How to keep the peace on a hen or stag do abroad

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Ah, the humble stag and hen party: a night out with a few friends before the big day… until recently, that is!

As we now embark on more and more extravagant parties, it isn’t always easy to please a group of people who may never have met one another before. Cue potential bickering about cash, family domestics and differing opinions, and you may be looking at a hellish event rather than a good send off for your mate. Throw in a Spanish shindig or Greek gatheringabroad, and you’re adding extra heat to this cocktail of mayhem!

It doesn’t have to be quite so stressful, though, and it’s an ideal opportunity to get to know your stag or hen’s friends and family better. To ensure it goes off without a hitch (get it?), we’ve pulled together a few methods to help keep the madness at bay as you head off into the sunshine.

Appoint a leader
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If your bride hasn’t allocated the role of “Chief Bridesmaid” to anyone in particular or your groom’s best man isn’t up to scratch, then appoint a chief yourselves. From early on there needs to be someone who can lead the party and delegate tasks to each of the bridal party. This may sound a little like project management, but having somebody take charge helps to avoid a “too many cooks” situation.

Research your destination
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Research is imperative for any wedding-related event. There are many destinations on offer both at home in the UK (like a city break or a country cottage getaway) and abroad (such as a long weekend of sunshine). Whilst you may be hoping to keep elements of the party secret, getting an idea of the type of location your friend would like to travel to will help with your planning. Package holidays are a great way to combine the cost of a hotel, flights, food and drinks in one payment. If you’re looking for summer sun, the Algarve in Portugal and Ibiza are both popular spots for hen and stag weekends. For more cultural destinations, Istanbul in Turkey or Dubrovnik could tick the right boxes. Wherever you’re heading to, however, be sure to research thoroughly before booking.

Provide costs up front
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We all know that hen and stag weekends can be a costly affair and, whilst you want to ensure the bride or groom-to-be has the event of a lifetime, you need to be upfront with your group about exactly what it will cost. There’s nothing worse than unexpected charges cropping up once your planning is in full swing. Devise a budget early on, which covers everything from accommodation to activities and accessories, and stick to it. This allows all involved to know, from the start, whether they can afford to join in – removing a potential forum-style backlash later on.

Think about your bride or groom-to-be
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At the end of the day, this weekend away is designed to help celebrate the fact that your friend or family member is embarking on a journey into married life. It’s a chance to get everyone together, meet new people and have a good time. There are so many options available, it can be overwhelming, but keeping them at the forefront of your mind is paramount. You may not relish the thought of white water rafting, but if your friend’s an adventure seeker, sometimes you just have to suck it up and get on with it.

Keep talking
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Communication is certainly key when it comes to the organisation. Facebook is a great place to have a private group, where you can update plans as you go and discuss activity ideas, destinations and costs. Be mindful that, when talking via email or text, tone of voice can be misconstrued. Use a friend who is not involved in the planning as a sounding board for messages before adding them to the group.
And remember – wherever you are heading off to – have fun, look after each other and ensure that they have a great time, without the drama!”