Reluctant Hen. Ideas?

wexpat girl

Bit allergic to the idea of a hen party. I'm in my 40's and have been to many, many and am weary of them TBH and definitely would have a fit if there was any paraphernalia/themes etc. Fortunately I have no (hen-mad)bridesmaid as such but my witness is my older sister in her 50s so she definitely wouldn't be going there - if she offered to organize....

I would like to get together for a night with friends, I don't think I'll get away with not doing SOMETHING. Also I'm currently pregnant to hopefully LO will be 8.5 months old by time of wedding, so Ideally would like baby to be 6 months plus by the time I'm ready for a night away.

My friends / relatives are spread all over the country so was thinking Dublin might be the best location as many people have some friend/ relative that they could stay with and save accommodation. I don't like the idea of a big gang but I don't think I can avoid, if I include sisters in law and mother in law which is an extra 5. So could be 20-25. I think that's too may for a meal so not mad on that.

Any suggestions of a place that I could maybe hire a section and maybe do finger food OR a place where we could grab pub food and stay there for the evening with a space for dancing? Not big on nightclubs but I know that there will be girls who would enjoy a bop. I really don't fancy trying to move a big group around from venue to venue. a one stop to cover the night would be great but not sure of options? Most girls have young kids so won't have too many nights out and would prob like to let their hair down. We will be a group of mostly 40-54 with two 30 year olds and one 60 something old who may as well be 40, she's mad!

Sorry for long post.....

tea and coffee

Somewhere like the Odeon?

wexpat girl

tea and coffee wrote: »

Somewhere like the Odeon?

Have never been in it. Do they do food? Is there a place to dance if so inclined?

73trix

I wouldn't fancy a hen either. Think you outgrow them in a way but you should have a night out with your crew. Great excuse for it. I have a friend who dodged the "hen" thing by having a meal with small group of closest friends but I believe she regrets it now as she is having a small wedding and won't have some of her friends there either. I was at a hen once but not the wedding as it was really small but was glad to be part of the session.

the_syco

A friend of my sisters had a hen whereby they went to a spa (which was in a farm) for a weekend and got treated and had a laugh. Seems they enjoyed it, as all the food was grown locally, etc, and was stress free.

fits

For mine we went kayaking on the river beside where I live. Back to the local for a pint and then a meal of chilli with cocktails in my mums. Anyone who wanted to stay over could stay ( she has lots of room). Cheap, simple and enjoyable.

GingerLily

fits wrote: »

For mine we went kayaking on the river beside where I live. Back to the local for a pint and then a meal of chilli with cocktails in my mums. Anyone who wanted to stay over could stay ( she has lots of room). Cheap, simple and enjoyable.

That sounds like great fun!!

nazzy

For mine, we rented a big house in Doolin (Ballyvara house) - had it exclusively to ourselves. It had 11 en suites, easily slept 30 people and has a separate bar and lounge in it. You can hook music to the sound system and we got Tesco to deliver a load of food and drink, stocked the bar and had our own fun!

It used to be a restaurant/guest house so it is set up that way.

We went to the Cliffs of Moher on the Saturday and we went out on the matchmaking festival on the Saturday night. A local bus company were at our disposal for the evening and it was just class. Would highly recommend!!

It was a group, mostly mid-30s...with mother, mother in law and another friend. My sister-in-law had just had a baby and so my bro and their little baby came along too. There was one bedroom with a separate staircase so they were away off in a different corner of the house and weren't disrupted so my sister in law could enjoy it without being separated from the little dude. It was amazing!

tea and coffee

Doesn't have to be the Odeon but there are plenty of places like that in Dublin city centre. They do serve food and have drinks and the music is loud so i guess ypu you could dance. Cafe en seine would be the same sort of thing.
Tbh sounds like the other ideas are better

GingerLily

Odessa could be good, it worked very well for a work Christmas party anyway!