Surprise Hen Do

Wow, that sounds amazing! Have your BMs organised all that? What little stars they are! ️⭐️

My BM, my friend and my mum have pulled it out of the bag. Proper stars.

I was thinking of getting little hen gifts for everyone as I have had no other involvement, to thank them for coming. What do we think? What sort of gift would you get?

This sounds just like me! I only know that I am having two (don't know why) and that the first one is in 2 weeks time. I have guessed that the first one is in the UK as most people are coming to that (although I don't know who). Apart from that I have no idea! It's quite refreshing actually and I thought I would be freaking out but I have been pretty chilled!

The idea of presents is lovely, I guess it depends on how many you would be buying for and what type of thing you wanted? Could get a small keepsake each or small 'hen do' box with a small wine and some pamper stuff in there. I've also seen some hen party survival kits somewhere (recovery things etc) but it would depend on what sort of hen party you think you will be having.

Exciting!!

Ohhhh this is exactly like mine in September. I know about the who and the when, but no idea where or what!

I've got my bridesmaids and my mum Team Bride pjs to wear on the hen do, but I also wanted to get the rest of the hens a little gift. I know my bridesmaids will be arranging goodie bags for everyone, so I was thinking of using the money to get some bubbles or cocktails for everyone one night? I wanted to pay for myself as I was also worried about money, but my bridesmaids managed to get my portion half price so I wanted to do something as a way of thanking everyone for coming x

My hen dos are a surprise too, although I've got a bit longer to wait for mine, the first is in May!

I'd not even thought about gifts but it's such a lovely idea, now I just need to figure out what to get everyone!

OK so ive thought about getting a makeup bag for everyone and putting inside a hen do bracelet, some sweeties, face masks and some nail varnish. Does that sound ok do we think?

That sounds lovely! A good mix of goodies.

Similar to what I have done for my bridesmaids on the day - make up bag, bracelet and chocolate

I'm having a surprise hen do too, at the end of this month. It's so exciting, and that's exactly along the lines of what I'm thinking as gifts for my 'hens'. I've found some prosecco and cocktail flavour lip balms which I might put in too. Have you got any inklings about what might be happening? I haven't at all, nobody has let anything slip!

X

I never really considered this but sounds like a great idea. Prosecco lip balm... Yum ?

I have no idea, no one has let anything slip!

I know I am having two, and that the first one is with everyone and the second is with a few of the girlies (not sure who exactly though). Apparently the second will make more sense once I have been to the first...no idea what that means though!

I think that I'm having three (greedy I know)... I've been asked to book 3 days in May off of work so I suspect that I'm going away but haven't been asked for passport details so I doubt that it's out of the country, I'm thinking that one might just be with the bridal party, if not then other people are doing a good job of pretending it's not happening!

The other two I've got a slightly better idea about, I'm from London but have lived in Manchester for years so I've got one in each place, I know that my southern hen is going to be day time and quite relaxed with no drinking because it's mostly family, and suspect that the northern one will be a traditional night out as that's where most of my friends are based!

Of course I could be completely wrong about all of it but I can't wait to find out!!

I know who is going and I know its Friday to Sunday. I also know it isn't abroad. But other than that I have nothing!

Same! I know who's going, but only because I asked my maid of honour, so I knew how many pressies to buy and who for, nobody has actually said anything to me. I'm going Friday evening to Monday (B/H weekend for my teacher friends) and today I've been told I need a white dress for one of the nights. Scary but exciting! We will all have to keep eachoher updated! x

That would be lovely, it's great to hear what other people get up to! I wonder how different all of the ideas will be!

Definitely!

Sounds like it'll be really exciting! I'm really annoyed because my friends don't seem to be able to agree on a date so it sounds like I won't have a hen do! So annoying!

It could all be a ruse? I'm sure your bridesmaids will organise you a hen do at any cost, some people might just have to miss out, that's all!

OK, so I have ordered my gifts for people.

Make-up bags, face creams, bath bombs, sweeties and a hen party bracelet.

Feel so relieved to have sorted that out. I think cos I know what effort has gone into the weekend I would have felt rude giving people nothing. The great thing is, that's only cost me £40, which works out at £3.33 per person

We will defo have to keep everyone updated on what we actually get up to on our hens

and for those whose BM's haven't got round to organising one for yet, I am sure they will be thinking of something for you .

I'm sure it is a ruse. It might mean that not everyone can come but I'm sure they will do something. Maybe just ask them where they are with it all? If they say they can;t agree on a date then say you understand not everyone can come but you would really like to do something.

I'm afraid not! That's what happens when you live abroad! I am happy to travel anywhere but they have left the planning too late and now they say there isn't any time. I think the real reason is that some of my friends don't get on with my sister-in-law so they aren't trying hard enough lol! I don't really care frankly!

Daisymoo, that's such a good price per hen! Do you mind me asking where you sourced everything from? I've got nine to buy for, so was worrying it's going to get quite expensive! X

The makeup bags were on ebay at £1.75 each, buy 3 get 1 free. (£15). I got a mix of colours (baby blue, soft pink and purple - 4 of each)

Bath bombs (mango fragrance) in little heart shapes, ebay, £6.25 for 30. I could have gone crazy on these, so many different scents and they look so lovely.

Hen party bracelets, again ebay 99p. Personalised with your name and date of hen do on the backing card. Choice of charm (heart, hen, star - ive gone for hens) and you get to choose the colour of the cord.

Plastic cones to fill with sweeties, 20 for 99p - Ebay!! I have also bought some personalised stickers from ebay to stick on these for £1.25.

The face creams my OH got from work (he works at boots, so no cost there). Just need to nip to B&M to grab a variety of sweets to fill the cone bags up with

Looking forward to hearing everyone else's surprise hens!

I'm now having a surprise one as I wanted one thing where I didn't have to do it, so asked my wonderful bridesmaids, I know it's mini golf first as they wanted 100% something I wanted to do, but I was very cost concious as my best mate flies in from New Zealand a few days before and didn't want him to have to spend more money on a hen do, but he's in a fb group with the others.

As this will be my first ever hen-do, I need to ask a really dumb question. Daisymoo those gift bags are really sweet and a lovely touch, but are they expected or is it more of a bonus? Sorry!

I don't think they are an expected thing, its just something I have decided to do as I am not having to contribute any money to any of my weekend I felt that I should get them a little gift each as a thanks. But its definitely not compulsory.

So exciting that's there's so many surprise hen dos!

Thanks Daisymoo! I know what I'm going to spend my evening researching tonight! You found some bargains ?

Ditto, I don't think it's expected to provide gifts for your hens, but in haven't been asked to contribute anything yet, so I wanted to say thanks, and also for them all giving up a whole weekend. Everyone is so busy with weddings and hen do's this year, I'm quite touched!

X

I've been bridesmaid twice and didn't receive a present. I also have never received a present at any other hen dos I have been to but I think it's a lovely idea if you can afford it and have the time.

Am I the only person who has kind of already planned their own hen do and just told my BM's where I want to go, where I want to stay and what activities I want to do?! ??? X

I've done the same! - control freak!

I wanted mine to be a surprise but my MOH is my 18 year old little sister, so I asked my bridesmaid to organise and now I just want to do it!

She's done nothing. I sent her everyones contact details six weeks or so ago because the hen is going to be in the summer holidays and I wanted everyone to have the date. (I recently got told about a friend's hen do the week before and I couldn't go cos we'd booked a weekend away for Valentines!) Fast forward to a fortnight ago, and a couple of different friends of mine were asking me if I knew a date yet. So BM hadn't even managed to send out a mass text!

She has also been talking about everyone booking their own hotel - because that would be easier for her. Um, no, the point of going away is for everyone to be together So I've started researching hotels too.

I sound like a right b*tch but I just don't want to end up with no hen do and it's been playing on my mind.

Can we swap bms?!

?

You don't sound like a b*tch at all, I'd be so upset if it's asked my bridesmaids to organise it for me and they did nothing, I've found constant pestering to be quite effective, "Have you booked it yet?" "Has everyone agreed on a date?" "Can they all make it?" "Do you need me to contribute any money?" More because I'm excited than anything but it means they've not had a chance to forget about it! Haha! ...Actually, I think my bridesmaids would happily swap me!!

I planned mine myself, I'm a bit of a control freak and couldn't have coped with not knowing anything! My bridesmaids and my mum did bring along a lot of stuff like party bags and games and booked a limo as a surprise although my mum let it slip about that beforehand!

One of my bridesmaids is also getting married and knows absolutely nothing about her hen do, not even when it is! I would hate that.

My friends got engaged recently and I know she will want to know everything. I usually have to know what is going on to the exact detail but I have been surprisingly laid back...which is quite refreshing!

You do not sound like a b*tch! Could you accidentally* stumble across a wowcher deal or groupon, and suggest it as an extra hen do? Or suggest doing that "at some point", and plant the seed for them to suggest it? Then it doesn't look like you are over stepping the mark, and because with those things it's usually all last minute so looks more innocent but then you do run a bit of a risk with some people not being able to.

*read accident as a week solid meticulously looking for deals.

In response to the gifts - thank you! I'm not sure if I am paying or not, because it's a day so might not need any money upfront, I may get some things I can keep and hide them in my car just incase I don't pay for stuff, then I look forgetful. Thank you again!