How Far In Advance Of Your Wedding Should Your Hen Party Be? A Black Cat Treasure Hunts Guide To Decision Making.

Posted on: 03/02/2022

By Tim Carter (Owner of Black Cat Treasure Hunts)

Your wedding date is set and the arrangements for it are underway. There is one thing slightly nagging at you though and that is how far in advance of the wedding should you arrange the hen party? A tricky decision for sure, but one that Black Cat Treasure Hunts is here to help you with!
I began my research for this blog by looking at other articles on-line and was underwhelmed by the complete lack of cohesiveness in the answer to this question. The first one said 6-8 weeks, the second went for 1 week and the third 4-6 weeks. Another one said 2 weeks. It was clear that `the experts`had not come to agreement on this. Time I feel for Black Cat himself to put the subject to bed once and for all.
Here is my cunning plan...
1. Arrange a meeting with your bridesmaid(s), but no-one else beyond them. Tell them what you would like to do and discuss a budget and accommodation (if required) and who else ideally you would like to attend. The activities should be your choice or if you like surprises then let the bridesmaids free rein. At this stage I could give you details about an excellent,hen party treasure hunt but I`m sure you know all about us already!
2. Confirm the actual wedding date to the bridesmaid(s). Now you can start to work back from that date bearing in mind the other decisions you have made in 1.(above). For example if you feel that cocktail making,axe throwing and a bespoke treasure hunt route around Brighton`s best bars  should be done the week before a wedding, I can only say you are asking for trouble.I`m not saying it would turn out like any of The Hangover films, but you get the idea!
In fact any kind of really good hen party (even alcohol free) should not be had the week before. I mean ..it`s going to be so good that it could overshadow the wedding reception and that is not the aim. It should be used as a brilliant ice-breaker to get the whole group getting on royally before the day itself and happy to meet up again for the wedding and reception.
3. What about 2 weeks then and what about long distance and overseas wedding guests? Ok! Ok!...I am ready for these tricky questions! 2 weeks...1 week..to be honest it makes no real difference in my book.It may even be that your hen do destination is in the same town or city as the wedding. Two big occasions in the same place in two weeks for everyone just doesn`t really work I feel.
And as for the long distance/overseas guests who live hundreds and thousands of miles away, I`m sorry, but I`m afraid that missing out on your epic hen do is the price that they will have to pay for only turning up a few days before the wedding. Take them out for a meal and a light drink if they have made it from Australia, otherwise tell them to jack in their job and get over for the `main event`.