why you should consider a micro hen do –  How to plan a micro hen do in 2021

28 January 2021

Hen parties seem to get bigger and flashier every year, but bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to a hen do.

As COVID rages on, the duo behind bespoke hen do planning service Feste have seen a rise in micro weddings – and as a result, micro hen dos. More intimate, more flexible and ultimately less stress.

“My wedding was moved several times this year due to covid,” says Emilee, one half of Feste. (And you can see the gorgeous laidback London wedding they ended up having here!) “We were so fed up with the stress of rearranging and were very keen to get married. Rather than postpone until next year, we went ahead with a small wedding and it was the best decision. I also managed to have a micro hen do a few weeks before – just me and my four best friends – and I can honestly say that I would recommend a micro hen do to anyone, even if covid wasn’t a factor. It was so much more intimate, way less stressful and so much more luxe!

“We just had four London girls to consider, whose tastes were all perfectly aligned. And because there were less of us we could afford to splash out on some real treats like a blow-out dinner at a fancy winery, beauty treatments for us all and an amazing seaside pad.”

 

Feste’s top ideas for a micro hen do in 2021

Garden party in… your garden

When pubs, restaurants and clubs aren’t open, hosting a hen do in the back garden might be the only option. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as fun. Hire a luxury Raj tent and styling it with plenty of cushions and lanterns looks amazing. Get in some top-notch catering and party with your best friends a few feet away from your very own bed and bathroom. Bride-to-be Millie didn’t let covid stop her hen do dreams. “I had the best fun with my girls in my maid of honour’s back garden – in October! We even had a firepit that kept us warm and cosy till the early hours. S’mores included.”

 

Wining, dining and hiking in East Sussex

“This is actually what I did for my hen do,” says Emilee. “We stayed in a gorgeous townhouse on the seafront in St-Leonards-on-Sea – all Scandinavian-inspired decor and the most incredible views of the milky-blue south coast ocean. On Friday night we had champagne on the beach then got dressed up and went for dinner at an amazing seafood restaurant. The next day to cure our hangovers we went for a swim in the sea then did a bit of antiquining, followed by wine tasting at a nearby winery and a private dining experience afterwards. On Sunday we blew the cobwebs away with a hike along the Seven Sisters coastal path. I’m biased but it was the best hen do I’ve ever been on!”

Private dining in London

Without the huge cost of travelling abroad and staying in hotels, it’s such a treat to splash out on an intimate private dining experience instead. So that’s exactly what Feste organised for Sophie’s hen do in London. This was organised for 12 girls pre covid, but it would be equally as dreamy with 4 or 6 people. “As a natural introvert, having a mirco hen do with just my best friends was exactly what I wanted! Feste not only booked a private room for us at The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell, but the entire top floor of its pretty townhouse, which meant we could be as loud as we wanted and had the space to ourselves all evening. From the simple table setting and decorations Feste set up beforehand, to the incredible food and wine, it was my perfect last night of freedom!”

Tent image via Raj Tent Club; headshots via Rachel Manns