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 the North East from places like Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, Tyneside and Northumberland, whom you might want to get in touch with...
Don't forget to mention Your North East Wedding magazine when contacting a hen and stag party organiser.
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
Darlington Hippodrome’s Forbidden Nights
After something different for your last proper night out as a singleton? Darlington Hippodrome's Forbidden Nights combines superlative circus and acrobatic skills with finely honed physiques. It showcases stunt-orientated routines and explosive choreography, performed by a cast hand-picked from across the UK which featured on Britain's Got Talent. The show is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat as the cast perform heart racing tricks including aerial straps, fire, acrobatics and live musicians... not forgetting a few men in uniform thrown in for good measure.
Posted: 24 April 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
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
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
Darlington Hippodrome just announced The Buddy Holly Story
We might be wrong here at Your North East Wedding HQ, but we don't think elderly relatives are going to be thrilled at the prospect of a Newcastle bar crawl for your hen or stag. Step forward Darlington Hippodrome, who've just announced that The Buddy Holly Story is back in the UK, with tickets available from Tuesday 28th February to Saturday 4th March. Buddy tells the story of the musical icon's rise from his Southern rockabilly beginnings to international stardom, before his tragic death at the age of just 22. In 18 short months the bespectacled boy from Texas revolutionised the face of contemporary music, and would influence everyone from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones.
Posted: 29 December 2022
Top tips on how to save money on a hen-do
Hen-dos provide a great opportunity to bring together your nearest and dearest for pre-wedding celebration and excitement. However, with many brides now opting for more exotic or expensive locations for their celebrations, the cost of a hen-do can quickly add up. Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, has some great tips on how to make savings on your upcoming hen-party: Take advantage of drinks packages – Nightclubs are synonymous with hen-dos, however entry and drinks can get pretty pricey. Venues will often offer discounts on pre-purchased drinks packages so it's worth checking what deals you can strike before getting there.
Posted: 21 September 2022
Planning a Hen Do? Here are 6 ways to do it on a budget
With wedding traditions dying fast, modern couples are truly setting the bar for what's possible at contemporary nuptials. What will always be popular though, is the hen/stag or ('sten' if you're joining forces) do! Although, even these have altered in their format, gone are pub and nightclub crawls till the early morning, and in are wellness breaks, pottery and classes and the much-loved British Brunch! The UK's leading bottomless brunch platform, Bottomless Brunch, has compiled a list of ways you can save costs whilst planning an unforgettable hen party.
Posted: 12 September 2022
Darlington Hippodrome reveal a great line-up of shows for summer 2022
f your mam's absolutely petrified at the thought of being invited on your Ayia Napa hen then it's high time you organised a get-together for those that don't fancy a weekend to remember (or, in most cases, a weekend you probably won't remember). Step forward Darlington Hippodrome, who've just revealed a great line-up of shows for summer 2022 and beyond. Drama-buffs can enjoy laughs and thrills with a new stage adaptation of the comedy Boeing Boeing (Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th July), or see Susie Blake star as Miss Marple in The Mirror Crack'd (Tuesday 20th to Saturday 24th September).
Posted: 19 July 2022
