If you are looking for ideas to celebrate your last night of freedom, you should choose something memorable as it's a great opportunity for you to get your best friends together for a big pre-wedding night out or weekend away!
Hen and stag parties are bigger and more adventurous than ever with many brides and grooms-to-be looking for original ideas prior to a perfect send off before married life begins. These are challenging times, of course, but there’s a plethora of activities to choose from that you may not have thought of such as go karting, quad biking and cocktail making as well as spa days, party boats or a good old-fashioned nightclub.
Here’s some great businesses catering for hen and stag parties based in Hampshire and Dorset from places like Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Bournemouth, Winchester and Weymouth, whom you might want to get in touch with...
Don't forget to mention Your Hampshire & Dorset Wedding magazine when contacting a hen and stag party organiser.
Molecular Magic Creative Catering
Creative, local caterer
Molecular Magic Creative Catering Ltd is a family run business which started trading in 2015. We have been nationally and locally recognised as one of the most unique and inventive caterers for weddings and private dining experience.
At Radiant Retro Rides our mission is to radiate joy to others. We do this by sharing our iconic VW campervan, Freddie, with you on your wedding day.
Freddie is available to hire for wedding transport, campervan vintage cream tea experiences and campervan themed photoshoots.
The Prop Place guarantees you nothing but fun, laughter and memory making for your special day! We offer many packages which allow you to embrace our interactive mirror with draw on text, emojis and more! We work with you in advance for personalised frame work and additional extras.
Want to say 'no' to being a maid-of-honour? Here’s how!
Being a maid-of-honour or even a bridesmaid can be hugely exciting and a big honour, however, it takes responsibility, a lot of time, money and energy, all dedicated to making someone else happy. So if you really don't want to be a bridesmaid, plucking up the courage to turn down an invite might seem like a nightmare. A new survey from Ginger Ray which seeks to answer some of weddings' trickiest questions reveals that almost two-thirds (63%) of Brits think it was acceptable to say no to being a member of the wedding party based on the financial burden and additional responsibilities it poses.
Posted: 31 May 2023
Browns launch champagne bottomless brunch
This month, Browns Restaurants will be adding a Champagne bottomless brunch to their signature weekend menus, as part of this year's festivities to celebrate the group's 50th anniversary. From Friday to Sunday until 2pm, guests can enjoy free-flowing Moët & Chandon Impérial Champagne, alongside signature brunch dishes such as Browns Lobster Benedict, a satisfying stack of Pancetta Buttermilk Pancakes, Smoked Salmon, Smashed Avocado, Garlic Mushrooms on Sourdough and a variety of classic egg dishes. Alternatively, opt for more substantial dishes, like the Browns Burger and Chargrilled Chicken & Bacon Club.
Posted: 27 May 2023
How to throw a Hen Do on a budget
A typical spend for a Hen Do weekend can cost over £250 per person, taking a big chunk out of the wedding budget. Not only is this a massive cost for the bride, but it could also lead to members of the bridal party worrying about how they can afford such lavish expenses, which may result in them bailing out on the plans. Making arrangements in advance and planning activities ahead of time means both the bride and the party enjoy the celebrations without any falling outs. Sticking to local destinations or opting for activities like bottomless pottery painting over brunch are some of the simple solutions to saving money but still allow everyone to revel in the fun.
Posted: 19 April 2023
Abroad stag and hen dos not an option due to cost of living crisis
Couples planning stag and hen festivities this year may need to think again as Brits admit they would not attend an abroad celebration. Luxury fashion retailer Fenwick, has surveyed the nation to find out opinions on stag and hen dos, including the amount they'd be willing to spend and whether they'd travel abroad. Many people now take their bridal parties or groomsmen on holiday to celebrate their big day. These trips can often end up costing a lot of money especially if heading to popular destinations such as Marbella, Budapest or even Vegas which when the majority of the UK is being squeezed by the ongoing cost of living crisis, isn't something many can afford. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 50.70% would refuse to attend a stag do abroad, preferring to celebrate closer to home in the UK.
Posted: 1 February 2023
New interactive feature to make hen and stag dos less stressful
A new randomised spinning wheel feature has been launched by Hen Weekends and Stag Weekends in an effort to make the planning process of hen and stag parties easier and less stressful. This comes as their recent study of hen and stag party bookings found that 30% of hen and stag party organisers have no idea which location to book, with so many different options on offer creating quite the predicament.
Posted: 23 January 2023
Top tips on how to save money on a hen-do
Hen-dos provide a great opportunity to bring together your nearest and dearest for pre-wedding celebration and excitement. However, with many brides now opting for more exotic or expensive locations for their celebrations, the cost of a hen-do can quickly add up. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to make savings on your upcoming hen-party: Take advantage of drinks packages – Nightclubs are synonymous with hen-dos, however entry and drinks can get pretty pricey. Venues will often offer discounts on pre-purchased drinks packages so it's worth checking what deals you can strike before getting there.
Posted: 21 September 2022
Planning a Hen Do? Here are 6 ways to do it on a budget
With wedding traditions dying fast, modern couples are truly setting the bar for what's possible at contemporary nuptials. What will always be popular though, is the hen/stag or ('sten' if you're joining forces) do! Although, even these have altered in their format, gone are pub and nightclub crawls till the early morning, and in are wellness breaks, pottery and classes and the much-loved British Brunch! The UK's leading bottomless brunch platform, Bottomless Brunch, has compiled a list of ways you can save costs whilst planning an unforgettable hen party.
Posted: 12 September 2022
Mystery stags and hens dos - reduce the stress!
2022 is the year of the re-organised Covid wedding, there will be around 350,000 weddings across the country this year which means nearly 700,000 hen/stag and sten dos! srprs.me, the world's leading mystery holiday provider, has collated its top tips for organising the least stressful, most spontaneous mystery trips perfect for stag and hen dos this summer - saving friendships from endless decision-making in the process. Anneke Nijenhuis, Chief Surprise Officer at srprs.me, wants to take the stress out of planning a stag or hen do with the following tips...
Posted: 17 July 2022
Start saving for your hen and stag do
According to a study by Hotels.com®, 2022 is the year to go bigger and bolder than ever when it comes to planning your hen/sten/stag do - we're all making up for lost time over the past two years! After 2020/21 nearlyweds had to reschedule a stag or hen party, this year revellers are using more holiday days and spending more money than ever to celebrate their friend's final months of unmarried life in style. The study found the average pre-wedding celebration now costs a whopping £242 compared to the more subtle cost of £150 in 2012. Nearly 47% of those surveyed believe that these pre-wedding celebrations have become more extravagant over the last decade, with 46% of travellers believing it's because people have been saving up and have larger budgets to spend on these special occasions over the pandemic.
Posted: 22 June 2022
Hampshire's Thruxton Race Circuit hosting retro race day
Looking for an alternative hen/stag or sten do? Then we have just the event for you! Thruxton Race Circuit in Hampshire is hosting its annual Thruxton Historic - a two-day event that showcases the finest historic and classic motor racing and displays in the country. The fastest race circuit in the UK, the event attracts legendary machines for 12 races. This year for the first time visitors will be able to enjoy vintage aircraft flying and displays as well as a flypast each day. And there's something for all the family to enjoy too, creating a really special weekend to remember!
Posted: 27 May 2022
