Hens Night costs, How much is a fair amount for people to spend coming to a hens night Options

[Arial]

I have managed to stuff up every poll I have ever made on here so heres hoping this one works. I am a MOH in May and thinking about the Hens night. The beautiful bride lives in Bendigo but is from Melbourne and has many friends in Melbourne and wants to make sure no one is too put out. She really likes the idea of a winery tour but wants to make sure it stays within peoples budgets. I know it can be awkward when you are invited to a hens but can't afford the cost so how much is too much these days? Do people prefer an option where you can just pay what you can afford?
Thanks (in advance) for your help ladies (and I don't use the term loosely )
OK my poll just didn't appear!!! Please reply if you can about what you think is reasonable
The options were
<$50
$50-$100
$100-$150
$150-200
$200+

[katemonster]

it depends where the wedding is and how much the majority of guests are spending on travelling to the wedding.

eg, we're having a destination wedding and I would dearly love to have a girls' weekend away prior to this but when this is factored into the fact that they'll also be forking out for travel, accommodation and other ancillaries for the actual wedding weekend itself, it doesn't make it affordable or fair I feel.

most of the hen's I've been to I've spent about $100-$150 (including alcohol).

[Wife2Be]

I'm really glad that I just stumbled across this thread, as it was exactly the thing I have been stressing about for about a week now!!

My MOH & BMs have recently been organising my Hens for this coming September. Whilst I had some input into it, my MOH wouldn't let me know too much! She ran the idea by me, which sounds PERFECT (She knows me too well! ) but then in terms of details, costs etc they didn't involve me in any of it - which suited me perfectly

What we are doing is:

She has booked 3 x 3bedroom villas at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Vineyards. They are all equipped with bathroom, kitchen, balcony that looks out over the golf course & man-made lake - just beautiful.
In the morning we are going Wine, Cheese & Chocolate tasting.
We are then going back to the villas in the afternoon for my kitchen tea. We are going to have a homemade high tea type setup with lots of little sandwiches, quiches etc (keep the oldies happy )
We then have a few hours to swim in the pool, enjoying cocktails, sunbake, etc
After that we will all get pretty, go for dinner somewhere nearby, have lots of yummy food & wine and then make our way back to the villas for a night of some hens party fun & games.
Most ppl are staying the night, and then breakfast is included in the morning...

They also apparently have some "little suprises" in there which I'm not allowed to know about

She has put a price on it of $140. That includes the tasting, high tea in the villas, alcohol in the villas, 1 night accommodation & breakfast the next morning. Dinner will be an additional cost (i think?) Those that don't want to stay the night are being charged $40.

When she first told me the price, I nearly died! But after reading some of the responses in here, I'm thinking that maybe that's ok... I mean, out of the 30 ppl we invited, 18ppl are staying overnight & about 6 ppl are coming for the day only & then heading home after dinner. So I assume they must be ok about the cost.. Whenever I tell ppl that Im stressing over the cost, they all just say.."if someone can't afford it, they will just pay the $40 and not stay the night"...it makes sense, but I just feel bad & don't want ppl to feel obliged to "have" to pay to stay IYKWIM?

[Ames84]

My own hens night was: an adults party at my place which i think everyone paid $5 for, then dinner which was a 3 course meal which was $45 per head and then we went out afterwards, so it was just drinks. Everyone stayed at my place, so i think all together everyone would have spent around $60 - $90 dollars.

I went on a girlfriends hen to the hunter valley a few weeks ago. That cost me $300. It included 2 night accommodation, wine tour, breakfast both mornings and dinner cooked on site by their chefs. So it really wasnt too bad for everything that we got!

[Cole29*]

I'm really glad that I just stumbled across this thread, as it was exactly the thing I have been stressing about for about a week now!!

My MOH & BMs have recently been organising my Hens for this coming September. Whilst I had some input into it, my MOH wouldn't let me know too much! She ran the idea by me, which sounds PERFECT (She knows me too well! ) but then in terms of details, costs etc they didn't involve me in any of it - which suited me perfectly

What we are doing is:

She has booked 3 x 3bedroom villas at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley Vineyards. They are all equipped with bathroom, kitchen, balcony that looks out over the golf course & man-made lake - just beautiful.
In the morning we are going Wine, Cheese & Chocolate tasting.
We are then going back to the villas in the afternoon for my kitchen tea. We are going to have a homemade high tea type setup with lots of little sandwiches, quiches etc (keep the oldies happy )
We then have a few hours to swim in the pool, enjoying cocktails, sunbake, etc
After that we will all get pretty, go for dinner somewhere nearby, have lots of yummy food & wine and then make our way back to the villas for a night of some hens party fun & games.
Most ppl are staying the night, and then breakfast is included in the morning...

They also apparently have some "little suprises" in there which I'm not allowed to know about

She has put a price on it of $140. That includes the tasting, high tea in the villas, alcohol in the villas, 1 night accommodation & breakfast the next morning. Dinner will be an additional cost (i think?) Those that don't want to stay the night are being charged $40.

When she first told me the price, I nearly died! But after reading some of the responses in here, I'm thinking that maybe that's ok... I mean, out of the 30 ppl we invited, 18ppl are staying overnight & about 6 ppl are coming for the day only & then heading home after dinner. So I assume they must be ok about the cost.. Whenever I tell ppl that Im stressing over the cost, they all just say.."if someone can't afford it, they will just pay the $40 and not stay the night"...it makes sense, but I just feel bad & don't want ppl to feel obliged to "have" to pay to stay IYKWIM?

I would have no problem whatsoever paying $140 for what you have detailed - I think that is an awesome hens do and $140 is reasonable in my opinion. In fact - can I come along???

I generally have never had an issue paying what I have been asked - I think it just depends on whether you think what you will be doing is worth it - but at the end of the day I would never want to miss a girlfriend's hens night purely cause I didn't want to pay.

A girlfriend of mine is getting married in September in Townsville - I live in Sydney as do the majority of her friends. A group of us are flying up there a few days early to have a hens night with her 3 days before the wedding. This will mean extra $$$$ for hubby, DS and I due to extra nights accommodation, and I am on maternity leave at the moment, but just don't want to miss out on celebrating with her.

[Jaydee]

I'm going on a hen's tomorrow and will probably spend about $200- dinner (if I make it in time, I'm not heading in until after the kids have gone to bed), and drinks afterwards. But $100 of that is my taxi fare home.

[mmmmcake]

I'm going on a hen's tomorrow and will probably spend about $200- dinner (if I make it in time, I'm not heading in until after the kids have gone to bed), and drinks afterwards. But $100 of that is my taxi fare home.

$100 dollars for a taxi ride? That's unbelievable!!!!

[Porthos]

I am currently organising my sister's Hen's and I am amazed by what some of you have achieved for around the $140 - 150 mark - accommodation, breakfasts etc etc. We are looking at doing a four hour boat cruise with food and alcohol included for 35 ppl and it will be at least $90 a head and that's before we factor in any games / surprises etc for the bride. Clearly I am looking in the wrong places for hen's night ideas!!!

Hmmmmmmm. Lots to think about!!

For what it's worth I usually pay around $40 - 60 for the hen's activity, plus more for drinks and transport. So usually a hen's would cost me $80 - $100 minimum and some of them I have been on have been a total and utter RIP OFF. I consider it a rip off when nothing really happens and you end up standing around eating over priced finger food and getting two cocktails over four hours.

[xxEmxx]

IMO it's not about the amount spent, it's what you get for that money. If it is going to be a high cost, but worth the money, as long as it is organized in advance giving guests time to save if they need to!

[Cole29*]

$100 dollars for a taxi ride? That's unbelievable!!!!

I live in the Sydney suburbs and if I had to catch a taxi home from the city would be looking at $140-$160.

IMO it's not about the amount spent, it's what you get for that money. If it is going to be a high cost, but worth the money, as long as it is organized in advance giving guests time to save if they need to!

I agree with the above. I love a good night out so the cost doesn't bother me provided I know in advance so can budget for it. My hen's night cost my guests $70 or $80 plus $$$ for their own drinks.

[Melonbaby]

My girls have been very busy in planning my hens weekend. The cost of it is $300, but that includes:
3 nights accommodation in Lakes Entrance
Friday dinner
Saturday lunch
Sunday lunch wine cruise
Sunday BBQ dinner
Games & prizes
a pressie for moi! (A massage at the day spa! )
plus all nibblies for predinner
and my weekend. (Although I'm not happy about this bit and they don't know it yet, but I WILL be contributing!)

I think it's a pretty good deal considering I have paid over $200 for a one night do, including accommodation, massage & dinner

The hens weekend isn't til February but we wanted to give people plenty of notice to save up for it. I am lucky to have a fabulous bunch of bridesmaids who have worked really hard already. Love 'em heaps!

Porthos - Where are you doing the hen's? I'll see if my girls can suggest anything they have found in their research.

[Emmyzilla]

I am such a bridezilla I've practically taken over my hens night in regards to planning, hotel and restaurants.

I wanted a pamper day and most of the girls wanted to go drinking and partying afterwards so what we've organised is:
- Spa and massage, hair and beauty for daytime at 5 star hotel in Sydney
- Cocktails and pre-dinner drinks at the hotel
- Dinner at a spanish tapas restaurant (not too fancy, just needs the hens atmosphere)
- Drinks and partying at various clubs in the city.

So I've organised the first three and the girls have organised the last as I wouldn't know how to get free club entry. I've paid for the hotel room because I don't expect the girls to pay for a suite in a 5 star hotel, if I've got expensive taste then I shouldn't expect anyone else to pay for it.

The cost per girl ends up being $70 for the daytime activities, estimated $30 dinner, drinks per what each girl wants to drink and free entry to various clubs that night.

[Porthos]

My girls have been very busy in planning my hens weekend. The cost of it is $300, but that includes:
3 nights accommodation in Lakes Entrance
Friday dinner
Saturday lunch
Sunday lunch wine cruise
Sunday BBQ dinner
Games & prizes
a pressie for moi! (A massage at the day spa! )
plus all nibblies for predinner
and my weekend. (Although I'm not happy about this bit and they don't know it yet, but I WILL be contributing!)

I think it's a pretty good deal considering I have paid over $200 for a one night do, including accommodation, massage & dinner

The hens weekend isn't til February but we wanted to give people plenty of notice to save up for it. I am lucky to have a fabulous bunch of bridesmaids who have worked really hard already. Love 'em heaps!

Porthos - Where are you doing the hen's? I'll see if my girls can suggest anything they have found in their research.

I think $300 for that amount of activity / food / accom is pretty amazing. I would be happy to pay that for a whole weekend of fun. I have been on a boat cruise to a winery from Lakes Entrance and it was fantastic - I wonder if it is the same one?! I also like that you have given everyone heaps of notice to save up etc - I too support this idea, I am happy to pay if I have the time to budget and save.

My sister's hen's is in Melb, we're hoping to cruise from Docklands, but very, very open to suggestions, any help / tips greatly appreciated!!!