Going Out For A Meal

[ArsenalLass]

Hi there,

There are 8 girlies going out tonight for a mates hen night for a meal, she is being boring now she is getting married!!! (I went a week in ayin napa for mine!) any way's have any of you got an idea how to liven this meal up, she wont dress up i have got a few balloons and streamers.  The pub we are going to have the meal in is boring as well just a few locals at the bar and most prob us in the resturant. she wont even go clubbing afterwards

[natalie_1982]

If that's what she wants don't ruin her hen night just because it's not your cup of tea!

[Lillabet]

OK this might be a bit late now.

Firstly I agree with natalie. Don't do anything that might ruin her night. If she would hate you hiring a stripper then don't even consider it.

I went to a hen night which sounded pretty boring - meet at her house, go for a meal and then a club. There was a theme - which was 19080s but that was it.

When I got there though the bridesmaid who'd organised it had decorated her house as though for a kids party like the ones we went to in the 80s with balloons and so on and made jugs of cocktails with naff 80s unbrellas and so on and had 80s music playing.

At the restaurant she'd been there early and decorated the table with helium balloons and made us each party bags that had gifts and streamers and so on in. I don't think they were too pricey - more of a trip round toys r us than anything else but it was a real icebreaker for those who didn't know each other as we played with everything

 Also we each had a pair of 80s style boppers (headbands with springs and glittery stars / balls / hearts on them) which we all wore. At the end of the meal there was a special hen night cake - which we got to take hom in our party bags.

The club we went to was having an 80s night and was a laugh. It was actually a really good night.

I know she doesn't want to go clubbing but if you're meeting up beforehand you could try the cocktail thing - If there's a Whittards near where you are they sell the trashy decorations for cocktails....

[LordyGeordie]

I'm a bloke so I might have a different persepctive no things. First off ignore the other two answers.

As far as organising the hen night goes don't take no for an answer. If it's anything like a stag night, the hen should have absolutely no say in what happens.

If she wants to go out for a meal fine. But make it clear she's going clubbing afterwards. once she gets a few drinks in her she'll love it.

after that, do whatever is done on hen nights

[frizzytwig]

Lordy Geordie, no way u are completely wrong.  I never had a hen night because I didnt want all the fuss.  If you dont like attention it can be a complete nightmare, remember its her memories that count.

[acw]

I agree!  You wouldn't tell her how to have her wedding, or change it behind her back, so lay off her hen night too.  If you thought it was that boring, you could have cancelled on her and told her you were busy.  Each girl has her own dreams for this - let your friend live them!  Well - too late now - but I hope you did allow her them!

[LordyGeordie]

nobody's telling her how to organise her wedding and nobody would dream of it. but the hen/ stag night is a differnt matter entirely.

As a veteran of many a stag night although (thankfully) not my own i have some experience of this.

not only is it the bride/ groom's last night out as a single person, it is also the last time his/ her friends will be out with them as a single person.

This is why it is the chief bridesmaid/ best man's duty to organise a night of drunken debauchery and why the bride/ groom should have nothing to do with it!

[acw]

I'm sorry but I still totally disagree!  I don't see why someone's choice to enter into a long term monogomous relationship should give their friends an excuse to bully them. 

ArsenalLass's question does imply that the bride USED to me more outgoing, and I suppose I can understand her desire to rekindle that side of her friend's personality. 

However, a good friend respects the wishes of others.  I've always been a strong believer in the idea that it's not WHERE you go, or WHAT you do, but WHO you do it with.  Some of my most enjoyable evenings have been at home with friends, and some of the worst nights have been out in clubs. 

I just REALLY don't see why you should make some suffer just because they're getting married.  It seems totally mean.  When I get married I will hope that my Maid/Matron of Honour organises a memorable day/night for me and my friends.  Memorable - but somethin she knows I'll enjoy.  I also hope we won't all need to get wasted to have fun together.  After all, most people getting married aren't 16. 

[kazza12345]

why should she want to go on "your" perfect night out, rather than her own?

[silly moo]

My answer to how to liven up her night - JUST DON'T DO IT.
Why would you want to ruin her evening if you are a friend?

[Hermia]

Remind me never to have a hen night! This reminds me of a friend's birthday. Someone organised a stripper because it was THEIR idea of a laugh. Anyone who knows this girl would know this is her idea of hell. She's rather shy and having a whole room of people jeering at her whilst some twit waggled his bits in her face was just horrible. She ended up fleeing in tears.

[druiaghtagh]

So, ArsenalLas, how did it go eventually, did your friend have a good time?