Hen Party Glamping Itinerary

You’re planning a hen party, and the bride has decided she wants to go glamping in Ireland.  But where do you even start?  Having a hen party itinerary can be a helpful starting point – as it gives structure to your planning.  Of course, no two hen parties are the same, but here’s a rundown of a ‘typical’ hen party itinerary at Glamping Under The Stars. We hope you find it helpful…

4pm: Check In – The head bridesmaid and a couple of helpers arrive to their chosen glampsite, (Mountain Glampsite or Meadow Glampsite), to get set up and put the drinks on ice.

Tip: Both our glampsites offer a beautiful backdrop to your hen party bash. You are welcome to decorate the communal kitchen/glamp house area with your own themed decorations & photos of the bride if you wish, (but please make sure all decorations are temporary and do not mark the walls or ceiling).

4.30pm onwards: Everyone arrives! Woo hoo!

Tip: There is usually a lot of whooping and excitement as guests arrive and check out the quirky accommodation & gorgeous setting. It’s going to be a great weekend!

5pm – 8pm: Welcome drinks happen. Everyone settles in & catches up. Cheers!

Tip: It’s BYO, so bring whatever you are having yourself! If the bride has a favourite drink, now’s a good time to welcome her, (and get the party started), with it. Prosecco is popular, (and delicious), but if you want to mix it up a bit, you could serve Pimms & lemonade or Mojitos as an arrival drink.  *And do consider an alcohol free version for any non drinkers or pregnant guests.

8pm: First night welcome dinner. This is often a relaxed, self-catered affair at the glampsite.

Tip 1: Quick & handy options include: BBQ meats & salad with fresh bread, or a pot of curry or chilli with rice that can be served up quickly to everyone.

Tip 2: If you don’t want the hassle of cooking for a big group, we can give you plenty of tasty recommendations.  Whether it’s takeaway delivered to your door, (pizzas & chinese are popular choices), a top class caterer, (everything from sizzling BBQ to gorgeous grazing boards), or a local restaurant (from relaxed pub food to Michelin-starred cuisine).

9pm: Light the campfire or cosy up inside the Glamp House for a few silly games, (a Mr & Mrs Quiz or some ice breaker games work well to get everyone laughing & chatting).

Tip 1: You might even book our ‘guy with a guitar’ to play a few tunes and start a singalong around the campfire.

Tip 2: If you can’t sing, maybe you can add some percussion & play the spoons?

10am: Breakfast – There might be a few sleepy heads after the Friday night hen party celebrations, so, unless you’re in a hurry to get on the road for an early morning activity, a leisurely mid-morning breakfast is usually the best plan.

Tip: Again, breakfast is self-catered, so you’ll need to decide whether to go for a continental approach (toast, croissants, cereal, fruit coffee, OJ, etc.), or for the full Irish fry up. Depending on your budget, you might do brekkie DIY, or we can help you choose a caterer to do it all for you.

11am: Morning Activity (Maybe) – For some hen groups, a chill out and a chat is all that’s needed. Others take the opportunity to go for a walk or go exploring, while some pack in as much activity and excitement as possible.

Tip 1: For a nice handy walk, try the forest behind the glampsite. Just take a left at the main entrance. There are woods and waterfalls aplenty up here, (though the water can slow to a trickle on hot summer days).

Or, if you’d like to see a little of Laois, we can recommend some lovely scenic walks, hikes and even wild swimming spots. For starters, try The Rock of Dunamase, The Abbeyleix ‘Boardwalk over the Bog’, Emo Court Lake Walk, or, for more enthusiastic hikers, it has to be the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

Tip 2: Check out our activities list (which we’ll email out to you when you make an enquiry).

1pm: Lunch – If you’re doing an afternoon activity on site, it probably makes sense to eat here too.  Again, you can self-cater, or book a lunch or afternoon tea to be enjoyed at the glampsite.

Otherwise, you might like to pop out to one of the quirky cafes nearby…

Tip 1: Our favourites include Bowes’ cafe in Durrow, The Pantry in Portlaoise, or try Bramley in Abbeyleix. (All of which are excellent, and have space for a large adult group).

Tip 2: Book ahead, rather than just turning up! The best cafes are also the busiest. Booking ahead gives them a chance to seat you together as a group – which is more fun for everyone.

2pm Afternoon Activity: Time for a fun activity!

By now, everyone has recovered from the night before, and any additional guests will have arrived to join in the fun.

Of course, fun means different things to different people. We can put you in touch with a wide range of tried & trusted local suppliers for activities – ranging from flower crown making to wine tasting, hiking, mountain biking, and wild swimming, horse riding to zip lining, cheeky art classes to quirky, themed team games, and much more besides). So, you’re sure to find something that’s right up your street, whether it’s challenging, crafty, decadent, or just plain crazy! (See our Hen Party Activities).

Tip 1: For a great Saturday afternoon activity, think carefully about what your bride is into, and who is in your group. If you have the mothers of the bride & groom in attendance, or a lot of expectant mums-to-be in the group, you might be better off picking something a little more chilled to make sure everyone can join in.

Tip 2: You are welcome to choose other hen party suppliers outside of our recommendations, but do make sure they have adequate insurance, etc.