Proof You’re Never Too Old for a Party Bag
Last weekend, I headed down to Brighton for my cousin’s hen do (or bachelorette party, depending on which side of TikTok you’ve landed on lately). Alongside 15+ of her closest friends, we made our way down on Saturday morning, ready to celebrate properly.
Maybe it’s the 90s kid in me, but I’ve always loved a good party bag. You know the ones handed out at the end of a birthday party, with a slice of cake wrapped in a themed napkin. I can still remember my 6th birthday party (Spice Girls themed, obviously). My mum had found these amazing sequin stickers and glittery temporary tattoos and, at the time, I was convinced it was peak luxury.
Fast forward to adulthood… and honestly, not much has changed.
For my best friend’s hen last year, I fully leaned into the nostalgia and made individual party bags for everyone. They included:
Personalised champagne flutes (I bought some cheap glasses off Dunelm and got a lovely women off Etsy to vinyl print the names)
Reusable straws
Mini canvas and easel sets with paints (because why not add an activity?)
Day 2: proof we survived the Massaoke the night before and still committed to the activity.
For my cousin’s hen, the bridesmaids and I took a more streamlined approach. We ordered hen do bags (thank you, Amazon), but still added our own touches:
Hydration sachets (arguably the most important item)
Because no matter your age, a goodie bag still hits.
The moment everyone arrived at the first venue, a bottomless brunch, you could feel it. That energy when all your favourite people come together for one person - it’s unmatched. It’s loud, chaotic, full of laughter… and just a lot of love.
The day unfolded exactly as you’d expect:
Beach stop for photos
Karaoke (my go-to is either Mr Brightside or All the Small Things - no surprises there)
Now that we’re all over 30, food is no longer a “nice to have”—it’s essential. So, we had a beautiful dinner at Donatella in Brighton. I went for a comforting spaghetti bolognese (sometimes you just need it), while the bride had a smoky pasta that I’m still thinking about.
We ended the night at Maggie Mae’s, a bar dedicated to throwback and unapologetically cheesy music. Exactly what you want at the end of a hen do. Would I have also loved a bar that serves actual cheese? Absolutely. But that’s a different kind of night out.
Hen dos might look a little different as you get older, more hydration sachets, fewer tequila shots, and maybe slightly less chaos (debatable). But the core of it stays the same.
It’s about showing up, celebrating your people, and creating the kind of moments you’ll still be talking about long after the wedding’s over.