Burlesque Boudoir Hen's Night

Any excuse for a good time with my friends, I'll take it. My Hen's Night was one of those times.

After months of me planning a wedding, with all the organising, details, stress and expense, my girls decided it was time for me to take a break and let them have a go. And why not, one of the best things about having a pre-wedding bachelorette/hen's night is stress relief for the bride-to-be, bonding time and fun with just the girls and creating memories.


In this world of social networking, it wasn't hard for a group to be created on facebook for the event (just make sure the bride doesn't create it, because then she can't leave.) I was able to invite my girlfriends from all sorts of different social circles. Some of them had a chance to meet at the engagement party, but having one platform to communicate ideas and discuss plans made everything much easier. Once the initial facebook invites had been sent I was unceremoniously (just kidding) removed from the group, in order for them to talk openly without my knowledge. Some girls would find this stressful not knowing the details. Me? I'm pretty cruisey and knew that whatever happened, did so out the kindness of their lovely hearts. Plus, turns out I had nothing to worry about, these girls all know me so well.

I'm not so sure of the details behind the planning, but here is how it all played out....

I received a hand crafted invitation to "Erin's Burlesque Boudoir"  The dress code was vintage and the night included "High tea at Erin's Boudoir, A night of fun, tipple and fabulousness" Let the excitement begin....

On arrival at the stated hotels address, I was greeted outside the room and given my first item of the evening... a blindfold. I was then escorted by clasped hands through the apartment, with unidentifiable muffled giggles coming from the other side of the hallway. I had been punctual and things were still being set-up, of which my eyes were not permitted to witness... yet (oh, the mind boggles).

I was kept company, fed, wined and "hen-ifided" in the room adjoining the lounge. As more giggles, "shhh's" and clinking ensued in the lounge through the closed door.

Pin Up Girl Sadie Dress (similar here)

The "hen-ification" included a blingtastic tiara, a hot pink veil, "Bride to be" sash and an over-sized (40 carat?) flashing pink ring. Oh la la.

Once the room, girls and I were deemed ready I was released from my pamper quarters and got to see what all the fuss had been about.

High Tea

 My High Tea Party was ready and waiting, with fine china (some of which had been brought over from Australia purely for this event), delicious tea, savouries and sweets all set up and looking perfect.

 So to start the event on a dignified and rather classy note, we sat down to some fine afternoon tea.

Group photos were taken. Introductions were made, catch-ups were had and before we knew it, it was time to move onto the next chapter of the evening.

Burlesque dancing...

....And the gloves come off.....slowly, many times, in many different ways.

 

A lesson in walking, talking, dancing, strutting, seducing and definitely a lot of laughing. (only a select few of these moves were used on the reception dance floor the next weekend)

Being the "Bride to be" I was often called up and singled out, and I was an all too willing Guinea pig.

 

 

 Our scantly clad burlesque instructor (Top right) was all to happy to feed my our "posed group photo" obsession... because damn girls, you be lookin' fine tonight! Here are a few.

Bend and Snap!

One legged conga line???

After all that we deserved a drink, or two, or more.... Let the games begin.

I grew up with a number of these girls, and "Pass the parcel" was always a party favourite. To pay homage to our younger years we sat in a circle and played it with an adult twist; with more penis shaped whistles, bubble wands, lollies and beauty items (not phallic shaped thankfully).

WARNING: The following image contains chewed bubble gum.....don't be a hater.

The next game was "How well do you know your fiancé". Where I was asked a series of questions* my husband had answered previously (without my knowledge) and I had to guess; not what the correct answer was necessarily (since he knows I'm always right) but what he had answered. If I answered a question wrong I had to put a piece of bubble gum in my mouth, the more questions I answered incorrectly the harder it got to speak, chew and swallow (hence the towl on my lap), because I'm a classy lady.... ahem.

Apparently, I got off lucky getting a red strawberry flavoured one and not a brown cola flavour.... take a second to ponder that result, yum.

I didn't do too bad considering most of the incorrect answers I did get was because Chris was being silly.... Pfft! Susan Boyle as his celebrity free pass... more like Zooey Deschanel.

Toilet Paper Wedding Dress game

A popular game for any Bachelorette party, you know the drill. Assigned teams who only have rolls of toilet paper and cellotape to construct a wedding dress in an allotted time frame. So much fun, and such different ideas. Each group was separated from another to avoid plagiarism and sabotage (yes, I knew who I was dealing with), while the bride-to-be was there to judge the end results.

Next came the cutting of my Hen's Night cake, which a fellow hen made especially and brought halfway across the country. You've gotta love friends like that. I even found myself a practice husband (and future bride) to cut it with me...

After many more drinks, photos and debauchery (which I won't include here for the sanctity of my friendships) we prepared to migrate into Wellington town.... but first...

Missions/Tasks/Dares/Scavenger Hunt

 I was sent back to my little cupboard under the stairs (not really) while the girls decided my fate for the evening, assigning me a personalised scavenger hunt** to do while in the clubs of Wellington. Rather than wearing a t-shirt or a billboard around my neck. They each wrote their ideas on a heart cut out and tied it to my arms with ribbon, only to be removed when completed.

Here are just a few that I completed and got photos of.

 Get advice from a married couple, sign your new name on somebody, get a photo with a genga and get a bouncer to give you a kiss.

Get a guy to wear your veil (he was all too keen), Dance Gangnam Style with a stranger, Get a photo with a police officer, get a piggy back ride (t ended up being a shoulder ride, (eeek!!) never again).

** Full list of tasks at end of post

It was such a great night, spending time with the girls, and making great memories. We met a LOT of other stag and hen's parties and everyone was very welcoming, giving their congratulations and well wishes (sometimes from across the street in the form of WOO HOO!). 

The night was even topped off by a surprise visit of my husbands Stag do, his day was obviously very different from mine, but he enjoyed it all the same. No strippers required.

*How well do you know your fiancé Questions:

• Where were you born?
• What was your favorite toy as a child?
• What was your first pet and his/her name?
• Given a free pass to sleep with a celebrity, who would it be?
• Who said I love you first and what were the circumstances?
• How old are your oldest pair of underwear?
• What was the first gift Erin gave you?
• What was the first thing you gave Erin?
• If Erin could throw away any item of yours, what do you think it would be?
• If you could throw away any items of Erin's what would it be? > What's your real anniversary?
• What is your favourite physical feature on Erin?
• If you could live anywhere in the world where would you choose?
• How many children do you want?
• What's your favourite boys name?
• What's your favourite girls name?
• What is Erin's most annoying habit?
• What do you think that Erin thinks is your most annoying habit?
• What was the first movie you watched together?
• What's your favourite memory of Erin?
• What part of the toothpaste do you squeeze from (top, middle, end)?
• How do you like your eggs cooked?
• When you were little, what did you want to be be when you grew up?
• What does Erin think you spend too much money on?
• What do you think Erin spends too much money on?
• What's the naughtiest thing you did in school?
• What do you love most about Erin?
• If you could have any kind of car, what would it be?
• What colour underwear are you wearing?

**Scavenger Hunt Tasks:

• Get kissed by a bouncer
• Take a photo with a police officer
• Take a photo with a genga
• Do the Gangnam Style with a stranger
• Get a stranger to buy you a shot
• Buy shots for the other hens
• Ask a married couple for marriage advise
• Sign your new signature on a stranger
• Get a guy to wear your veil
• Walk out of the bathroom with toilet paper stuck to your shoe
• Get a piggy back ride
• Get 3 phone numbers
• Do the Chicken dance

A BIG thanks to my two girls to organised it all, I couldn't have been happier about the whole thing. Love you two to pieces. Mwah!