The trouble is, with expectations of the hen party almost as high as the wedding itself, the pressure to do something unique is greater than ever. And, when wedding plans are at fever pitch and the to-do list is spinning out of control, the hen do has the potential to tip the scales, rather than balance them. So what's a girl to do?
As a nation of hens-in-waiting, we've never been more creative. We're the Pinterest generation with row after row of arty Instagrams of our crafty creations (hashtag no filter). So why not coax the creative juices to flow along with the champagne and tick off one or two wedding jobs at the same time? Read on for our inspiring list of helpful hen do ideas!
Sweet art
Who needs a ten-tiered showstopper when a mountain of cupcakes made with love will do the job just as well? For the budding Mary Berrys amongst you, there is no better treat than an afternoon of baking. So task the hens with designing their own sweet treats for the big day and give them the chance to throw on an apron and practise. Dartmoor-based Nibble and Scoff (nibbleandscoff.co.uk) offers hen parties everything they need to get creative with cupcakes. At a chosen venue, the super-talented Joella will share her secrets of piping perfect swirls and clever sugarcraft, while smaller groups can visit her studio and enjoy a vintage afternoon tea with fizz. By the end of a session with Joella, even the kitchen-dodgers will discover a hidden passion for the piping bag! Every hen will be sent home with a gift box full of cakes and a recipe sheet and, Bob's your uncle, the cake for the big day is sorted. Sweet!
Bite-size delights
Have you ever wondered how the wedding canape became a thing? And who invented them in the first place? Somewhere in the long history of weddings, somebody identified that tricky moment between ceremony and sit-down meal where hunger pangs set in and guests start staring into the middle distance, willing the newly-weds to get the party started. And they realised that serving miniature culinary works of art was the perfect distraction. Nobody in their right minds has the time in everyday life to learn the art of canape-making. But wouldn't it be fun to have the chance? The brilliantly named Two Tarts Cookery School (twotartscookeryschool.co.uk) in north Devon provides just that, inspiring hens in a bucolic setting to create colourful, individual canapes and desserts that'll go down a treat with guests. Chief cook Jo will lay on enough ingredients and Prosecco to see parties through to supper and the hens will return with enough ideas and know-how to help keep the hungry masses content on the big day. It's the perfect appetiser ahead of the evening's mischief!
Flower power
For hands-on hens who want to contribute to the big day preparations, Anna Sawle of award-winning Wedding Flowers in Cornwall (weddingflowersincornwall.co.uk) now offers bespoke flower school courses. "We gather at a chosen venue - a hotel, holiday home or village hall, for example - and we bring all the gorgeous flowers and materials needed for the course," explains Anna. "I then teach step-by-step how to make a wonderful arrangement, giving away some tricks of the trade. It's perfect for friends and family who want to help create the wedding flowers."
Finishing touches
While the dress was likely chosen months ago and the shoes are sitting pretty, the finishing touches to the outfit are often overlooked until the last moment - and that goes for guests, too. But a gaggle of girls panic-shopping could end in carnage and, let's face it, verges on the mundane, so why not avoid the high street and instead call in some expert tuition? Based in St Agnes, Aggie Arts (aggiearts.co.uk) will hook you up with renowned milliner, Holly Young, at the creative space overlooking idyllic Trevaunance Cove and give you the opportunity to create your own piece of headwear art. Having trained at the London College of Arts and worked with the likes of milliner to the stars, Philip Treacy, Holly will send you on your merry way with a headpiece that will be the envy of the congregation. And the best bit? You'll not only have the best-dressed wedding party - the chances of an awkward fashion faux pas are diminished as everyone's look will be totally unique!
Inside every bride-to-be and her brood is a retro alter ego waiting to be unleashed. And what better stage to debut her than the big day? Maybe you've picked a dress worthy of some drama in the hair and make-up department, but showcasing a bold new look is terrifying and exciting in equal measure - without the confidence, it's tempting to stick with tradition. Brighton-based Betty Lou (betty-lou.co.uk) brought vintage to the south coast and has now branched out to Cornwall, hosting playful bespoke hair and make-up parties. Whether you wish to channel your inner flapper girl or '60s' beehive-wearing babe, this is the best opportunity to experiment and perfect the look in time for the big day.
Holly Young Milinery
Fabulous favours
Making favours has become one of the most popular ideas for hens to help with preparations. And for brides seriously behind schedule, a weekend at Green Cart Farm, an essential oil farm and distillery (greencartfarm.co.uk) near Fowey, could bring you right back up to speed. Hosting hen parties and wedding favour weekends, it's possible to tick candles, confetti and favours off the list and add the nostalgic scent of Cornish fields and hedgerows to the proceedings at once. There's bespoke organic perfume making, where hens collect flowers from the perfume garden to distil them into their own unique scent; candle dipping customised to the perfect colour match, and you can even indulge in a make your own artisan gin distillation class for mini bottles on the tables. What's more, with cosy accommodation right next door to the farm, hens can make the most of the gin tasting!
Dazzling details
There was a time when afternoon teas were a hen party statement in their own right, but now it's possible to combine cake and craft and crack a few of the final touches. Located in the centre of Falmouth, Create Arts Cafe (createartscafe.co.uk) has teamed up with some of the county's most talented artists to give hens a perfectly productive party. The list of possible workshops is endless and continues to grow every week, from designing a showstopping guest book to fashioning woollen pom-poms and print art. Book far enough in advance and they'll shut up shop just for you, crack open the bubbly and leave you in the hands of the creatives. Owner Chrissi, an artist herself, has noticed a definite trend emerging in the cafe's first year of hosting the parties. "The workshop that's really taken off this year is 3D paper rose decorations where you can build up your own paper bouquet to make a statement table centrepiece. Bunting has had its moment in the spotlight and now people are thinking about other ways to decorate a venue," she says. "What you can make out of paper can be pretty impressive!"
He can help too, you know
And finally, you'll be relieved to hear that the planning needn't all fall to the hen. If you've dragged your other half through every step of the planning process and he needs to redeem himself, then there is no better time to win brownie points both with fiancee and friends.
Why not put the stags in charge of choosing the best vintage for the big day? It doesn't have to be a booze cruise over to the continent, either. Some of the world's most celebrated wines are produced in the region so there's plenty of choice. Bosue Vineyard (bosuevineyard.co.uk) near Mevagissey has hosted several stag tours over the years, indulging in liberal tasting sessions. And the beauty of Knightor Winery (knightor.com) on the Roseland Peninsula is that you can Bed & Booze, by booking the on-site manor house or pitching up in campervans. And for the discerning stags, book in for a tour and a decadent tasting of world class sparkling wines on the idyllic terrace at Camel Valley Vineyard (camelvalley.com). There's plenty of choice, but then again, why not combine all three into one lavish and unconventional pub crawl?
words Sharon Ryan
Copyright Wed magazine 2016
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