[allexcited]

Hi,
Just wondering who you are inviting /not inviting to your hen party, as there are no hard and fast rules.

I am in a bit of a quandry re:

friends only with another totally separate night for family &in-laws of all ages

friends and family (young ones & young inlaws-to-be) with another separate night for the older generation

Dilemmas:
size getting too big if not friends-only

compatibilty of different groups getting along & avoiding personality clashes!!

insulting future in-laws if not inviting them!!

Ultimately I know it's my choice, just wondering others' experiences, as all the hens I have been on have been very different to each other.

[winnie09]

Hi All excited,
think the first thing is to limit to just one night. depending on who you decide to invite it is up to those that come to leave 'any' issues with other friends/family members aside for the one night cos it is YOUR NIGHT.

dont try and accomodate everyone, they are all going to be there at your wedding DAY anyway. and it may not be as bad as you think!!
good luck.

[duncelt]

Think I have to agree - there is enough organising in a wedding without having to organise different hen parties (all of which your bridesmaids would have to be on which I think is too much expense to be asking of them) - one hen party should be enough - invite everyone you'd like there and its up to them to leave their difference at the front door and if they feel they can't then they shouldn't go!!!!!!!

[chilledbride]

I just had my hen party last weekend and I invited family and future in laws and all my friends. People will be delighted with whatever you plan. We rented houses which worked out very cheap and everyone congregated in one house before the meal for champagne and it was a lovely way for everyone to mingle and start to get to know each other. I had a fanastic night even though I had worries like you beforehand but everyone is there for you so enjoy it and don't worry about clashing personalities.

[las]

Hi I was in the same position as you, so decided to invite just close friends to a hen away from where i live, then i knew the people i invited wouldnt mind paying for it (not that it was expensive but a wedding is expensive enough on people!)
then i have organised a dinner at home for about 25 inlcuding all ages and in laws (well my future sister in law is one of my bridesmaids so is coming to the other hen too). it seems that everyone is happy with this as its a night out for people without having to go to too much effort! i guess you know your family n friends best!

[Cherub]

I think mine will be easy to decide as most of our guests will be coming from abroad. I will probably have either a meal out or finger food and cocktails etc in a small rented area in a bar as a private party. I don't mind if they get me a stripper or something, as I want it more fun than just a meal etc. Need to state that it's a hen party. At the same time, I want to keep expense to a minimum as it will cost enough for the wedding itself. Anyway I can only see us being a small number, my 2 sisters a few friends and maybe cousins. No more than about 10-15 anyway. My H2B wants his stag night the night before the wedding!!! How do I get out of that one?? I will let him have it two nights before but the night before is a bit nerve wracking for me. He is talking about "last night of freedom" and all that. As well as that, we have to think about people travelling from abroad, who would want to be at the stag and hen nights. Mine will be close to the wedding as well, but not that close.

I just went to my very good friends hen party. We started at 3pm for a late lunch - we reserved an area for appox 18people had our food and then dressed the hen up to the nines!!! Continued on for some drinks where you can imagine the fun we had with the hen looking like she should be locked up!! After that we had reserved a small area in a late bar with some snacks.... the munchies always kick in around that time!! Anyway it all ended up being great fun and was not expensive at all! We did have a "kitty" for most of the day so that really helped. Starting during the day is just something else for you to consider & not as expensive as you think!
And the people not enjoying themselves can always go home early and you can keep going.....
HAve fun whatever you end up doing!!

That sounds like a good plan to start early and have lunch, but how did you get around the how many to invite & was it ok from the start as most of my friends and family and my h2b's dont know each other so i dont want it to be tense for a long time......