Welcome to the world of hen parties, where willy straws are standard and giant inflatable penis’ aren’t given a second look…
Unless you’re very brave or very drunk, or the lead hen has the sense to not turn into a dictator during the organising process, hen parties can be a bit of a nightmare, complete with garish outfits and phallic shaped everything.
But if you’re planning a hen party and want to find accessories that are a little bit quirky and a whole lot of fun, you need to get acquainted with new online store The Peacock Bride.
The brainchild of Siobhan Scanlan (sister of stylist extradinarie and TV personality Angela), the idea for the The Peacock Bride was born when Siobhan was organising her sister’s hen and was struggling to find party accessories and fancy dress items.
Having worked in marketing for the past eight years, Siobhan decided to put all her career and bridesmaid know-how to good use, and create a space where bridesmaids could find hen party pieces with a bit of a difference as well as the usual willy-themed items.
Speaking about her decision to launch the site, Siobhan says: ‘I was looking for quirky, unique and alternative hen party things but there was nowhere that had them all under one roof. I knew I wanted something that was a unique destination.
‘Before I even launched the site I started Instagramming pictures of more unusual accessories and got great feedback from people, so I knew there was a market for things that aren’t your average,’ she says. ‘I was putting up off-beat things and people were really receptive.’
But she also says there’s still a market for the traditional hen party paraphernalia, and although The Peacock Bride offers alternative hen party accessories like a unicorn piñata and giant inflatable cacti, Siobhan also stocks the more traditional, stereotypical hen party accessories.
‘I’m not saying people should have a hen party one way,’ she says. ‘I’m not trying to define what a hen party should be because there’s a place for willy straws and inflatable objects! It injects a bit of fun into proceedings.’
That element of fun and not taking hen parties too seriously is at the heart of Siobhan’s business model.
Her advice for brides-to-be and bridesmaids? Be flexible.
‘You’re bringing together a group of people who might not know each other, or might be pregnant or have kids,’ Siobhan reveals. ‘For some it might be a chore so don’t force things on people. Allow people to opt in and out of things, and don’t force them to stay for longer than they want to stay. If you give people the freedom to make their own decisions, it will foster a good atmosphere.’
And although she has organised the site into specific themes like ‘Disco Dolly’ and ‘Hot Lips Helga’, Siobhan says that you don’t have to stick to them rigidly. ‘If someone loves flamboyant things, celebrate that. You don’t necessarily have to pick a theme. You can dip in and out. Just create something that’s reflective of the bride,’ she says.
Easy, unique and ultimately all about having a good time – that’s our kind of hen party.
Visit The Peacock Bride for more information.
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