Boozy brunches aren’t for every bride. Maybe you’re bringing together friends and family from both sides and want something everyone can enjoy. Perhaps your hen party includes different ages, different friendship groups and people who are meeting for the first time.
Maybe you’ve already had the big weekend abroad with the girls and now you want something closer to home for the wider family. Or maybe the bride simply wants to do something a bit different. And while afternoon tea is lovely, it isn’t the only alternative.
If you’re looking for alternative hen do ideas in Kent or Tunbridge Wells, here are four creative ways to celebrate the bride and get everyone doing something together.
1. Paint the bride
Choose a favourite photograph of the bride and get everyone to paint their own version. Or make it more personal and ask each person to paint something that reminds them of her.
It could be a favourite memory, somewhere you’ve been together, something she loves or something that represents your friendship. This could be a fun DIY hen party activity at home. Get some canvases, paints and brushes, put the bride’s favourite playlist on and get everyone around the table. Don’t fancy dealing with the mess afterwards? Do it at PaintnGo in Tunbridge Wells instead, where you can paint your creations directly onto the studio walls. It’s also a great option if your hen party brings together different groups of friends and family. Everyone has something to get involved with, which makes it much easier for conversation to flow while people paint. No forced icebreakers. Just everyone getting stuck in and celebrating the bride.
2. Make something for the wedding
If you’ve got a creative bride, why not spend part of the hen do making something for the wedding itself?
Depending on what she has planned, you could create bunting, decorate signs, make table decorations or put together a scrapbook filled with photographs and memories. You could ask everyone to bring a photograph of themselves with the bride and add a note alongside it. A favourite memory, something they love about her, a piece of advice for married life or something they’re particularly looking forward to on the wedding day.
This is another lovely idea for a hen party with mixed ages because everyone can contribute something. Get everyone around a table, put some food out, add some fizz if you fancy it and spend a couple of hours making something together. You might even tick something off the wedding to-do list at the same time.
3. Have your hen party at PaintnGo in Tunbridge Wells
If you’d rather someone else hosted the party, why not make the creative activity the main event?
At PaintnGo in Tunbridge Wells, you can get the whole hen party together for a painting session on the studio walls. Bring your own booze, bring the bride’s favourite playlist and get everyone painting. PaintnGo is BYOB with no corkage fee, so those who want a glass of fizz can have one, while those who don’t drink can enjoy exactly the same experience.
It works particularly well if your hen do is bringing together people from different parts of the bride’s life. Her oldest friends might be meeting her future sisters-in-law. Her mum might not know her work friends. Her cousins might be meeting everyone for the first time. Having something to do gives everyone a natural way to mix without spending the first hour trying to work out who everyone is. And because PaintnGo is on Calverley Road in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, you’re right in town if you want to carry on the celebrations before or afterwards.
4. Create a hen-do time capsule
Ask everyone coming to the hen do to bring something small that represents their relationship with the bride.
It could be an old photograph, a ticket from somewhere you went together, a handwritten memory, a letter, a prediction for married life or something connected to an in-joke you’ve shared for years. You could also ask everyone the same few questions beforehand. What’s your favourite memory with the bride? What’s something you hope she never changes? Where do you think she’ll be in ten years?
Decorate a box together during the hen party and fill it with everyone’s contributions. Then decide when the bride is allowed to open it. Her first wedding anniversary? Five years? Ten? With contributions from friends and family who have known her at completely different stages of her life, you’ll end up with something really personal to look back on.