Hen Party - guest list advice

I don't know, but I'm keen to hear other people's answers! The last couple of hen-dos I went on were just the bride's friends, so I was picturing having the same, but a couple of weeks ago my mum started saying she was looking forward to the hen-do, eeek!! I might actually have two - one with friends and one with family..? No MIL though simply as she lives very far away and I really don't think she'd be into all of that at all. I suppose you could discuss it with your mum - I think some mums wouldn't even expect to come, whereas others might...

One thing that a friend mentioned to me though, that I think is worth bearing in mind, is apparently it's bad form to invite friends to the wedding and not the hen party (just talking about the bride's female friends here, not the groom's female friends, or the bride's family necessarily).

I'm being bridesmaid for a friend this year, and her mum and MIL aren't coming, it's friends only.

I will be having my mum, stepmum and poss MIL at my own! It all comes down to your own relationship with your mum I guess. I'm very close to mine, she will be doing dress shopping with me, and we used to play rugby for the same team, so she's seen me drunk in nightclubs anyway! ?

Do you want them there, or do you just want it to be friends? Do what you want!

Also, the above post about inviting females to the wedding but not the hen do is a good point (and something I hadn't thought about - thanks!). Similarly, make sure people on your hen do invite list also have an invite to the wedding!

You can do a decent hen do on a low price - I went on a weekend away (Fri-Sun) in the UK for £150. That included accommodation (glamping in yurts) with a hot tub, all the food and loads of drinks, entry to a fairground, roller disco and beer festival. We had the best time!

Have fun! X

Edit to add - don't worry too much if your invite list seems really long - either lots of people will be able to make and you'll have a great time with lots of people you like, or not everyone will be able to make it, but there will still be enough people to make it feel like a celebration, and they'll appreciate the invite

I invited my SILs to my hen but arranged a separate spa day for my mum and aunts (MiL invited but couldn’t make it), as wasn’t sure if what we were doing would be Mum/aunt/MIL appropriate or if they would enjoy it

Any I've ever been to have mums, mother-in-laws to be and the sister-in-law to be too but I don't want any of them at mine as I don't particularly like any of them and my mum always says the hen do is for "the young ones" so she wouldn't want to come anyway even if I did ask her! I'm just having a low key thing with a few close friends. I did go to a hen do and there was about 30 women there of ages ranging from mid 20s up to old aunties who were in their 70s. I personally felt 2 hen nights would have been better- 1 for young friends then 1 for older family members.

I'm having a very tame hen do and have just invited everyone.

Thanks for everyone's advice!

Did not realise about asking all my female friends invited to the wedding for the hen. Will bear that in mind.

Not decided yet but I still have some time