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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Hen Do Nightmares! WHY WHY WHY

175 replies

MaeWestNeverForgets · 05/07/2026 12:28

Sorry, this is more just a vent, but I'm organising a Hen do for a good friend, but, quelle surprise, the whole thing has become a quagmire of merd, and I'm not sure I've got the boots for it.
The Bride to be has decided to theme the whole thing around the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we all have to go dressed as characters. Straight-away there were issues with three people wanting to be Black Widow. I've tried to steer people towards other characters; otherwise, at best, it'll just look like a bunch of bad Scarlett Johannsen impersonators have shoehorned themselves into faux leather pants and at worst that people will think three of Wagner's Rhinemaidens have turned up for a BDSM party...I tried to gently, but in a lighthearted way to suggest that one of the girls, given her haircut and build ( And I'm not judging) could go as The Hulk, but this didn't go down well. I secretly think she may believe I was making a snide comment about the time she came to a picnic wearing ripped trousers....anyway....I spoke to the B2B and explained I was frustrated and that I had a good mind to go dressed as Bane, ( And do the voice all night) well, she burst into tears and accused me of trying to sabotage the whole thing whilst shouting 'You know that BANE is DC not Marvel. Anyway she calmed down and I've compromised and am going as Thanos. It's just such a headache, she thinks I can just snap my fingers and it'll happen ( Which, ironically if I was Thanos I could do....' Then there's the venue....nothing too small..so the Paris catacombs are out, nothing to big and impersonal, so ditto the deconsecrated power station. One of the girls has a phobia of boats, so HMS Belfast is off the list. Why do these things have to be so complicated? For my Hen Do, we had a simple chicken dinner and an evening watching Sumo Wrestling in Edinburgh. Everyone had a great time and got a lovely gift bag with some Japanese shortbread and a pair of balls. Anyway rant over....But AIBU? Or is it time to really pare back Hen do's?

OP posts:
Limpopdotoy · 05/07/2026 17:34

Haha!

Can’t believe people are taking this seriously.

Fleurdalys · 05/07/2026 17:38

Lol

MaeWestNeverForgets · 05/07/2026 17:47

SilverPink · 05/07/2026 17:17

I prefer the first version 😂

Well that says more about your mind....😂😂

OP posts:
Oohanothername · 05/07/2026 17:51

I would absolutely love this to be real 😂😂 TBF it sounds equally nightmarish to any real life hen do I've ever been on ....

FirstOneToBlathers · 05/07/2026 17:54

.

SayWhatty · 05/07/2026 18:09

Try and get the theme changed to "Happy Days", then you can go as the Fonz jumping a shark.

theansweris42 · 05/07/2026 18:25

"complete with well" 😂😂😂

forthrenightaway · 05/07/2026 18:29

Couldn’t get upset over DC or Marvel. All sounds a bit immature

Blondeshavemorefun · 05/07/2026 18:30

This is obv a piss take

no self respecting woman would be dressing up as Marvel 😂

tinytemper66 · 05/07/2026 18:36

Some places refuse people who are dressed up. Even subtle matching t-shirts can mean entry is denied.

Dollymylove · 05/07/2026 19:02

Not sure who/what these "characters" are but it sounds bloody awful
Oh for the days when a hen do was a boozy night at a pub/club and a male stripper 🤣

salcombebabe · 05/07/2026 19:16

MadeInGrimsby · 05/07/2026 17:19

They do have money to waste, though. Massive Hen dos, "Be My Bridesmaid" boxes, loads of bridesmaids all getting makeup done by a professional, huge events...
Most of this was unheard of for the average bride even 20 years ago.

Multi million pound business! Maybe it's just me but everything is so commercialised these days

JWhipple · 05/07/2026 19:17

Mistymaglets · 05/07/2026 12:36

I don't think there are enough Sumo themed Hen Nights to be honest.

I know! It's like tradition has just gone out the window!

RaspberryRiddle · 05/07/2026 22:13

JWhipple · 05/07/2026 19:17

I know! It's like tradition has just gone out the window!

I know - old Edinburgh hen customs at their best! These young brides have no sense of decorum. Loved this - especially having to remove HMS Belfast from the venue list!

EvieBB · 05/07/2026 22:17

MaeWestNeverForgets · 05/07/2026 12:28

Sorry, this is more just a vent, but I'm organising a Hen do for a good friend, but, quelle surprise, the whole thing has become a quagmire of merd, and I'm not sure I've got the boots for it.
The Bride to be has decided to theme the whole thing around the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we all have to go dressed as characters. Straight-away there were issues with three people wanting to be Black Widow. I've tried to steer people towards other characters; otherwise, at best, it'll just look like a bunch of bad Scarlett Johannsen impersonators have shoehorned themselves into faux leather pants and at worst that people will think three of Wagner's Rhinemaidens have turned up for a BDSM party...I tried to gently, but in a lighthearted way to suggest that one of the girls, given her haircut and build ( And I'm not judging) could go as The Hulk, but this didn't go down well. I secretly think she may believe I was making a snide comment about the time she came to a picnic wearing ripped trousers....anyway....I spoke to the B2B and explained I was frustrated and that I had a good mind to go dressed as Bane, ( And do the voice all night) well, she burst into tears and accused me of trying to sabotage the whole thing whilst shouting 'You know that BANE is DC not Marvel. Anyway she calmed down and I've compromised and am going as Thanos. It's just such a headache, she thinks I can just snap my fingers and it'll happen ( Which, ironically if I was Thanos I could do....' Then there's the venue....nothing too small..so the Paris catacombs are out, nothing to big and impersonal, so ditto the deconsecrated power station. One of the girls has a phobia of boats, so HMS Belfast is off the list. Why do these things have to be so complicated? For my Hen Do, we had a simple chicken dinner and an evening watching Sumo Wrestling in Edinburgh. Everyone had a great time and got a lovely gift bag with some Japanese shortbread and a pair of balls. Anyway rant over....But AIBU? Or is it time to really pare back Hen do's?

...and a pair of balls😂
You're funny op!

Jellylasagnafortwo · 05/07/2026 22:25

The replies are making me chuckle. Unclench.

Jellylasagnafortwo · 05/07/2026 22:26

Dollymylove · 05/07/2026 19:02

Not sure who/what these "characters" are but it sounds bloody awful
Oh for the days when a hen do was a boozy night at a pub/club and a male stripper 🤣

I would rather ops version.

BlueSherbet · 05/07/2026 22:50

Its funny that, when you boil a hen night down into its constituent parts, its the exact same constituent parts as a pre-school infants party: (i) dressing up! (ii) games! (iiI) doing things we know we shouldn't (iv) falling out (v) not taking responsibility for our own actions etc

😂

RainbowFrog001 · 06/07/2026 12:29

I'd throw a sickie and leave her to organise it...nightmare.

Seagoats · 06/07/2026 12:39

If she asks you to be MOH ..... run

Moochine · 06/07/2026 14:39

What does it matter if some people are the same character?

how many of you are they?

if you’re that intent on different characters who don’t you pick characters out of a hat?

or just do T-shirts (of the characters logo)/ cape/ masks and tutus?

HappyMamma2023 · 06/07/2026 14:46

One of the best written AIBUs

KettleHead87 · 06/07/2026 15:04

Were you a fan of the ‘Angus, Thongs etc’ books OP? Not the film, that was shit. I recognise a lot of the language sprinkled throughout your story.

Anyway, they’re filming a new series. Hopefully it’ll be true to the books and not modernised.

MaeWestNeverForgets · 06/07/2026 15:59

KettleHead87 · 06/07/2026 15:04

Were you a fan of the ‘Angus, Thongs etc’ books OP? Not the film, that was shit. I recognise a lot of the language sprinkled throughout your story.

Anyway, they’re filming a new series. Hopefully it’ll be true to the books and not modernised.

No, never read them im afriad, nor seen the film....was always more Adrian Mole

OP posts:
Lentilcakes · 06/07/2026 16:16

😂 good story!!
im just pleased ‘in my day’ we had a meal and club - with some silly jokes/forfeits etc.