If you are looking for ideas to celebrate your last night of freedom, you should choose something memorable as it's a great opportunity for you to get your best friends together for a big pre-wedding night out or weekend away!
Hen and stag parties are bigger and more adventurous than ever with many brides and grooms-to-be looking for original ideas prior to a perfect send off before married life begins. These are challenging times, of course, but there’s a plethora of activities to choose from that you may not have thought of such as go karting, quad biking and cocktail making as well as spa days, party boats or a good old-fashioned nightclub.
Here’s some great businesses catering for hen and stag parties based in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire from places like Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Aylesbury, Banbury and Buckingham, whom you might want to get in touch with...
Don't forget to mention Your Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wedding magazine when contacting a hen and stag party organiser.
At Donnington Grove Hotel, we aim to meet and surpass your expectations every step of the way to ensure your wedding reception is truly memorable. From small and intimate weddings, to big, grand affairs, we have a choice of beautiful suites and function rooms that can be set up to accommodate the wedding of your dreams and meet your budget.
Want to say 'no' to being a maid-of-honour? Here’s how!
Being a maid-of-honour or even a bridesmaid can be hugely exciting and a big honour, however, it takes responsibility, a lot of time, money and energy, all dedicated to making someone else happy. So if you really don't want to be a bridesmaid, plucking up the courage to turn down an invite might seem like a nightmare. A new survey from Ginger Ray which seeks to answer some of weddings' trickiest questions reveals that almost two-thirds (63%) of Brits think it was acceptable to say no to being a member of the wedding party based on the financial burden and additional responsibilities it poses.
Posted: 31 May 2023
Browns launch champagne bottomless brunch
This month, Browns Restaurants will be adding a Champagne bottomless brunch to their signature weekend menus, as part of this year's festivities to celebrate the group's 50th anniversary. From Friday to Sunday until 2pm, guests can enjoy free-flowing Moët & Chandon Impérial Champagne, alongside signature brunch dishes such as Browns Lobster Benedict, a satisfying stack of Pancetta Buttermilk Pancakes, Smoked Salmon, Smashed Avocado, Garlic Mushrooms on Sourdough and a variety of classic egg dishes. Alternatively, opt for more substantial dishes, like the Browns Burger and Chargrilled Chicken & Bacon Club.
Posted: 27 May 2023
How to throw a Hen Do on a budget
A typical spend for a Hen Do weekend can cost over £250 per person, taking a big chunk out of the wedding budget. Not only is this a massive cost for the bride, but it could also lead to members of the bridal party worrying about how they can afford such lavish expenses, which may result in them bailing out on the plans. Making arrangements in advance and planning activities ahead of time means both the bride and the party enjoy the celebrations without any falling outs. Sticking to local destinations or opting for activities like bottomless pottery painting over brunch are some of the simple solutions to saving money but still allow everyone to revel in the fun.
Posted: 19 April 2023
Henley Festival reveals unmissable line-up for summer 2023
The Henley Festival Presented by Westcoast has revealed this year's sensational line-up, featuring five unmissable summer nights packed full of world-class music, comedy, dining, dancing and magical moments. Westcoast is excited to continue its long association with Henley Festival in 2023 and is delighted to be supporting RISE. From Wednesday 5 July to Sunday 9 July, the UK's only boutique black-tie festival will present an unforgettable experience on the stunning riverside in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Henley Festival is truly like no other, with a vibrant line-up of pop, world, classical, folk and jazz music sitting alongside award-winning comedy, visual art and sculpture installations on the green banks of the Thames, and first-class gastronomy. Festival goers will be enchanted late into the night by this captivating programme of music and arts – with each evening coming to an epic close with a jaw-dropping firework spectacular.
Posted: 11 April 2023
Enjoy an Egg-citing event at Birdland Park & Gardens
There's a host of egg-citing events and activities taking place at Birdland Park & Gardens throughout the Easter holidays. In what is the season of new life, many of the birds will begin a courtship and dozens of eggs are due to be laid over the coming weeks in the nine acres of gardens and woodland in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. close to the border of Oxfordshire. Birdland's head keeper Alistair Keen said: "Easter is always a busy time of the year for us as we wait for the eggs to be laid. It's an exciting time when we find out what our new residents are going to look like." From Saturday, April 1 to Sunday, April 16, families can join in the Easter Challenge Quiz, hunting down hidden eggs around the park and answering some fun ornithological questions. Visitors can also go back in time to hunt for dinosaur eggs in the Jurassic Journey trail and explore prehistoric fossils in the Dino Dig.
Posted: 30 March 2023
Abroad stag and hen dos not an option due to cost of living crisis
Couples planning stag and hen festivities this year may need to think again as Brits admit they would not attend an abroad celebration. Luxury fashion retailer Fenwick, has surveyed the nation to find out opinions on stag and hen dos, including the amount they'd be willing to spend and whether they'd travel abroad. Many people now take their bridal parties or groomsmen on holiday to celebrate their big day. These trips can often end up costing a lot of money especially if heading to popular destinations such as Marbella, Budapest or even Vegas which when the majority of the UK is being squeezed by the ongoing cost of living crisis, isn't something many can afford. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 50.70% would refuse to attend a stag do abroad, preferring to celebrate closer to home in the UK.
Posted: 1 February 2023
Find GINspiration for your hen do at The Henley Distillery
At Henley Distillery in Oxfordshire, the team are excited about offering their facilities to the wedding market. The gin experience room contains 12 mini stills which can be used as one per person for a private event, perfect for a hen gathering or if guests were happy to share, they can host up to 24 people. For private events, the team can tailor all of their experiences to suit the party - whether that be due to budget constraints or timings. The Signature Gin Experience lasts for around three hours and invites guests to fully immerse themselves in the gin-making process. Following a tour of the distillery and brief history of gin, guests venture across the courtyard, G&T in hand to the Gin Experience room for a gin tasting. After this, our head distiller guides the group through developing their own bespoke recipe by choosing from more than 100 botanicals, eventually distilling and going home with a personal bottle of gin which they have created themselves.
Posted: 24 January 2023
New interactive feature to make hen and stag dos less stressful
A new randomised spinning wheel feature has been launched by Hen Weekends and Stag Weekends in an effort to make the planning process of hen and stag parties easier and less stressful. This comes as their recent study of hen and stag party bookings found that 30% of hen and stag party organisers have no idea which location to book, with so many different options on offer creating quite the predicament.
Posted: 23 January 2023
New hen/stag do offering in Stratford, London, March 2023!
Grab your #weddingsquad, it's time to get dressed up and put on your dancing shoes because Tony n' Tina's Wedding - the immersive hit Broadway show from America - is coming to London! This unique live theatrical experience - during which the audience and cast interact together during a 'live wedding' - will officially open at the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on March 16th, 2023, and here at County Wedding Magazines HQ we think its got all the ingredients for the ultimate stag/hen or sten do!
Posted: 19 January 2023
New hen party ideas at Bird & Blend Tea Co. venues
On various dates throughout December and January '23, and into 2023, Bird & Blend Tea Co. will host its two brand new workshops. A magic potions brewing & tea mixology workshop at Bird & Blend Tea Co - is for those keen on discovering and learning the mastery of potion making whilst mixing tea, and the science behind the magic. The special two-and-a-half hour workshop invites its guests to take an immersive step in to conjuring up shimmering, colour changing and whimsical potions...all whilst the smoke swirls, the smells take over and the senses awaken. As a VIP guest, wannabe magic and mixology makers will be treated to unlimited amounts of tea from an exciting selection of blends or tea cocktails.
Posted: 7 December 2022
