From Fizz to Physical!

THEY have a reputation for being tipsy affairs.

However, brides are increasingly ditching the fizz in favour of physicality at their hen parties.

Yoga, park runs and dance classes are slowly creeping up on boozy bar crawls as the centrepiece of many weekends.

At the same time, one of the UK’s leading hen party organisers has revealed that wellness is slowly becoming “front and centre” of many a bridal party’s plans.

But perhaps the most startling change is the increased thirst for teetotal hen parties.

“While the bubble hasn’t quite burst for boozy hen parties, demand is definitely drying up,” said Matt Mavir, Managing Director of Last Night of Freedom.

“Increasingly we are getting requests for hen party activities like mocktail workshops, rather than cocktails.

“And it is becoming rarer to find a large hen party where at least one member isn’t teetotal.

“Even among our most popular hen party destinations, such as Newcastle and Liverpool – that attract thousands of hens each year due to their nightlife – we are experiencing more demand for fun that isn’t fuelled by alcohol.”

His comments come after recent polling revealed that a quarter of British women, aged 25-34, are now teetotal.

Among women aged 16-24, that figure almost doubles – suggesting teetotal hens could one day become the rule, rather than the exception.

And as the market grows, there’s now far more choice for brides-to-be who don’t want their hen party memories clouded by hellacious hangover.

“Once upon a time, a hen party consisted of drinking for two to three days with maybe an activity thrown into the mix,” added Matt, who has been organising hen parties for almost a quarter of a century.

“However, that’s changed immeasurably. Groups, especially younger brides, are far more interested in making memories rather than getting drunk.

“They want an experience they’ll always remember which is borderline impossible after ten tequilas.

“That’s why increasingly groups are instead opt for a lavish spa break in the likes of Bath and York, where they can get pampered for a few days and come home feeling revitalised – rather than reaching for the aspirin as soon as they walk through the door.

“We’ve seen a huge boom in bookings for our more holistic activities too – packages like mobile yoga and our energetic dance classes, such as those with Sashay Dance.

“And while once upon a time you would have been shocked to see a hen party crawl out of bed before noon, you often see them out doing a park run together come 9am on a Saturday, and that’s indicative of the changing attitudes.”

And another new study backs that up. According to the wedding firm Hitched, just 10 per cent of almost 1,000 people polled said they’d refuse to attend a hen weekend if it was a sober event – while almost half said they’d be happy to partake in an activity party with events like yoga or a boot camp.

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Instagrammable Hens

For a city famous for its soothing spas, Bath is currently awash with something other than mineral rich bathing water – hen parties.

That’s because brides-to-be are increasingly turning to leafy corners of the country for a final weekend of fun before saying ‘I do’.

Bath, along with the likes of York and Edinburgh, have emerged as holistic hen havens since covid restrictions were lifted, and their popularity forms part of a growing trend towards hens seeking more “Instagrammable” destinations for their big send-off into married life.

Bridal bookings to Auld Reekie alone have rocketed by a staggering 177 per cent in the last 12 months alone, while trips to York have almost doubled.

According to leading stag and hen do supplier Last Night of Freedom, these destinations are now comfortably outselling some of Europe’s biggest party hotspots.

“We sold more than five times as many hen party trips to Edinburgh last year than we did to Barcelona,” said the company’s Managing Director Matt Mavir.

“Demand for more Instagrammable destinations has skyrocketed since covid. Being in lockdown has made people realise they want to be together and for once-in-a-blue-moon events like a hen weekend, they want to go somewhere that looks and feels amazing.”

And according to Matt, it isn’t just the locations that are becoming more sophisticated.

Once dominated by plastic tat and possibly a game of paintballing, hen weekends are becoming increasingly lavish affairs.

Instead of ‘L’ plates, brides are instead spending their weekend away focussing on wellness and some much-needed R&R as they use the hen do to both celebrate their loved one’s upcoming nuptials – and escape the stresses of modern life.

And there’s also far less emphasis on booze.

“What we are increasingly seeing is demand for hens who would rather spend their weekend being pampered in a five-star spa in Edinburgh or Bath rather than a bar crawl in some city they’ve probably been out in three or four times already,” added Matt.

“A lot of these groups are professional women – doctors, bankers and lawyers – and many don’t want the stereotypical hen experience.

“If they book an activity, it isn’t going to be a stripper – it is more likely to be a craft or dance workshop to learn a routine to perform at their wedding, a spa package or even mobile yoga, which is so popular we now offer it almost everywhere. And they want a weekend of high-class cocktails, Champagne, fine dining and massages which is why the likes of York and Bath are viewed as the perfect retreat.

While Liverpool and Newcastle have long been Britain’s biggest pre-wedding party hotspots, several leafier destinations are now hot on their heels.

And the scenic Scottish capital has crept up just behind them, fuelled by the astonishing triple-figure increase in hen bookings alone last year.

That’s despite some figures, including a local resident’s group, wanting civic leaders to follow the recent lead of Amsterdam in trying to deter stags and hens to Edinburgh.

While York is currently the sixth biggest UK hen destination and Bath slightly further back, Matt said their emergence as party meccas has simply been “astonishing” – with hen bookings to York alone up 85 per cent since the pandemic.

However, that boom isn’t without controversy.

The city’s meteoric rise as a party hotspot has been met with fierce opposition from York’s Labour MP, Rachael Maskell, who claimed groups were bringing “devastation” to the suburbs, while insisting locals were too scared to even enter the city centre at the weekend.

The city’s council even got involved, creating a guide for revellers in a bid to curb the misbehaviour Matt maintains has been exaggerated “for political point scoring” with the locals.

“To say stags are to blame fault is complete hyperbole – York and Bath are pretty much stag party ghost towns,” added the businessman.

“In York, hens outnumber stags by around seven to one and we only have one group of stags heading to Bath in the first half of 2023.’

“Edinburgh, York and Bath are not the sort of places people are visiting to tie each other up on lampposts – they are attracting a new breed of classy hens that want to bond in style.”

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The Top Hen Party Trends of 2023

By now the WhatsApp group is bound to be in full swing, with message after message pinging over the plans for the hen party.

From Prosecco, pornstar martinis to hen party games.

However, some most definitely do – with trends changing more often than the bride on her big day.

And in 2023, there are some major trends set to dominate every hen party held over the coming months.

Activities

A hen do is no longer just buckets full of bubbles.

Activities are now just as integral to the weekend as cocktails and ‘L plates’, with a big current drive towards shared experiences that are a bit more leftfield – and also looks great on the ‘gram.

Arty group activities are particularly in vogue this summer.

Party experts Last Night of Freedom say they are taking tons of bookings for Flower Crown Workshops, with Etsy-inspired groups seeking stuff that’s increasingly crafty.

And even the more low-brow activities – like staring at a bloke’s bits for a bit – have had a fresh lick of paint. Rather than gawping at a stripper, hens are instead sketching a naked fella with the Nude Life Drawing class which is the most booked activity in a ton of big destinations this season.

However, dance classes will still ‘twerk’ some beating when it comes to the perfect group activity.

Be it Britney, burlesque or Beyonce, Sashay Dance has established itself as the Queen Bee of hen party dance class providers, having established a reputation for offering fast, fun and funky sessions in every corner of the UK.  Their unique Scottish Highland hen party dance classes are taking over Scotland and with new themes such as RuPaul, Line Dancing and Six the Musical they are certainly keeping bang on trend.

Destinations

Like a pair of 501s, some things never go out of style – and that includes certain hen party destinations.

Newcastle and Liverpool have, for years now, towered above the rest when it comes to finding the perfect place in the UK to party.

However, there are some definite new kids on the block that are fast emerging as must-visit spots – especially for bridal parties where money is no object.

Dubai has soared in popularity in recent years, with groups going for longer – and generally not thinking twice about the cost – with the appeal of all-year round sunshine coupled with the city’s definite wow factor fuelling demand.

For groups seeking to stray from the norm – and stay slightly closer to home – Valencia and Lisbon are rapidly becoming highly-fashionable alternatives for brides-to-be seeking some style and sunshine.

But it isn’t all ultra-chic destinations that are making waves this year – the Cost-of-Living crisis is pushing up demand for more budget-friendly options and many hen parties are choosing to celebrate in the amazing cities we have here in the UK.

Accessories

1967 was the ‘Summer of Love’ – and 2023 is the summer of the personalised hen party accessory.

Customizing your props is the rage this year, with Last Night of Freedom offering everything from personalised wine labels to personalised penis pinatas (try saying that after a few glasses of Malbec).

The most popular new item? A personalised mini straw groom customised with his face – and a little straw willy popping out.

But it isn’t just silly willies that are making it into bachelorette shopping carts this season – rose gold goodies remain popular, with Ginger Ray the trendiest brand.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our hen party blog on what’s trending for 2023!  For more information about our fun themed hen party dance classes available across the UK follow this link.

 

 

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Brighton Hen Do Ideas

Brighton Hen Do Activities

If you’re looking for Brighton hen do ideas then you’ve come to the right place.  A Brighton hen party is such an amazing place for hen parties as it offers great nightlife and things to do, right by the sea.  We compiled our top hen do activities from daytime to night for Brighton hen weekend to remember:

Paddleboarding

Being by the sea in Brighton offers so many great hen party ideas including paddleboarding.  Check out Lagoon who offer fun lessons which are available for hen parties.  This makes a fab daytime activity.

Brighton Hen Party Dance Class

At Sashay Dance we specialise in fun themed hen party dance classes available in Brighton and across the UK.  We have 20 groovy classes to choose from including Spice Girls, Dirty Dancing and Disney.  Our classes are suitable for all making them one of the top ideas for a hen do in Brighton.

Fish and Chip Fridays

Why not start your hen night with fish and chips at the Palm Court on Brighton Pier.  This makes a great spot to watch the sunset.  They also offer salads, burgers, cocktails and fizz!

Brighton i360

To experience the best views take a trip on a glass pod at the Brighton i360.  You can upgrade your ticket to have a drink of Nytiember from the Skybar at the top too.

Potion Making for Brighton Hen Parties

This is one for all the Harry Potter fans out there!  Visit the Cauldron to make and of course consume potions.  Each table gets a magic wand which used correctly magically rustles up drinks.  A unique experience to the traditional cocktail making that features on a lot of hen nights.

Karaoke

Sing the nights away at Lucky Voice in one of their private karaoke rooms.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our hen do activities in Brighton and wish you all an amazing time on your Brighton hen weekends.

For more information about our fun themed hen party dance classes in Brighton follow this link.  We can’t wait to give you something to dance about!

 

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Friends Theme Hen Party

Friends Themed Hen Party

I just had to write a blog on this as it’s such a cool hen party theme to do with your friends!  Check out our top Friends themed hen party ideas:

Friends hen do t shirts

I just love these Friends hen night t shirts.  They can be customised to add the bride to be’s name.

Friends hen party dance class

This idea actually came to us by customer request!  The hens wanted to recreate ‘The Routine’ from Friends and we just had to give it our best shot.  The group loved it and if you ask us we’ll do this theme at no extra cost.  We specialise in fun themed hen party dance classes all across the UK.  The lessons are 2 left feet friendly, suitable for all and most importantly a lot of fun.  The bride goes free on all our classes too.  Check out ‘The Routine’ we did in the video at the end of the blog.

Glow in the dark teeth

I still laugh my head off when I think back to Ross’s glow in the dark teeth.  I believe there are glow in the dark teeth paints available but I just didn’t dare to recommend any in case!  Another option are these glow in the dark mouth guards which are probably a bit safer.

Friends turkey head game

Oh wow, another howler here.  Throw hoops at the turkey head and who ever gets the most on wins.  A small bike helmet might come in handy for this one!

Friends themed hen party decorations

These personalised banners are great for transforming hotel rooms and hen party houses.

Friends hen weekend gift

I just love these Friends hen do customised glasses.  The perfect keepsake from the hen party and the perfect item for a hen party goody bag.  There’s also plastic customised champagne flutes available here and quite reasonably priced.

I hope you’ve found the Friends hen party theme ideas helpful.  I wish you all an amazing time on your hen parties too.  To find out more about our fun themed dance classes (Friends  theme of course available) then follow this link.

We can’t wait to give you something to dance about!

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York Hen Activities

York Hen Parties
Top Ideas for a York Hen Party

York is my home town and where Sashay Dance is based.  It’s very picturesque and with everything so close by to each other you can really make the most of your time on your York hen do.  I’ve compiled a list of York hen activities and things to do for hen parties in York.

River cruise

Enjoy a leisurely cruise with City Cruises York.  They can cater to hen parties with a party boat cruise or for something more civilised tuck into an afternoon tea.

Dance class

At Sashay Dance we have 20 groovy themed dance classes available for York hen parties.  We can hire somewhere centrally or come to you with our fun dance activities suitable for all.  For more information visit our hen party dance class page.

Sashay Dance

York restaurants

Having lived in York for over 25 years I have tried a fair few restaurants (probably too many!).  It would be rude not to share my restaurant knowledge with you, so here’s my top ones for hen parties:

1. Cosy Club York – they have an amazing Red Carpet room upstairs which is just such a classy place to hire for hen parties.  I booked this space for my sister’s hen do and it really was wonderful
2. Sora Sky Bar – in York there’s not many venues with a good view, as there’s a limit on height of buildings so that people can still see the Minster.  The Sora Sky Bar at Malmaison offers an amazing view of this and I’d highly recommend going for 1 or 2 cocktails.  Make sure you book though as it isn’t easy to get a table on here on the weekends.
3. Sotano Tapas is a lovely tapas in York and it’s one of my favourite restaurants.  They also have a roof terrace (can’t be booked but sometimes space on it) which is a hidden gem in York for outdoor space.  The tapas really is delicious and unlike many other restaurants in York their wines are really good.
4. Another very popular place for girls nights and hen parties is Impossible York.  They have a great cocktail menu and it’s in a wonderful building.  I’ve not been yet for food but I’m going soon in a few weeks to try ‘The Pink Room’ for my friend’s birthday party – so I’ll update then.

York Cosy Club – The Red Room

Cocktail making

Forage York have an expertly crafted cocktail list and also do their own cocktail masterclasses.

Afternoon tea

York has some really lovely venues for an afternoon tea.  I would recommend Cedar Court Grand for a luxury afternoon tea overlooking the bar walls.

Other important notes for a hen party in York

• Although things are extremely close by to each other they certainly don’t feel it in 4 inch heels.  Many of the streets in York are cobbled which are highly uncomfortable in heels.  If you struggle in heels I’d definitely recommend putting a pair of flats in your bag.
• York Races are great to visit and if you’re going to these you’ll have a fab time.  What’s not great is if you’re not going to York Races and you go into town after this.  A lot of York residents avoid going out on a race night like the plague.  The restaurants and bars are all full and everyone is hammered.  The only time this is fun is you’ve been at the races all day as well.  Also pack enough Ibuprofen for everyone for this option.
• There’s been a bit of bad recent press for York hen parties as the local MP wants to create a party guide for hen parties.  My advice would be just to avoid penis costumes, as they don’t go down well here and being sick in the street.
• Booking a taxi in York on a weekend is difficult if left last minute.  There are Ubers but not many, on a weekend if you do manage to get one they’ve probably ranked up the prices due to demand.  I would recommend booking taxis in advance with local taxi company 659 taxis 01904659659 and do this as early as you can.  659 are always on time and sometimes a bit too early so make sure everyone is ready to go.
• As York is such an historic city, the bars and restaurants aren’t as big as what you’d find in other cities.  I’d recommend booking as much as you can in advance and coming up with an itinerary.  In the daytime this isn’t so much for a problem but it still can be.

I wish you all a wonderful York hen party and hope you’ve found the hen party ideas in York blog helpful. If you’d like to find out more about our fun hen do dance classes in York then follow this link.  Lastly, all views are my own. I am not a professional blogger by any stretch of the imagination as you will know now you’ve read this post. We can’t wait to give you something to dance about!

 

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Disney Hen Party Ideas

Disney Themed Hen Party Ideas

If you’re looking for Disney themed hen party ideas then you’ve come to the right place.  We’ve compiled our top ideas for the perfect Disney hen weekend to start the ‘happily ever after’ story:

Disney dance class

At Sashay Dance we do a fun themed Disney hen do dance class available throughout the UK.  We have a fun Disney mash up including some Disney classics, or we can even customise your own songs.  Hakuna Matata – our classes are suitable for all and 2 left feet friendly.  We do 20 themes for hen parties nationwide.

Disney fancy dress

Why not dress up as your favourite Disney princesses and characters.  Try Amazon for these Rubie’s Official Disney outfits.  With everything from Snow White to Cinderella but don’t worry we won’t expect you all home at midnight!

Disney accessories

I just love these Disney headbands you can get which are perfect for wearing day to night on the hen do.  They would look great paired with the Disney hen party t shirt which also would work well at our dance class.

Complete your look and make dreams come true with a Disney princess wand.

Disney princess castle pinata

Fairy tales really do come true with this Disney princess castle pinata which you can stuff with the hen’s favourites sweets.

Disney movie time

If you’re away for the weekend why not put a Disney movie night in the itinerary.  Or if you’re planning a Disney hen party in London for the ultimate experience book Lion King on the West End.

Disney decor

Balloons are a great quick way of decorating a hen party house or hotel room.  Check out Party Delights who have a wide range of Disney balloons.

Disney playlist

Sometimes it’s the little ideas that make the big difference.  Message the hens for all their favourite Disney tunes and create a playlist.  This will be perfect to have on during the weekend or for pre-drinks.

Have your cake and eat it

Lastly Pinterest is fab for getting hen party ideas and I just love this board of Disney inspired cupcakes.  If you’re staying at a hen party house why not have a cupcake making activity or bring some along to the hen weekend.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our Disney hen party ideas and wishing you all an amazing time on the hen do.

Click here to find our more on our Disney hen do dance classes available across the UK.

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