Bridal Club Magazine

Hen & Stag Parties On A Budget

When you plan a hen or stag event you need to think about how much it's going to cost. Expense will have a huge effect on who is able to come, so the ideal situation is to plan something that everyone will enjoy but that is well within budget. Never fear. While expensive can mean glamorous, it's amazing how much fun you can have by spending very little! Here are a few ideas to suit different budgets.

Under $50 per person

• A night on the town. Dinner and drinks followed by a nightclub. Look out for restaurants with a set menu or ask if they will do any offers for groups so that you don't end up spending too much money on food. Equally, see whether you can get on the guest list to a club and, if the entry charge goes up after a certain time, make sure you get in there before the deadline!

• A girls' night in with takeaways, manicures and DVDs. This is a guaranteed fun, inexpensive night. Rent out a few chick flicks (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones and anything with Brad Pitt!), gather plenty of takeaway menus and fill the freezer with ice cream. Ask everyone to bring a sleeping bag and spend any remaining money on face packs, nail varnish and other beauty items so you can enjoy a bit of pampering.

• A paintballing or go-karting day, followed by a few beers in the pub. Outdoor activities don't have to be hugely expensive, so shop around for something that suits you. When it comes to transport, it might even be economical to hire a minibus for the weekend. After a few hours in the fresh air, you'll enjoy nothing more than dinner and a fair few pints in the local pub. Paintballing isn't the thing to do less than a week before the wedding though - bruises are not a good look.

Around $100 per person

• A night out on the town, with an overnight stay in an inexpensive hotel or guest house. Dinner and clubbing makes for a great night out. If you have a little more money to spend, why not travel a little further and book some accommodation for the night. This doesn't have to cost the earth - a cosy b&b can be just as lovely as a luxurious hotel - and it means you get to reminisce over breakfast the next morning!

• A glam night out with cocktails and dinner at a smart restaurant. If you're just organising an evening and don't need to think about overnight accommodation, you can splash out a little with this budget. Organise dinner in a great restaurant and move on to a swanky bar for cocktails afterwards. It's amazing how much you can spend on a few Margaritas!

• A camping weekend. An entire weekend away can start getting expensive and you're unlikely to stay within a $100 per head budget… unless you go camping! Sleeping under canvas is perhaps one of the least expensive forms of accommodation, but also one of the most fun. Camping is great for hens and stags alike… but only those who enjoy the great outdoors. Think camp fires, long walks and pub lunches. Perfect - but not for those who are worried about damaging their manicures.

• A day at a health spa for under $100, you really can enjoy a luxurious day at a health spa, hopefully including lunch and a few treatments. Health spas are always a good idea for hen days or weekends as people can generally do what they want to do, and spend as much (or as little) money as they like. Look out for any offers that could give you the opportunity to stay overnight.