Awesome Hens Night Party Gift Ideas

 A quote I love:

“Give others all that is alive in us—our interest, understanding, our knowledge, our humour, everything in us that’s good. In doing so, we enhance the sense of aliveness in others while enhancing our own.” Erich Fromm , a social philosopher, on the art of gift giving.

“What can we give her?”
“What present should we buy her?”
“What gift should I get her?” or even just
“What about gifts?”

Do these questions sound familiar? Probably! - they get asked prior to birthday parties, dinner parties, hen’s parties, weddings, farewell parties in fact prior to almost any social gathering where one person is the focal point.

Giving that perfect gift can be a major challenge. The task can be fraught with fear:  Aahhh!!! What if she hates it or is embarrassed by it?

Everyone has their own likes and dislikes, be they cultural or personal, so find out what they are. Luckily, very few people are bothered by someone asking what kind of things they like, so just ask.

For example: “What gift would you like to get most of all?” To that you could add: “And what would you definitely not like to get?”

What if you friend can’t come up with anything? Just share some of the gift giving ideas we’ve listed below with her and remember which ones made her eyes sparkle.

If being that direct feels too daunting you could always ask someone who knows the party princess better than you to do the questioning.

Here at Hens Party Adelaide (specialists in creating classy, fun and creative party packages for women) we think that gifts rule.  They inspire the gift giver, strengthen the bond of friendship, and make the recipient totally happy, too!

The key question is: What distinguishes a brilliant gift from a merely ordinary one?

Three qualities:

1.       Positive evocation: The gift evokes positive feelings for the recipient – it smells, tastes, looks, sounds or feels wonderful to her.

2.       Mnemogenicity: The gift reminds the recipient of you the gift giver – regularly if possible!

3.       Longevity: The gift is something the recipient wants to keep for a long time.

Make sure your gift has these three qualities and you can’t go wrong.

Remember that to come up with something truly spectacular may mean sharing costs with other close friends or associates – much better than lots of little things that aren’t really wanted or needed!

We girls from Hens Party Adelaide find that exploring gifts in terms of categories is helpful:

Three gift categories:

·         The gift of experiences
Giving your friend
- tickets to a concert or show
- a voucher for a restaurant meal
- creating a fun event for her eg a life drawing or life painting party with a gorgeous nude male model

      and a charming topless waiter

      at a cool venue in Adelaide (like the Prince Albert Hotel, the Cuckoo Bar or the Edinburgh Castle).
- If she’s a daring kind of person,organise a session where she and her friends get to paint (on) one of Hens Party Adelaide’s gorgeous models.

·         The gift of consumables
This could be wine, food or art related.
- Champagne is always a winner, or a good bottle of red.
- Yummm, those delicious chocolates you can buy at Adelaide’s central market.
- Some art from ART LOGIC, a grassroots Adelaide based art business. You can choose from over 1300 works of art on their website, they have all different price ranges.

·         The gift of something homemadeHomemade gifts are really personal. And in the age of cheap mass produced goods, the love that comes with a handmade gift makes all the difference.
- A favourite cake or pie or something with a longer shelf life like chilli oil, custom spice blends or infused oils. You could include little recipe cards with each gift to give ideas how to use each item.

-          Not that practised at creating home-made presents? Book into one of Hens Party Adelaide’s craft-art classes with Lou.

         
-  Have our bookmaker Ky make a handmade book for you. For example a book with photos of your friend doing things she loves. Or a book with photos of all her good friends and family with something personal each of them has said about her next to it. This can be done whether you live in Adelaide or in some other part of the world.

Well...those are some of our ideas. I hope they've inspired you. Let us know your ideas too please.

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Getting Creative and Having Fun

How often have you heard people say, "I've got two left feet", or "I can only draw stick figures", or even "I'd love to but I’m too scared of making a fool of myself"?

Well, prepare to tell your friends (and maybe even yourself) that those excuses no longer stand! Courtesy of Hens Party Adelaide there are a lot of new parties going on in Adelaide.

Hens Party Adelaide

The Hens Night Party scene was sorely lacking in Adelaide when Lou Gannon (artist and educator) and I first started to hatch our grand concept. Our research showed that there are many women who want something more than a stripper for their last night of ‘singledom’. You wouldn’t know it when you look at what was on offer!

Getting creative and having fun with friends is the name of the game at Hens Party Adelaide, with the opportunity to further or find your hidden skills!

After an initial flood of fun ideas for hens parties, we decided to focus on a few main concepts to start off with, including life drawing and painting, dancing and, of course, food.

It’s no secret that being creative often means you have more fun and because Lou and I are insiders within the local artistic community it’s easy for us to find that perfect match for each party.
We have both seen how social circumstances can lead even the most stubborn naysayers (the ones that say: “I couldn’t. It would turn out terrible. I’d look stupid.”) to give something new a try and discover that they actually enjoy the experience.

So if the goal of your evening is fun, creative indulgence and stylish celebration Hens Party Adelaide is just the thing you’re looking for!

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The Leo Hen

Whether you believe in the predictions coming from the Zodiac, 

or you occasionally read the horoscopes in the paper for a giggle in the morning, or if you don’t even remember what sign you are, at the very least what the stars allegedly have to say about us can be good for a spot of fun. And what is more necessary when planning a Hen’s Party than fun?

Since we just entered the territory of Leo, we thought it would be quite interesting to look at what sorts of activities a Leo Bride-to-be might like – although anyone with a strong, passionate personality (as, supposedly, Leos have) might like these too!

According to astrology, Leos love to be the centre of attention, which is handy since the Hen’s duty during the celebration is to have attention and adoration showered upon her! 

Some things which would help her stand out are our dancing packages (if she likes to ‘move it’, as it were), or if she’s a more stationary kind of woman, maybe some body paintingwould be right up her alley! 

 Body Painting with Aleisha

Having lots of energy and creativity bursting out of them might not mean they’re so comfortable with literally being painted, however – so why not have them create art of someone else? We have several different packages for the creative Leo (pre-existing skill in art definitely not required!), perfect for the Hen and party to exercise their own desires. 

 The Hens Party Adelaide Life Painting Package

Is your Leo Hen competitive? Cooperative? More likely to paint like Picasso than Monet? Whichever way your Hen leans,  www.henspartyideasadelaide.com.au  tailors packages to the hen!

Keeping in mind that the ‘typical Leo’ like to keep the reigns firmly in their own hands, make sure to ask your Leo Hen if she wants the day to be a secret – she may want to plan the entire thing! At the very least, an assertive Leo may have some activities that she will not accept missing out on.  Whatever you do, 

don’t anger the lion!

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Planning for a Great Party Event

Being responsible for designing a hen’s party event can be an enormous task! You are the person closest to the bride-to-be and you want to make it the best possible celebration for all who will attend. Not everyone is a natural organiser and these days you don't have to be - just do lots of research and team up with other bridesmaids for support. With a little planning and some foresight you can put on a function that will be memorable and great fun for all. Before deciding where and what to do, it makes sense to decide who to invite, then plan a reasonable budget per person and set a date. Deciding on a date can be a challenge, especially if guests are coming from interstate or overseas. The main criteria are that it suits the hen and doesn't clash with any other pre-wedding commitments. Once you have your attendance list, an agreed budget and a date placed in the diary, it’s time to focus on the fun part - where to go and what to do! Here are five things to consider:

The Location

Location is very important, so one of the first things to do is to find out if there is something in particular the hen would like to do on her special night. This could be anything from being pampered to dancing the night away at Maslin's beach in South Australia. You could be inclusive of other invited guests and share the load by asking them for some input, or make it a surprise for the majority of the group. Once you have an idea of what the activities of the party will be you can focus on the top locations that can best cater to your requirements.

The accommodation

This may seem like an obvious thing to say, but people are peculiar about where they get to rest their head at night. Some people are quite happy waking up on a strange floor or sofa, but they are mostly the exception rather than the rule. Paying extra for comfort will be greatly appreciated by all. Consider booking accommodation close to what you intend to do or you’ll spend large amounts on taxis. Pick out an attractive place to stay or host the entire event – contact our Hens Party Ideas Adelaide Team for some great ideas on self catering and venues.

The activities

Boredom will be your enemy. Make sure there’s always something to do, even if it's a game or two between other activities. You don’t want your group to be kicking their heels all day while waiting for the main event to kick off. Book activities in advance: there is a broad range of activities to consider – from paint-balling to high wire activities, from cocktail making to sunset cruises, from Body Painting & Make-up to Bollywood Style Dancing lessons and experiences. Your aim is to generate continuous fun, from relaxed laid back moments to fast paced frivolity.

 

The Party

The main event is everything, so make it memorable. You don’t usually go to a concert to see the support act. You go to see the main attraction. Once you have an idea of what the hen wants to do and an idea of where best do this, you can source a location to suit. This can be anything from a high energy party to some seriously classy pampering. The more you plan and book ahead, the more likely the party will be a great success.

 

The traveling

A large part of the event and fun can be travelling to the location together. The event starts the moment you step out of the house. It’s not every day or weekend you get the chance to hang out with all your friends in such a warm atmosphere and celebration of marriage, so make the most of it! You can hire transport to accommodate groups, or travel on the same train or plane together. The Hens Party Adelaide Team can help at all stages of the planning!

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The Ten Worst Hen’s Night Party Mistakes You Can Make

Planning a hen’s night party is a chance for the hen's best friend to show how well she knows the hen and how well loved the hen is. You want to be sure that everyone involved has a fun and memorable celebration with their much loved bride-to-be. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid:  

1. Designing a party full of humiliating activities

Years ago the bucks' night party became a night of torment for the groom-to-be, his friends subjecting him to the most raucous, raunchy night of debauchery and drinking. Sometimes the groom would end up stripped naked and tied to a lamp post! Somehow the idea of humiliating the star of the night has influenced events for hen’s night parties – women can be far more creative than that!

     

2. Ensuring the hen gets so drunk she doesn't remember a thing

The idea that the hen should get dangerously drunk on her night of celebration still looms in some women’s minds. Why bother spending a day, night or even a whole weekend with your best friends and focus on making the hen drink as much as possible? What’s the point if following the party no one, in particular the hen, remembers much about it? The point is to celebrate the end of the hen's single life and let her know how adored she is.

     

3. Forcing the hen to have a lap dance in front of her granny

Having a stripper at a hen's night is still considered compulsory by some women. However many hens' parties include aunties, mum, mum-in-law and even grandma. Also some women prefer to be stimulated intellectually rather than visually. To inflict an in-your-face lap dance on the bride-to-be could cause huge embarrassment and discomfort.

     

4. Planning an outdoor event without preparing for rain

Thinking of having a picnic for a hen party? While this is a fun idea, it could be a disaster if there is no back-up plan if the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse. The key to success is to allow for all possibilities so that everyone can enjoy the event.

     

5. Forgetting to factor in food

Food is an essential ingredient to a hen party. It provides an opportunity for the group to break some ice, get to know the strangers who are part of the gathering and keep up the energy levels.



   

6. Forgetting to invite a person who is close to the hen

Even a chief bridesmaid or best friend may not be able to guess who the bride-to-be will want to join her at the hen night party. The simplest way to avoid accidentally missing out a treasured female friend or relative is to ask the hen.

     

7. Not considering the hen's particular likes or dislikes

Know the hen's limits and find out if any of the guests attending have strong objections to any of the activities you may have in mind. This will help to avoid any upsets at the party.

     

8. Organising activities which are not inclusive

For an atmosphere full of fun and laughter it is important to make everyone feel included. To avoid being exclusive, find out some basic information about each person likely to attend, for example their age and relationship to the hen and what kind of activities they might not engage in.

   

9.  Making it boring

While alcohol can help people to loosen up and be less inhibited, many women these days choose either not to drink or to drink in moderation. Quite often there will be a number of pregnant friends at a hen night party who will probably not drink any alcohol. To make sure the celebration is not boring, avoid making drinking alcohol the only activity for the party.

     

10. Being unrealistic about the schedule of events planned for the hen night party Do not cram too many activities into the hen night as this can make the party full of stress! Allow for some relaxed moments between organised events. This way everyone can have a fun time with their beloved hen.

 

If you avoid these ten mistakes you’ll have a brilliant hen’s night party.

Written by our Hen's Party Ideas Adelaide Support Team

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Secrets for the Chief Bridesmaid

If you have been appointed the Chief Bridesmaid, or otherwise know as Matron of Honour, or the Chief Bridal Liaison, you now have several important duties to perform.

First on the list is to join the bride-to-be for any and all appointments or fittings; help keep her calm when her future mother- in- law has just handed her a long list of things-to-do and keep a light heart when the bride wants to choose bridesmaids dresses you believe would look better on an alien!br />
By far, the most important duty will be organizing the hen’s night. This is your chance to give your best friend that special night of her life. Your gift to her is to help her to relax, celebrate with loved ones and forget any fears or worries about her upcoming wedding.br />
 

 

So where do you begin?

The first port of call is the bride. Find out exactly what she would like or more importantly what she doesn’t want! Some women find naked men prancing around quite embarrassing. Others hate nightclubs. So speak with the bride and find out exactly what type of party would suit her.br />
Celebrating the lead up to a wedding with a Hens Party event has become the norm for most modern Australian brides. More brides-to-be are now seeking unique and special ideas when considering their last days as a single woman.br />
By an well established tradition, a hen’s party is held about 2 weeks before the wedding day. In this situation, the head bridesmaid is in charge of planning for and inviting the bride’s closest friends to a special evening or an entire weekend. br />
Activities on the list for these special ladies parties has expanded to include; life drawing, day spa pampering, cheese tasting and wine, massage and often a weekend get away.

 

Compare Options - be Different

Do some research on other hen’s nights but try to make it personal and perhaps a little bit different? Consider keeping some things a secret to add excitement and an element of surprise for the hen.

 

Choose a Dress up Theme

 

Deciding on a theme or colour choice for the group's outfits can be great fun. Nowadays you can look online or go to dollar stores to find all sorts of hen’s night props and clothing. Dressing-up & fancy dress can be a useful ice breaker for any Hen night as these transformations can help shy members of your party to feel part of the group more quickly.

 

Choose some Games and Activities

This is what makes the hen night fun and interesting. Choose a few games for everyone and some challenges for the bride to complete. Vary the activities so that different members of the group can choose to participate or not without feeling bad.

 

Responsible Care

It is OK to have a few drinks to loosen up, but do not go too far. This is a the awesome night you spent hours planning to be remembered. Make sure you have transport planned such that everyone gets home safely. Be careful not to do anything that will be of detriment to the bride’s character or relationship.

 

A Quiet Hen Night

Consider taking everyone to a spa, or hold the night at home and hire a masseur and beautician to visit. You can make the night more fun by having a experienced tarot card reader to tell people's fortunes, even a belly dancer to come and give you lessons in sexy dancing. Another tip for a larger party is to ask our charming Frenchman along for French Wine & Cheese Tasting night.

 

Create a Photo Album / Movie

Have someone document the event and put together an album for the bride. There will be some funny and special memories to record.

 

Hens Party Ideas Adelaide:

To coordinate and plan these classy hen party ideas, head bridesmaids and maids of honor will, in some cases, spend many hours preparing the invitations, booking the venues, collecting money, preparing food, attending bridal expos and others tasks involved for the creation of the special event. Many venues will benefit from these hens party bookings if they are able to create exciting packages and help reduce the stress involved for planning these parties.

Hens Party Ideas Adelaide has a skilled support team that can comfortably mentor with you as your party & event coordinators in Adelaide, South Australia. Feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call.

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