Amongst all the wedding planning and organising, your hen do is one of the few times you’re going to be free to let loose before the big day. But depending on what activities your maid of honour has signed you up for, you might be left feeling a little worse for wear at the end if you haven’t planned accordingly. While you might be happy to let your bride tribe do all the planning, you should probably set some ground rules so your group doesn’t go completely overboard. After all, you don’t just want to have a good time, but one that you’ll actually remember. Here, we’ll go through everything you need to know in order to survive your hen do.
Ensure everything is fully planned
You might not be in charge of the planning, but you can still stress the importance of a schedule to your maid of honour and bridesmaids. In any case, it can often work out cheaper to book and pay for your activities in advance, rather than leaving it to chance on the day. And with the average cost of attending a hen do coming in at over £200, your friends will probably be looking for ways to make it cheaper.
Planning a hen weekend away, rather than a night out in your hometown, becomes much more difficult to organise. We recommend working with a specialist hen do company who can book everything on your behalf. Maximise, for example, works with entertainment groups around the world to get the best deals and packages possible, including access to some of the world’s best clubs. Float the idea by your maid of honour, perhaps by emphasising how much easier it would make her job, while also ensuring you won’t have to worry about anything going wrong.
Keep well-hydrated and eat a balanced diet
This is especially important in the run-up to your hen do, as it acts as a preventative measure rather than a fix. Being well-hydrated is key to keeping hangovers at bay, and is even more important if you’re sunning it up for a weekend. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it naturally makes you produce more urine and, therefore, dehydrates you.
You should also maintain a balanced diet on your hen do to ensure you’re not lacking in any nutrients and make any hangover worse. Of course, let loose, indulge, and enjoy yourself on your hen do. Just remember that eating a good meal before drinking helps you last longer, giving you the energy you need to carry on dancing through the night.
Pace yourself
Many hen events revolve around prosecco, cocktails, and shots. If you’re starting your day with a boozy brunch, followed by cocktails by the beach before getting ready to hit the club, you’re likely going to be drinking more than an average girls night out. The important thing to remember is to pace yourself, so you don’t find yourself falling asleep at the bar. One tip includes having a glass of water or soft drink between each alcoholic beverage.
Tracking how much you’re drinking can also help you pace yourself and take it slow. Using apps like My Limit can make you think more about what you’re drinking and when, helping you to slow down over the course of a day. In much like the same way My Fitness Pal works, you just input what you’re drinking by alcohol type, percentage, and measure, and it keeps track of your average Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). It will also track how long it should take you to reach full sobriety again. However, it’s important to note that these figures are only averages, and that they will be unique for each person, so use these results as a guideline rather than an accurate assessment.
Pack an ‘emergency kit’
Always pack extra items in case anyone else forgets essentials! Things you absolutely should include in your hangover kit are Berocca, Alka Seltzer, ibuprofen, and a small, sweet snack. These allow you to bounce back quickly following a big night, without sacrificing the day by replenishing lost fluids, easing any pains, and getting your blood sugars back up. If you have the suitcase space, we also recommend packing a few luxuries, like hydrating face masks, moisturisers, eye drops, and some herbal teas, which can do wonders for your physical and mental state.
Stay well-rested
You’re unlikely to get much time to yourself on your hen do and, depending on what your bridesmaids have planned for you, you might not get much time to rest and recover either. We suggest getting your rest in early so you have the energy to continue going as big as you started. Of course, if you can sneak in a little lie-in to help stave off the worst of your hangover, definitely take that opportunity. We also recommend taking an extra day off work after the hen, to give you enough time to recover and recuperate before getting back to reality.
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