This is my first post on here - hello!!
I'm organising the hen do for my best friend who's getting married this year. I've been in touch with all the hens for several months now, and am getting increasingly frustrated with it all!
I asked everyone to nominate a weekend they could do, and picked the one which most people could make. So far so good. I've organised accommodation for those who are travelling (some from a LONG) way away - 3 nights for about £50 a head altogether. The bride's brief was to make the whole event non-traditional (no willy straws and sashes, more vintage and cupcakes), and cheap so everyone could afford.
Everyone who needs accommodation was fine with that, and we all paid her share between us. Some of the hens live locally to the destination, and have opted to stay at their homes (which I understand, but think is a bit of a shame).
We're having a night out (dinner and drinks) on the Friday - each person can choose how expensive this is. On the Saturday we're going to a country house which the bride has always wanted to visit (won't say too much in case she is on here and can guess who I am!) - this is about £8. We can have lunch for £15 or afternoon tea (cheaper).
Sat night is a night in, with a theme dinner (again, don't want to say too much). Everyone is bringing a bottle, we'll order in some M&S food and share the cost, and we'll be in fancy dress (someone is taking care of her costume). It will be about £10.
Sun is two activities, one is £10, one is £8.
Some of the hens (the ones who are local) are a) saying they can't afford various events and b) suddenly saying they can't make various bits of it for reasons that frankly seem a bit lame and last minute. I've booked various things based on the numbers who originally said they could come - and now a lot of this has to be changed.
I feel really resentful that they aren't making the effort. I've said as much, and been told that I was too harsh - that money isn't available, and that people have commitments. But her hen do only happens once! And I really don't think it's expensive - the planned activities are a total of £51 max, possibly less. I've worked so hard planning this, and getting together little elements to surprise the bride and the rest of the hens. I'm flying in, so for me it's more expensive than the others anyway, but I knew this in advance, and budgetted for it. Why haven't they done the same?
Sorry - rant over - I promise I'm normally really relaxed and fun! Anyone have any advice?
xx
