So, it’s time to plan your hen, stag or sten – yay! We adore this tradition as it’s a fabulous opportunity to be spoiled rotten and have the best time with your closest cohort... your partners in crime. Whether you view it as a farewell to singledom or a celebration of the new life to come, it’s a great opportunity to thank those who’ve been with you on the journey of your relationship so far and spend some quality time with them. Not to be a Debbie downer, but without careful organisation and some element of diplomacy during the planning stages, we’ve seen things go south pretty quickly. Wedding planning is stressful enough, so to avoid adding to this and ensuring you and your loved ones enjoy the party to the max, we’ve put together some advice for planning the perfect hen, stag or sten. THE WHO The first question we recommend you ask yourself is who you want to bestow the honour of planning your special day upon. Tradition dictates that it will be the maid-ofhonour for the hens and the best man for the grooms. Tradition schmadition! You probably haven’t adhered to all the golden oldies when planning your wedding day in favour of doing it your way, so why start now? Pick someone who gets you. This is a role that’s all about trust. Ideally, you’ll be looking for a close friend or sibling who knows you inside out. If the loved ones cast in the aforementioned roles aren’t those people, then so be it. They can still play a part if you’d like them to. You want to remember this celebration for all the right reasons, so don’t leave it to someone you fear might organise strippers and L-plates if this will make you feel like you wish the ground would swallow you up. If, however, you have a set idea of what you really want and it’s not in your nature to trust a third party with such important plans, that’s ok too. If you feel you can manage the task of planning your hen or stag on top of the existing workload of wedding planning, then that’s what you should do. HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY If you’ve decided to delegate, be honest with your organiser from the beginning. The last thing they’ll want to hear is, “I’m easy.” Help them out by giving them clear guidelines. We suggest drawing up a list of dos and don’ts for them. For example: Loves – relaxing, spending time with friends, being pampered. Hates – clubs, strippers, fancy dress and boozing. This will help them to stay inside your comfort zone, keeping any surprises on brief, while you relax in the knowledge that whatever happens it’ll be your vibe. Alternatively, if you’d like to have your say without micromanaging, simply give the loved one in charge a list of a few options and let them choose which one to go forward with, so you still get the joy of the surprise. unsplash.com/@zorianast HEN & STAG 49
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