How To Plan A Hen Party On A Budget

The average cost of a wedding is always soaring and soaring. Once you've paid for all the essentials, you might find that funds are a little tight. But, wait! You still have to pay for your hen party. It doesn't matter how much money you have; you can still host a mind-blowing event for you and your friends. Remember, it's not about the money you spend but the memories you make! 

If you have found that there is not much left in your kitty, you can save money on your party. Not sure where to begin? Well, you have come to the right place. We're brimming with ideas on how you can save yourself some pennies. Here are just nine little tips that should help you plan an epic event on even the tiniest of budgets.

Determine How Much You Can Spend

Before you do anything else, you need to figure out how much you can spend. This tip might sound simple, yet so many people don't bother with it. You don't need an exact number, but you should have a window. For example, you might want to spend between £200-£300. That is easy to do, and so you know what you can afford. Remember to keep things as simple as possible. It is best that you tell the guests how much you have before the event. If money is an issue for you, let them know that you're planning a budget party. That way, you will see that people don't expect too much of you. It also takes the pressure off you and means that people might help you out a little. 

Remember, you should never spend more than you can afford. You are on the brink of your new married life, and you don't want to start it in debt. Figure out a reasonable budget and stick with it. That way, you will still have some cash after the event.

Look for package deals 

One of the easiest ways to save money when planning any event is to look for package deals. There are quite a few different hen party planners out there. You need to be aware that sometimes, these deals will not save you any money at all. Before you rush to book a deal, you need to figure out how much each component would cost. Once you have done all the maths, you can see whether the package deal is a bargain or a con. 

Ask people to chip in and pay something

Most people don't like asking others to pitch in when it comes to their events. The truth of the matter is that your friends are there for you and they understand how expensive things can be. If you ask everyone to pay just a small amount towards the party, you will have a vast fund right away. For example, if you plan to have a party with ten guests, you could ask them to chip in just £50 each. Before you know it, you will have an extra £500 budget to spend.

 

Remember that you need to be sensitive when talking about money. You must never assume that people can afford particular things. Unless you know their finances in-depth, you have no clue what they can or can't afford to pay. You should ask your friends where they stand on this issue. Never be pushy with them, or you could end up having a disagreement.

 

4. Host your party at home

 

If you have next to nothing to spend on your hen party, there's only one thing for it. You can host a wonderful party for everyone at your home. The only things you need to buy are nibbles and some alcohol. You could even have a BYOB rule, which means that everyone will need to bring a bottle with them. You can plan some fun, free activities for the group. For example, you might want to play charades or make up a few games for the party yourself.

 

When it comes to decorations, you just need to keep things as simple as possible. You can use some colourful paper, bunting and balloons to decorate your home. If you keep the festivities in just one room, it's even easier to decorate the area than you might imagine.

 

5. Consider a quaint garden party

 

Are you lucky enough to have a summer wedding on the horizon? If the weather will be warm, there is a super cheap party idea you may just love. There is nothing more British than a beautiful garden party at the height of summer. This sophisticated event is a perfect solution to all your budget problems.

 

When you think about it, a garden party does not have to cost all that much. You should, of course, invest in a few bottles of wine for the event. Aside from that, the food can be rather simple. You might want to make a Victorian sponge cake for the event. In making the treats yourself, you will save yourself a small fortune. We all know that caterers charge a lot of money for these things. When it comes to savoury food, you can make some finger sandwiches. This idea should not cost you much at all, and is sure to be a big hit.

 

6. Choose some affordable or free activities

 

When the guests arrive at your event, they will expect you to have planned some activities. What do you plan to do then? There are many free activities you might want to try. If you don't know where to start, don't panic. Here are a few games and tasks that might just suit you:

 

Hen Night Bingo

 

There are some things that will always happen when you and the girls get together. For example, we all have one friend who calls her ex and we all know who the first girl on the dance floor will be. You can use this insider knowledge to your advantage. Before your guests arrive, create some hen night bingo cards with these scenarios. When anything happens, you have to mark it off on the card. Every card is different and the first person to complete their list wins a prize.

 

The Word Game

 

Don't worry, this game is not as tasking as it first sounds. Before the event begins, you have to choose some words that no one can use for the entire party. You might want to choose someone's name or even a simple word like 'the.' If someone slips up (and they will), they have to pay the price. That means that they have to take a shot or do a dare. Oops.

 

Quirky Charades

 

This one is a classic, but you must not overlook it. If you want to get the party off to a fun start, you should try a game of charades. Why not mix things up a little? Instead of acting out film or song titles, you can act out phrases that apply to the group.

 

7. Tailor your guest list

 

How many people do you plan to invite to your event? If you think that you need to invite everyone you know, you are making a big mistake. After all, your hen party should be about the people you care about the most, not everyone else. You should never invite people because you feel that you have an obligation to do so. For example, you might feel that you need to ask a friend of a friend. Well, you don't. You should only ask people to come if they are close to you. Otherwise, leave them off the guest list!

 

When you keep your guests to a small number, you will see that it saves you a fortune. After all, you should not pay for people you hardly know to have a day or night out with you. Where is the sense in that?

 

8. Don't pay for reservations

 

If you plan to have your party at a local pub or club, you need to remember one thing. You should never pay to reserve a particular area. Hen parties are like gold dust to companies - they all want them. The main point is that company owners know you will bring a large group with you. If they try to charge you a fee, say that you will go elsewhere. There's sure to be a wide selection of places that will give you a free area for your party. If you find one of these, you could save your pennies for the important things.

9. Find affordable accommodation

 

Many people like the idea of going away for the weekend. If you want to stretch your hen party out a little, this idea might sound attractive. When it comes to booking accommodation, avoid expensive hotels. Those places will charge you more than you expect, especially if they realise you are a hen party. Instead, you should consider hiring an apartment. Much of the time, you can find people willing to rent out their place online. In doing so, you will have extra space and extra cash!

 

Planning a hen party can be a struggle at the best of times, but you should not let it worry you. If you only have a little budget, you can still have an incredible event. Try our tips for yourself. We are confident they will help you!