**I wrote this a while ago but just got around to posting, in case you’re like, isn’t she married already? Yes, Yes I am.**
Ahhh I have the best pals. I’m sure everyone thinks that after their hen weekend. I mean, it’s literally your favourite gals organising your favourite activities – it’s designed to be the best weekend ever for you.
But really, my friends rock and I had the MOST fun at mine.
I wanted to put a post up about what we got up to, just as a little update. But I figured it could also help with hen ideas for anyone currently planning one. I know when I was planning my best friend’s hen, I was scouring the interweb for ideas, and just found most of them quite cringe and boring. But I LOVED what my friends put together for me.
My Hen Weekend in Leeds
My hen weekend was a surprise. I mean, I knew what weekend it was on and who was invited, but other than that, I was totally in the dark. Something that doesn’t come easy to me. As we all know, I am the planner, the organiser and the person that makes things happen in my social group. But actually, it was kinda awesome to have this surprise weekend where I had no idea what was happening! I recommend it. When else does that happen in life?
So I had a time to be ready for, and my pals picked me up in the car on the Friday. They literally didn’t tell me where we were going until I was guessing based on signs on the motorway. And we were off to Leeds!
The girls booked a lovely Airbnb for us, overlooking the Docks, and decked it out in banners and streamers. I was already feeling pretty grateful for these fab pals of mine and we hadn’t even done anything yet! I’m gushing I know, but that’s the thing with hen weekends. You feel thoroughly spoiled.
Friday Night Out
Our Friday night started off with a lovely dinner at Neighborhood. Apparently it was chosen because it was “insta enough” for me lol. But it also had delicious food and a DJ to get us going.
We then moved on to possibly my favourite part of the night, a karaoke bar! We had our own karaoke room booked at Roxy and sung our little hearts out. There were only five of us on this weekend away so it was the ideal amount for each of us getting a go at the mic, which we were all keen to do. (Currently workshopping Shania Twain’s ‘That don’t impress me much’ in case you were wondering.) There was a lot of standing on tables and being passed tequila shots that I couldn’t do because I’m a wimp. So they ended up poured in my drink (which was actually disgusting).
And our last stop was a tiki bar, Tiki Hideaway, for cocktails and photobooth snaps and more dancing on chairs. The ideal hen night out? Quite possibly.
Saturday Day Out & Night In
We predictably awoke with ~quite~ the hangover. My bestie cooked up a full English for us all and we started getting ready for our daytime activity…
This was the only outfit I had been told to bring – a costume for my favourite spice girl! Seeing as there were five of us, it was pretty ideal, and I chose the spice girl I always wanted to be in the primary school playground – Ginger Spice! I’ll be honest though, I had assumed this would be a nighttime outfit so I did feel a bit mad going out in a Union Jack dress and red go-go boots!
But I was super happy about it because we turned up at a dance studio! That’s right, it was a Spice Girls themed dance class, complete with a megamix warmup and then learning a full routine to Wannabe. It was epic and I loved every second.
For anyone planning a hen, just know that dance classes are such a fun hen activity, no matter dance ability. It’s just so much fun messing around with your mates, especially in fancy dress. J’adore.
After the dance class we headed into town for some lunch from food vans at Trinity Kitchen (my fave kind of lunch) and a little wander. Although I noticed that my friends gradually became less and less like Spice girls, wearing coats over their outfits and removing accessories, all whilst I looked like I was working a corner haha. But hey, that’s part of being a hen, right?
We headed back to the Airbnb in the evening and a masseuse was waiting for us! We each had full body massages scheduled (DREAM!) and we all got into our comfies for a girls night in. There was an old-school sleepover vibe, watching music videos in our PJs, talking about boys and eating Franco Manca pizza. And later on, there was prosecco pong and lots of laughs. So. Much. Fun.
Best hen weekend ever?
We headed home on Sunday morning and I just felt so happy and warm and loved by these exceptional pals of mine. Like I said, hens can be daunting, but I just had such a wonderful time and felt like my friends really know me, y’know?
So I think if you’re currently planning a hen or looking for ideas, the key is to not overthink it and do things you know the bride loves. For me that’s singing and dancing and fancy dress and massages LOL. And I did LOVE it.
So thanks to my besties, because I know they’ll read this. You’re actually the best. x
