Hen night - who and how to invite?

Nic_Noc_Noo

as the title really! I'm organising my own hen night (one night stay somewhere for meal out then drunken dancing and merriment to follow!) and wondered how far you were all extending the invitations? and how you went about spreading the word about said hen night?

I don't have a large family base that would be invited, just MOTB and 2 SILs, a few select friends, but OH's side is rather large and wondered how to go about limiting it (there are at least 4 aunties and their various offspring to boot who would all most prob be keen on coming, on top of MOTG, OH sis, SIL!) Just been looking into hotels/B&Bs and could come unstuck if numbers are mahoosive.

Thanks in advance x

johannalf88

I am just inviting sister, fSiLs (2), old best friend and best mans girlfriend who i see when ever I see best man!

I don't have very many female friends, so just thought I would keep things small and simple!

double_mummy

just invite us nic !!!

i am not planning any of mine at all but i have set certain things that my sis has to do

OHs family has lots of older female relatives so we are all going out for a nice meal and then the younger ones will split off for the 'real' hen do and the older ones will go back to the hotel or home or wherever (although my OHs grandma is really up for a good night out drinking!!!)

so maybe separate it out into a meal for all the ones who would like to come and then whatever you want to do with the people you want to be there

MrsShawToBe

Why not have them all? If they're paying for themselves (as I assume they would be) then I don't see a problem? The more the merrier!

I don't really know who's coming, as theres at least 3 people who won't want to be going into town (my grandma, auntie, and MOTG) so am thinking meal out, then town with as many people who want to come, they'll be paying for their own drinks so essentially its just a night out!

Unless of course you don't want a lot of people, then I can understand

x

VfM4meplse

I'm just wondering why anyone would invite the groom's side family to a hen night unless they are personal friends? I thought a hen night was supposed to be a send off from your old life to your new family?

White_Sapphire

I agree with VfM4meplse; in essence, invite the people you want to share your hen with, ie your personal friends. The invite list shouldn't be as fraught with family politics as the wedding guest list! I will be inviting my SIL2B, but not cousins of H2B, as although I get on very well with them, I wouldn't class them as personal friends, IYSWIM.

I won't be inviting any of the older generation. I've not been to a hen do where mothers, aunties and MILs2B have been there, so I don't think it's necessarily expected unless you particularly want them there.

cathy_j87

I'm having my 3 closest friends, my mum, auntie, MIL2B and SIL2b. My amazing bridesmaid has organised it so I have NO idea what's happening! I may try and organise a dinner/night out for all the girls I work with etc, always nice to have an excuse to dress up eh!?

minerva_windsong

I can't remember going on a hen night where cousins were invited (although I'm sure people do it). Most of the hen nights I've been on involved between five and ten of the bride's friends, plus the bride's mum and MIL-to-be and any sisters of the bride or groom. That's probably what I'd do. Two of my aunties went on my sister's hen night, but then they helped raise her so that wasn't too far of a stretch, and my OH's nan went on his sister's hen do.

I personally think that you should invite who you want to invite, and if that only means your mum, SILs and a few friends then that's perfectly fine. If you want to ask people on your OH's side then at the risk of causing rifts unless you're particularly close to people I would just invite your MIL-to-be and any sisters/SILs of your OH. In terms of the asking, I'd just ask them face-to-face, or if you won't see them for a while ring or text them and say, "Do you want to come to the hen night?" Job done.

anibell

I want to invite quite a few people. My mum is in charge of organising it so I'll provide a list, contact details etc. A few of them are on facebook so we could send messages that way or use an old fashioned contraption called a telephone :rotfl:

My mum, gran, aunties, sil's, close friends and friends from work, sil2b, mil2b will all be invited :j I just want a nice meal with a good pee up afterwards and everyone will pay their own way.....including me!

Invite who you want to your hen night and try not to feel obligated....although I know this can be hard
You could always have a meal e.g a lunch for those who didn't go to the hen night

bride2be2012

I'm with anibell on this one!

I'm inviting my mum, MIL2B, SIL2B, OHs SIL, my sister, my group of 5 friends from school, the girls I lived with at uni and my girls from work (there's 8 of us and we are all good friends) - plus other random friends I have that don't fit in anywhere above!

Couldn't imagine having it without my mum there, some of the best nights out I've ever had have been with my mum lol!

Nic_Noc_Noo

thanks for all your replies everyone. I am actually close to most of his family as I no longer live near mine (about 2 hours drive away) and don't feel I could invite some and not others. yes they would all be paying for themselves, but I was thinking more along the lines of getting us all into the same B&B/hotel (room availability-wise).
thanks again *goes to do more research into accommodation and festivities...