Mention the words “hen do” to any woman and she’ll almost certainly have a tale to tell. We’ve all heard the horror stories — when hen nights go wrong, they can go really wrong, even putting friendships at stake. The pre-wedding party is a time-honoured tradition, but it can be a daunting one; a minefield of strict dress codes, militant itineraries, awkward group dynamics and spiralling costs.
To clear up some of the dos and don’ts, we spoke to bride-to-be Holly Carpenter, author and entertaining pro Laura de Barra and etiquette consultant Brenda Hyland Beirne. Holly Carpenter: It’s important that the bride-to-be has made it clear what they’re looking for. Sometimes, they might want more of a spa trip or something low-key and chilled.
Full transparency is key. I wouldn’t personally love a load of surprises; I think it’s nice to know what you’re doing and who’s invited and all that..
