In the last few posts I have focused on the use of printed cellophane party bags at children's birthday parties. However that is not the only occasion at which they can be used. Over the past year or so there has been an upsurge in everything to do with hen parties, including the presentation of gifts at them.
Perhaps you are organizing a selection of gifts for the Bride to Be and are looking for ideas on how to present them. Alternatively you may have pulled together a party pack for all the hens.
Presents for the Bride To Be can range from small items of jewelry to a life size inflatable man. There is no traditional standard, it is totally up to yourself. Having attended quite a few hen parties myself one particular method of presenting the presents worked really well, this is how it was organised.
Well in advance of the party the "Head Hen" contacted all the Bride To Be's friends and family, even those who could not attend the hen party. They were all asked to send two gifts. One small genuine gift and one gift that would provoke a reaction, such as an old photo, a poem, a shared memory, anything that would evoke a happy or embarrassing memory.
The next part of the job was to wrap the gifts and get them ready for presentation and that is where the printed cellophane bags come in. Basically there are two options. Combine all the presents in one box and present them to the Bride To Be at some point during the hen party. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this method, however by doing it this way an opportunity to involve everyone and generate some excitement is lost. So what is the alternative?
Wrap each gift individually. The genuine gift and the "memory gift" should be kept separate. The trick to getting the most from this method of presenting the gifts is to put effort into wrapping the gifts. As well as the gifts from friends you should also include some typical hen party paraphernalia such as "hotty whistles", l - plates and dare games. These will all add to the excitement of the hen party and act as a focal point during and after the meal.
When it comes to wrapping the gifts, use your imagination. For example if one of the guests sent embarrassing pictures from a holiday, wrap them in a page from a travel brochure, preferably with a "hunky" man prominently displayed. By doing this the excitement will start from the moment the Bride To Be is asked to open the gift. The wrapping itself will get people talking and guessing.
If you are using a cellophane party bag then make sure you make the most of it. One of the great things about cellophane party bags is that they cannot be torn open easily. If the Bride To Be knows there is something embarrassing in the bag her natural reaction will be to tear off the packaging and hide the gift. If you use a cellophane party bag she will not be able to do this. It will take time to reveal the "offending" gift and in the meantime all the hens will have gathered tightly around her waiting to share in the fun.
The method you use to present the gifts is totally up to yourself but I would suggest that you use the "lucky dip" format. Gather all the gifts into one box or basket making sure it is appropriately decorated with balloons, streamers and even a series of photos of the Bride To Be. Anything that will generate a bit of fun and maintain the focus on the Bride To Be. It is her big night.
Then at appropriate intervals throughout the evening ask the Bride To Be to select a gift and wait for the reaction. In some cases opening all the gifts in one go works best, for example during and after a meal. Another option is to concentrate the presentation of gifts at the start of the evening thereby acting as an "ice breaker" and getting everyone involved.
As you can see the handing over of gifts on a hen night can be an activity in itself. The important thing to remember is the Bride To Be should be the focus of attention at all times and the method you choose to present the gifts should not make the Bride To Be uncomfortable. If she is not an extrovert then keep things low key and perhaps leave out some of the "saucier" gifts.
Getting ready for a hen party? Are you planning on presenting the hen and guests with gifts. Then take the advice of Jennifer Clear and use party bags. They can be filled with all types of party bag gifts that are sure to get everyone in the party mood.
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