Hen Party or Bridal Shower? What’s the difference?
Hen Party or Bridal Shower what the difference? There isn’t much difference as both are celebrating the forth coming nuptials of the bride with friends and family.
However, there can be subtle difference, whereby the hen party is usually classed as the last big shout for the single bride to be with a her girlfriends that entails a night out partying until dawn and the bridal shower can be a more at home affair whereby both close friends and family can get together to enjoying the lead-up to the big day. The bridal shower originated in late 1900s as pre wedding gift-giving custom and is now most common in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
In my ‘Getaway, we’ll leave the city folk’ blog I wrote about the changing trend in hen party events to be more of a calm intimate event that include more of the family members of both sides. This is because the bride likes mum, aunty and granny to be included in the event, but will usually have a second celebration and more of a typical hen party last shout for friends only to participate in. For older brides or those who have been married before the more sophisticated or relaxed pre wedding get together is more suited to them, so this is where the bridal shower format is best suited.
So what happens during a bridal shower? There’s small presents given to the bride, there’s food, chatting with stories, games and in some cases there’s a dressing up theme, all of which is organised by the maid of honour or a close friend of the bride.
Even though I market my business as a hen party organiser I see Perfect Pamper more of a bridal shower service that offers that at- home spa experience at home or at a chosen short break venue.
So let’s have a look at the typical Bridal Shower I am booked for. Average group size 12. Can include; mother of the bride, mother of the groom, aunties, gran, close friends.
Venue is usually a good quality five star self-catering weekend accommodation that can cater for large group bookings and is in easy travelling location for all invited parties. Accommodation is usually based near the coast or rural countryside. Hot tub is a must.
Weekend events spa/pampering/beauty treatments, afternoon tea, three-course private dining, trips out to a show or a place of interest.
Party games are great fun, ice-breakers and are suitable for all-ages. There are many websites that suggest suitable games for bridal showers.
Pin boards for the bride to take away with photos of the bride at different stages of her life with family and friends, or with photos of a guest own wedding day, or with poems composed with personal messages from the group.
Whatever you call your occasion, be it hen party of bridal shower do give us a call to see if we can help you. Or, just click on our Pamper Party menu or our Hen Weekend menu.
Book Now