This venture finds its roots in those moments. Sharing her passion for planning and creating extraordinary experiences, she’s our go-to girl when it comes to this fun-filled exciting part of the Wedding Planning.
You can learn more here.
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