Action Days - Do the wild thing

Evening Ideas - When the sun goes down...

Trips Away - Go away to party

The Hen Night

Advice for Brides - How to keep things under control

Advice for Grooms - Keep in mind

Stag nights used to be just for the boys – but then came women’s lib. Anything the boys can do, the girls can do too – but with a little more taste and refinement...

Hen nights are a great time for indulgence and fun, to paint the town red or learn the art of driving a 4 x 4 and beat the boys on their own territory. But is this just to be the final girls’ night out before marriage or something more meaningful?

When you marry, your single friends may feel that your new life will take you away from them and that this is the end of an era. But this will only happen if you allow it to happen. The wisdom of psychologists advises us that, if you want your marriage to be successful, it is better to remain close to your female friends.

Wives who rely solely on their man for moral support are placing unnecessary stress on the relationship. Women seem to feel the need to share their thoughts and feelings much more than their husbands do. The image of the strong, silent, macho man may be a stereotype but, as with most folk wisdom, there is a grain of truth to it. Men seem not to feel the need to discuss their worries, in the same way that women do, and they certainly do not always share all their wife’s interests. So, married or not, when you hear that hot bit of gossip, see the little black dress to die for or need to share that niggling worry in the back of your mind, it is your girl friends that you still need.

No man is perfect (unless you know differently of course!) and it is doubtful that any relationship survives without the occasional hiccup, so if you rely only on your husband for unburdening your problems, sooner or later – no matter how much you love him – you are going to start sounding critical of him. Having had your grumble you will then probably feel better and forget all about it, but will he? You may have hurt him deeply – just because you were in a bad mood and had no one else to talk to. A girl friend who knows you well, would listen with sympathy and then, when you have got everything off your chest, she would remind you just how much you really love your partner and, hopefully, life would quickly get back on track with no harm done.

Back to the stag night – or rather the hen night. This is your great opportunity to celebrate those friendships and show how they are valued; to surround yourself with girlfriends who have been a meaningful part of your life often for many years. A time to remember how they have stood by you during the ups and downs of your relationship and how they were always there to commiserate or celebrate in your hour of need.

Now is your big chance to show just how much you appreciate them and how you really enjoy their company. So gather them around you and put your heads together to dream up the best girls’ night ever, one to write up in the history books – or at least tell to your grandchildren.