Who do you invite to Hens Party?

Weddings involve a number of rules and customs, and navigating them can be difficult. People have different opinions on who should be invited to which events. Etiquette problems can arise at the hen party as well. You need to plan your hen party, but who should you invite?

Check out range of Magic Men’s hens party ideas to help in your upcoming party.

WHO SHOULD YOU INVITE TO YOUR HEN PARTY?

The ‘mothers’ question

When planning the hen party, the mothers of the brides and grooms are one of the first people the bride or head bridesmaid thinks about. The wedding party has a lot of decisions to make, including whether or not to invite the bride's mother, the groom's mother, the stepmothers, and the partners of the fathers.

In response to this enquiry, there are two parts to consider: what are they like, and what do you intend to do about it? Do mothers tend to be very conservative? Then perhaps a weekend trip to Ibiza isn't their idea of a good time. Or, do they really know how to let loose when they go on vacation and are always the first ones to the bar? If that's the case, there shouldn't be any issues.

The question of the mother-in-law often calls for special attention. Is the mother-in-law likely to be offended if, say, you tell her about your plans to have Buff Butlers host the hen party night? Is she going to meet the guys when they get there, or will she be hiding?

The importance of taking into account their individuality, preferences, and emotions cannot be overstated. Since you want a more modern stag do and they prefer the classics, why not throw two separate parties? Go to Ibiza with the girls then have a meal at a nice restaurant with the older generation. That makes everyone content.

The financial question

Planning a hen party can require some creative thinking about who to invite. You want your friends to come and have a great time, but can their newly pregnant friend really afford to go to Ibiza for the weekend? Why would she even consider abandoning the baby?

Think about the financial implications of your work. It's a fantastic idea to have a hen party abroad or in a city like London, but you don't have to go that far. If you'd rather have everyone there with you, stay closer to home. Check out some travel guides and pick a city that's closer to home; there are hen party hotspots all over the country.

People not coming to the wedding.

In some cases, you may want to invite guests to the hen party but not the wedding. Most people will understand if they are left out of a small wedding. The hen party can also serve as a way to share in their joy.

If you think they'll be a downer at the hen party because they weren't invited to the wedding, it's best to cut ties with them altogether. Certainly no complaints here!

Surprise or not?

The chief bridesmaid should give some thought to whether or not the hen party should be a surprise. If you know the bride well enough to create the invitation list without asking her, that's fantastic. Even if you're keeping your event plans under wraps, you might want to talk about who's invited.

ONLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE MAKE THE LIST!

The custom of throwing a hen party to honour the bride-to-be dates back hundreds of years. Who should I invite, and how sure can I be that they'll still be my friends? is the question that plagues every maid of honour. While it's best to work together with the bride on this, a not-so-clueless groom or groomsman can be a good source of information about the wedding guest list if you're trying to keep it a secret.

Not all brides want their mothers or grandmothers at the ceremony. There will be a wide range of ages at the hen party, so you'll need to plan accordingly. One option is to plan a daytime outing for the "younger" members of the group and an evening meal and drinks for anyone over the age of 50 who wants to join in. A better option would be to have two "dos." Spend a weekend away with the gals, and then throw a second party closer to home, perhaps at a restaurant, where everyone's family can participate.

The guest list for the hen party needs to take the number of attendees into account. When the group size is too small, it can be hard to reserve the most popular excursions. If the group is too big, organising it can become a nightmare.

If there are people you must remove from consideration, you should let them know why in a brief note. Seeing them at the wedding will be less of an awkward situation.

MOTHER HEN

A number of brides, perhaps surprisingly, will want to (or feel pressured to) invite their mothers and grandmothers to their weddings. As mothers and grandmothers tend to be perfectionists who like to have a hand in everything, you'll score major points by inviting them. Even though Eveline, at age 80, probably wouldn't want to participate in a game of It's a Knockout and risk breaking a hip, spectators are usually welcome at most competitions. You should probably find a family friend to stay with mother hen while you travel around the country, so that she can have some peace and quiet before the wedding.

FRIENDS

Without a doubt, this is the case. The bride will definitely want to invite her regular cocktail bar companions. You can make a guest list by recalling her top 8 friends on Myspace, checking who is posting on her Facebook wall, and snooping on who she is texting.

The majority of attendees at hen parties are close female friends. It can be difficult for women with large social circles to narrow down their guest list. Is this going to be the hen party to end all hen parties? If so, there shouldn't be any problems with that, and the more people who show up, the better! However, we have a very easy solution for when people need to reduce large numbers. Feel free to call up your close friends on the weekend and grab a cup of coffee together. You're going in the wrong direction if you're inviting a friend because you were best buddies in kindergarten. The problem with inviting a single friend who will "know nobody" at the event is common. That's why we're telling you not to fret. Don't feel obligated to ask someone to come along with this person; after some bubbles and icebreaker games, everything always works out.

COLLEAGUES

She encounters these people on a daily basis, but she has never thought to extend an invitation to them. If she says no, then it's safe to assume she doesn't care for the person and doesn't want them at her hen party. It is up to you to invite people she feels most at ease with, who will make her feel loved and excited for a fantastic weekend. Will she feel comfortable belting out Girls want to have fun in front of her coworkers at 2 a.m.? Exactly the sort of thing you should be asking yourself.

This topic isn't discussed amongst a large group of hens or hen planners. People are increasingly inviting their coworkers to their hen parties. You do spend each day of the week with these people. So why not invite them to your hen party if you get along famously? The only drawback of asking coworkers is determining where to draw the line. Do you need to ask the whole block if you ask the woman you share a desk with? This is a major drawback to inviting coworkers. You'll have to bear the consequences of your choice every day. If you're going to hang out with a coworker after hours, you should invite them to your hen. We recommend not inviting them if you and your coworker get along well and have no other ties besides the workplace.

YOUR FAMILY

This seems like a no-brainer every time... however, things aren't quite that easy to figure out. There are times when you want to invite a family member but have no real reason to. In the case of extended family, your mother will always urge you to include a cousin or aunt. You should do what you want regardless of what other people say. Choose the theme for the hen party. Should you bring people you don't want to Marbella?

You should also decide early on if your mum and aunts will be attending the hen party with you. Many of our hens opt not to do this. You should invite members of your family to your bachelorette party if you feel comfortable picking up the phone and having a lengthy conversation with them.

The spouse's relatives are always a source of contention. To make someone happy, or because you actually enjoy having your loud and obnoxious second cousins over for Thanksgiving? Politics run rampant among the in-laws! While they will all be present at the nuptials, it can be difficult to decide whether or not to invite them to the hen party. As a general rule, it's best to invite your partner's sisters to social events.

We think your mother-in-law should join the hen weekend festivities if she is invited to join in on the celebrations with your own mother. You don't have to invite your mum or your husband's mum to the hen party if you don't want to. You can have a wonderful day with your mum or mother-in-law by treating them to a pre-hen afternoon tea. The mothers and in-laws of the family often choose this fun day!

DISTANT RELATIVES

It's important to think about how to get out-of-town guests to the wedding if you plan on inviting them. Check to see if they can stay for the wedding if it's soon after the hen party (the wedding is always the priority). Check to see if they are available for the hen weekend instead of the wedding if they are unable to attend the ceremony.

FRIENDS OF FRIENDS

Do you mind if I bring a friend? Could my pal bring a friend along? On the most part, you will want to say no. The hen party seems a bit pointless if no one has ever met the bride. They'll spend most of the weekend together, turning your party into a mini-retreat for married couples instead of a big group of friends. If they live nearby, by all means invite them out for the evening, but remember that once you've said yes to one, you'll have a long line of people clamouring to join you.

At Magic Men, we have the best hens packages to make your party a night to remember.

Should You Invite Your Mum To Your Hen Party?

Should you include mum in your hen do festivities? How about your in-laws' mum? And how do aunts fit into this picture? No, there really isn't a simple solution to this. There are a lot of things to consider when deciding who to invite to your hen party, such as the location, the activities planned, and the overall mood you hope to achieve.

Your mom's feelings about going to the party, whether she'll hit the dance floor and start doing shots (good or bad!) or feel like she needs to bail and sneak off to bed early, will also factor into your final decision. Your mother or mother-in-law should only attend your event if you specifically invite them. Neither inviting them nor leaving them at home is required, and hopefully they will understand.

The decision of whether or not to invite mum to your hen party can be difficult, so we've compiled some pros and cons to help you out.

Yes, You Should Bring Your mum To Your Hen If...

• You're so committed that you can't even fathom life without your hen.
• She is happy to participate in the daytime activities and then slip away while you and your friends go out dancing in the evening.
• It's a lot of fun to go out with her because she really gets into the party vibe.
• Dinner, afternoon tea, or a daytime activity will be the extent of your hen party.
• Your mum is popular among your pals.
• You want your mum to meet your friends before the wedding because she doesn't know very many of them.
• Your mum can take a joke, an inappropriate outfit, or a glass of wine without getting upset.

If your mother will be attending your hen party, you may want to talk to her ahead of time (or have one of your bridesmaids call her if you aren't in on the plans) to inform her of what will be going on, what she will need to bring, and that it's perfectly fine if she wants to bring a friend or leave early. She'll probably be thrilled to help out the rest of the ladies, but reassuring her that her decision to skip out is completely understood is always appreciated. Check out our customized hens packages for easy ladies night planning.

No, You Shouldn't Bring Your mum To Your Hen If...

• You and she just don't get along, and her presence is making you anxious.
• She's either a drama queen or she doesn't like your pals.
• You are under the impression that she will not have fun (perhaps because glamping is not her thing if she is not an outdoor person).
• She has severe social anxiety or extreme shyness.
• A plus one is acceptable (perhaps an aunt, friend, or mother-in-law). She'll need to bring a large group of friends or your aunties.
• You're going overseas and you're worried that she won't be able to handle the full weekend.
• Worried that your friends will engage in some risqué Mr. & Mrs. games (think willy straws, crude dares, or even a stripper) and that your mother will be appalled, you've decided to cancel the party.
• You're throwing a cheap hen party and will be staying in a place with shared facilities like a hostel or bunk beds.

It's nice to do something special with your mum or future mom-in-law before the wedding, even if she can't make it to the hen party. Your mother will appreciate any opportunity she has to spend time with you in the lead-up to the wedding, so consider combining a dress fitting or shopping for her outfit with some afternoon tea or cocktails, going for a spa weekend together, or hosting a kitchen party or bridal shower.

Conclusion

It's not uncommon for the guest list for a hen party to require some lateral thinking. One of the first people that enter a bride's mind when planning a wedding is the mother of the groom. Is there a chance your future mother-in-law will be offended if you tell her that Buff Butlers will be hosting the hen party? There is a long history behind the tradition of celebrating the bride-to-be with a hen party. It's up to the head bridesmaid to decide if the hen party is a surprise.

Some brides prefer not to have their parents present. The number of expected guests must be considered when making the hen party guest list. When there aren't enough people in a group to book one of the more popular activities, everyone ends up missing out. A hen party can turn into a logistical nightmare if there are too many people attending. As a result, more and more people are inviting their coworkers to their hen parties.

Invite a coworker over for chicken if you hang out with them after hours. It's also important to decide early on whether or not your mum and aunts will be joining you for the hen do. While some of our hens may choose to lay eggs at night, the majority of them don't. The decision of whether or not to invite in-laws can be challenging. There is a general consensus that the sisters of your significant other are the best people to invite to social events.

If you intend to invite people from out of town, you'll need to figure out how to get them to the wedding. It's not always easy to decide if Mom should be invited to the hen party. Whether or not you decide to attend the party will depend on your mother's opinion. It is not necessary to invite them, and hopefully they will understand if you decide not to. Guests are welcome to bring one additional person (such as an aunt, friend, or mother-in-law) to the event, but she should invite a large group of her friends or your aunties instead. It's natural for your mum to want to spend as much time as she can with her daughter before the wedding.

Content Summary

• The 'mothers' questionWhen planning the hen party, the mothers of the brides and grooms are one of the first people the bride or head bridesmaid thinks about.
• The question of the mother-in-law often calls for special attention.
• In some cases, you may want to invite guests to the hen party but not the wedding.
• There will be a wide range of ages at the hen party, so you'll need to plan accordingly.
• The guest list for the hen party needs to take the number of attendees into account.
• If she says no, then it's safe to assume she doesn't care for the person and doesn't want them at her hen party.
• Choose the theme for the hen party.
• You should invite members of your family to your bachelorette party if you feel comfortable picking up the phone and having a lengthy conversation with them.
• You don't have to invite your mum or your husband's mum to the hen party if you don't want to.
• How about your in-laws' mum?
• Your mother or mother-in-law should only attend your event if you specifically invite them.
• The decision of whether or not to invite mum to your hen party can be difficult, so we've compiled some pros and cons to help you out.
• If your mother will be attending your hen party, you may want to talk to her ahead of time (or have one of your bridesmaids call her if you aren't in on the plans) to inform her of what will be going on, what she will need to bring, and that it's perfectly fine if she wants to bring a friend or leave early.
• No, You Shouldn't Bring Your mum To Your Hen If... You and she just don't get along, and her presence is making you anxious.
• She'll need to bring a large group of friends or your aunties.
• It's nice to do something special with your mum or future mom-in-law before the wedding, even if she can't make it to the hen party.