So, you have been asked to be the maid honour, which is an HONOUR right? You are the bride’s sidekick, righthand woman, bestie and now have the wonderful task of planning the hen do. Hmmm, does she not realise how busy you are?!

This task can be overwhelming; all you want is for the Bride to have the very best, memorable weekend with all her friends and family around her. No pressure at all...But fear not! We can help. Just follow these steps:

 First:

1. Speak to the Bride. Find out if she wants a “surprise” or if she'd prefer to be involved in the planning. Ask about any "hard no's", her ideas, and guest list.

2. Approach the Guests. Set up a WhatsApp group and send out a Poll with a selection of potential dates, asking guests to tick all which are possible – this will give you an idea of numbers – you wont be able to please everyone. Use this group to communicate information, times, agendas, maps etc.

3.Set a Budget. Decide how much your group can afford, and will you be treating the bride between you? Consider using a Monzo account to keep control of the finances and share links for guests to cough up via Apple Pay.

What’s next?

1. Check how many rooms you need? Are your group happy to share rooms or even share a double bed? Some guests may prefer to pay a more for privacy.

2. Book the accommodation. At Wonderful Escapes the Farmhouse is perfect for a large group happy to share rooms, with space for 17 guests across 7 bedrooms (or up to 23 with extra beds). Add the Cider House, next door, with 3 rooms perfect for those with babies or the older generation wanting P&Q. The Dairy works well for 6 to 12 guests staying across the 6 bedrooms. Many of the bedrooms can be set up with single beds. Floor plans are available on the website to write names against the rooms.

3. Catering. To avoid the stress of cooking for large numbers consider ordering delicious meals from our farm kitchen. They are left in the fridge ready to pop in the oven in table ready dishes. Place a food and drink order to arrive in your first hour on site. Get a couple of volunteers to help you prep before the bride and others turn up.

4. Planning activities can be one of the most daunting parts of your job so be prepared and have an agenda fully planned out. Here are some ideas:

On Site Fun

• Hikers: Group walk to the top of the Skirrid for incredible views over seven counties.

• Wild Swimmers: Take a dip in an outdoor natural swimming pool to release the endorphins.

• Disco Divas: Dance the night away in a disco den with a mirrored ball, speaker, and lights on site.

• Board Games Night: Find out who's the competitive one with a board games night in the living room or a table tennis tournament.

• Movie Night: Enjoy a cosy movie night in the cinema room with a romantic girlie classic.

• Games on the Lawn: Old school sports day games bring out the giggling child in everyone.

• Relax in the Hot Tub: Soak the stress away, chatting with new and old friends and taking in the incredible views.

• Firepit Evenings: Sit around the open fire, toasting marshmallows and sharing stories.

• Sauna Sessions: Book a session in the sauna for a spa afternoon, perfect after a swim or hike.

• Massages: Some guests may want to have a treatments with our in-house therapist for that extra bit of luxury and the ultimate relaxation.

  With a little bit more budget
  

• Paint and Sip: Enjoy a creative afternoon with a local artist and a few bottles of the bubbly stuff.

• Fitness Fanatics: Arrange a morning workout with a Pilates or yoga teacher.

• Foodies: Walk to our incredible local Welsh pub for a tasty meal and drinks.

• Looking for something different: Experience an incredible Gong Bath in The Great Barn.

 
Last but least… ENJOY YOURSELF TOO!

 You’ve worked hard to make this happen. Once everyone has arrived it’s time for you to relax. The guests know the agenda, the activities are booked and you should down tools (a bit) and let the others step up. The tranquillity of the farm will help to wash your worries away. Wern-y-Cwm is the perfect place to make special memories as a group which will last a lifetime.