Just because you’re throwing a micro hen doesn’t mean it needs to be lame. In fact, it’ll be way more intimate and you won’t have to put up with annoying cousin Jane’s moaning about the budget or clean vomit off your mate’s wild Uni pals’ hair. Phew.
Literally WTF is happening in the world right now? Just when we thought we were coming out on the other side of months of lockdown and depressing news, it seems that we’re going to have to learn to live with Coronavirus.
As well as cancelled holidays, honeymoons and weddings, the current ‘rule of 6’ has thrown epic hen dos into disarray. But wait! That doesn’t mean you can’t still give your pal the best weekend of her life.
As a maid of honour tasked with replacing a 17-person strong hen with a smaller affair for just five of us, I’ve trawled the internet for plenty of ideas so I thought I’d impart my wisdom in case you’re in the same predicament. You’re welcome.
Set a theme
To really kick things off in style, why not set a theme or dress code? If you had already gone to the effort of planning a big pre-wedding weekend, there is no reason why you can’t bring many of the same elements to your smaller bash. If you’re having to pull a theme together quickly, choose something that everyone will already have in their wardrobes – it could be the bride’s favourite colour, something sparkly or a black tie dinner vibe.
You could plump for a PJ party theme on night one and then a black tie or glitter theme on the second evening, which will give the event more of a vibe.
With just her nearest and dearest attending, you can make everything extra personal. Make little gift sets for every attendee with personalised gifts inside, or buy matching PJs or T-shirts to unify the theme. Decorate Prosecco glasses with glitter and write each attendees name on and fill them with little gifts to add that special touch. I also love the idea of getting every absent guest to submit their favourite recipe and turning it into a recipe book for the bride.
The games can go on!
Just because you don’t have a full house doesn’t mean you have to bin the games. You can, of course, still play Mr and Mrs, as well as ‘Guess Which Body Part Is The Groom’s’ (basically get photos of various male body parts and the bride has to guess which is her husband-to-be’s). You can also involve the absent guests by getting each hen to film a message and their favourite memory with the bride. Another great game is asking each missing attendee to submit a funny story about themselves (e. g. I snogged Jack from Love Island etc etc) and the bride has to guess which fact belongs to each pal.
Make it a cosy gals’ night in
If you don’t think it’s worth heading to a restaurant under the new rules, why not get everyone face-masking? You could create a cosy indoor cinema vibe with a projector and popcorn, as well as a DIY Scandi style hot chocolate station, watch a film together and order a takeaway.
Throw an afternoon tea
If you want to save money and stay indoors (eugh, winter), you can create a super chic at-home afternoon tea situation. Everyone could even dress up in their fineries and indulge.
Host a blind wine tasting
A great activity for a small number is a blind wine tasting. Wrap up a few pricier bottles and a few cheap bottles (hello, Aldi), in aluminium foil and let your guests guess which is which, all whilst giving them a mini rundown on the tasting notes.
Rave the night away (indoors)
Just because pubs and bars close at 10pm doesn’t mean you can’t carry on the party inside. Why not hire a silent disco kit and rave the night away in the lounge? The bonus being you can swap your minidress and heels for PJs and slippers. Win.
