Planning a 1950s Hen Party

So you have been given the task of putting together a hen party 1950s style, so where to begin?

Decide on Your Theme:

So you have decided that you want to have a 1950s hen party now that can mean so many things to different people, you can go for a Grease style high school theme, 50s housewife look, Diner Style or a 50s Sirens party the choice is huge.  
Once you have chosen your theme why not take time and take a look at other 50's styled events set around your ideas you will be inspired by colour schemes, decorations, table styling, entertainment in fact its the easiest way to gain a quick insight into how to capitalise on your chosen theme so go on line and take a look at what other people have done you maybe surprised how much information is already out there.  Here are a couple of links for you to look at at fifties wedding and Hitched they both have some great ideas and pics to look at.So now you know what you can do you need to set about personalising it for your own event we have highlighted some key areas for you to consider.

Invitations: 

This maybe the first time that the hens get to see the theme and gain an insight the plans of the day.  So make it fun  Etsy  have a fantastic range of vintage styled invites or you can try Paperless Post this company offers on line cards and stationery  both can cost some money but once you visit their sites, you'll understand why. Also why not open a Face book page just for the event this will allow you to involve the hens and build the excitement of the day but also keep them up to date with details especially if some are not known well.

Location: 

The venue is key especially if you want to create the atmosphere of the chosen theme so this needs to be taken into consideration although decoration and styling can make any venue look wow, but you need to also build in time for set up and clear down especially if you are doing this yourself and trust me it always takes longer than you think!

Entertainment:  

Decide whether you going to add some jive dancing, a pin up shoot element, craft  or makeovers to the proceedings they are all great touches and will add an element of fun, it goes without saying that you need to consider budgets but more importantly the flow of the party as if hair and makeup is completed before dancing this could mean that if the hens were looking to go out on the town after the day the hair might be a bit tousled!

Styling Inspiration:  

This is the best bit once you have your theme you can really go to town with the special touches.  For example using a theme of the 50s housewife you could add some recipe cards from the 50s with images of adverts from that era on the reverse the following links will help as they have pictures of vintage advertisements and inspiration quotes  Anne Taintor products.  

Think colours and accessories if you are going for a Diner theme use red & black, add coke glasses, sundae dishes filled with retro sweets etc.   Vinyl records for cake stands or place mats are a great idea if you are trying to recreate a 50s diner.  Or for a 50s Siren theme try and give each hen a 50's icon table setting.

Sirens table setting from Hope & Glorious Vintage

You can also add some stylish hen party goodies, in the form of gift bags and a vintage 50's styled sash.

Food:  

All parties need great food this can either be an afternoon tea affair with cupcakes and meringues or why not try a sophisticated cocktails and canapes ensemble.   You can tailor make the food for example a diner affair why not add an ice cream van for those ultimate sundaes.  Again colour can be combined to create the 50s feel red polka dot tablecloths for the diner feel or gorgeous vintage embroidered ones for the Siren's.


Games:  

Games will help build fun if you have no entertainment booked  try some of these You can create a Good Housewife Quiz printout by utilising info from The Good Housewife's Guide,  Mad Libs Bachelorette Bash although American it still works and Is Your Man a Catch? or you can go on line and check out  eHow Bachelorette Party Games Video Series.

Music: 

Make a couple of play lists of 50's music to take with you if you haven't planned entertainment or you could use YouTube and create a play list of 50s commercials and music.  

We hope this has given you a bit of an insight into how to plan a 50's hen party and we would love to hear from you and gain your views and if you want to share your pictures with us then we would love to see them.

Brighton Hen Party ~ Flapper Fun

So the Hen Party season is now in full swing and we have kicked of in style with our first trip out to Brighton for a 1920s hen party.

1920s Hen Party 

Danielle and her hens arriving

So lets set the scene for you, our destination was the Sweetshop Boutique holiday home in Brighton a really cute candy shop coloured house with a vintage feel.

The lovely ladies that made up Danielle's hen party had requested a 1920s themed affair in line with the beautiful bride to be dress for her pending big day.   So we set about creating a beautiful 1920s experience whilst encompassing the house's unique style.

Sweetie Style Table Setting

The afternoon started with a good ole Hope & Glorious Vintage welcome with champagne and raspberries, and then kicked off with all the hens being treated to a 1920s hair and makeup makeovers created by Lara and Kat our wonderful talented stylists suppliers from Kitty Vintage.

Whilst the makeovers were in full swing each of the hens participated in creating a gorgeous 1920s headband with the help of Jo our talented crafty expert.   There were some beautiful head pieces made by each of the hens with all of them being so different and unique its amazing from a table of feathers, brooches and sequins what you can achieve!

Now for those of you who know us know that there is a very special member of our team that always gets to come and join the party.   Now Bertie was really excited to be part of the Brighton day as it is his favourite place indeed.   He was wheeled out in full splender bursting with afternoon tea goodies of finger sandwiches, macaroons, cakes, meringues with raspberries and scones.  Bertie loves being admired and he wasn't disappointed with lots of ooh's and argh's in his direction.  

Bertie Licious in action

Team H&G loved being part of Danielle's hen party celebrations and we can honestly say it was a pleasure to work for you all as you are all lovely gorgeous people and as Bruce Forsyth would say you are favourites so far!

We would like to wish Danielle and her beau all the best on their big day.

The gift that keeps on giving!

I was lucky to receive from Santa this little beauty in my stocking and I cannot tell you how wonderful it is and would definitely recommend to any of you crafty diva's out there to go and buy one quick smart.

Granny Chic available to buy on Amazon at the shelf grabbing price of only £10!

The book is devised by two wonderful people one in the States (Dottie Angel) and one in good ole blighty (Ted & Agnes).  It has lots of gorgeous vintage crafty makes inside which are easy to follow and you will end up with a unique piece of granny chic gorgeousness for your home.

I have managed to make a few items from this wonderful book including the 'anything and everything' crochet bag which can be a bit addictive and by the time I finished my first attempt could have fitted the kitchen sink in it!

My next dalliance is going to be the fabric Lampshades I just love these and I know they will look splendid in my humble abode.

Fabric Lampshades granny chic make

If I crack the lampshades who knows a piece of furniture could be my next victim! whoops masterpiece .

Blandishments!

Day 13 A kiss before dinner?
“First give your man a good dinner; then, when he is seated in front of the fire with a choice cigar, there is little he will deny you. I read somewhere lately, ‘Never forget the great truth that dinner precedes blandishments, not blandishments dinner; and though it is true that if you offered him a choice between dinner and kisses, he would say he would take both, yet he would invariably begin with the dinner, and allow the kisses to wait.’”

This is an extract from The Lady Realm 1902 on the Management of Husbands

One for you beach lovers

Surfs Up!

For those of us dreaming of hot summer days on the beach Day 12 brings you that kiss......From Here to Eternity (1953) won 8 academy awards - The classic beach scene between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the rushing waves was not written to have taken place there. The idea to film with the waves hitting them was a last minute inspiration by the director. This scene only lasts for 6 seconds before they run up the beach for another passionate kiss!

Kissing in the Back Row

I love the fact that he holds onto his popcorn!

We are now at Day 11 of our 'Kiss a Day' for Valentines and our attention has turned to Cinema dating do we like them or loathe them?   Most of mine were in my teenage years when the cinema was still a cheap night out (ok for the record I am not that old).

I remember them with fond memories but how would I feel about it today as there are so many different equations to contend with, the first challenge is what film do you pick as you don't want to put him off straight away,  so do you go intellectual over a chick flick?  It was so much easier back in my day as there was only one film to choose (I really am not that old)!   Second point do you go for your normal bucket of popcorn and drink or do you look for a more dainty I eat like a sparrow option, also where do you sit if you go straight to the back do they think you are a harlet or if you choose the front do they think you are frigid or blind (ok I maybe starting too sound old!)
So many areas to think about,  already this is turning out to be too stressful so I think in todays world I would have to say I am busy and stay in with a bar of chocolate and a bottle of wine and watch of course a good old classic or go with girls they are not so judgemental!

Marathon of a Kiss!

Its Day 8 of our 'Kiss of the Day' and no kissing montage would be complete without including a reference to a Kissing Marathons.   Now this seemed right up my street and I always fancied breaking a record.  From a young girl I used to try and think of really easy ways I could get onto 'Record Breakers and have Norris McWhirter hand me my record breakers trophy.   So I thought I would check out the rules, now they seemed quite straight forward obviously point 1 find a man who you wouldn't mind being intimate with, so first priority is to check whether Hugh Jackman would be available on that day, now for the serious part it seems you have to follow this strict code to qualify for the top prize

• The kiss must be continuous and the lips must be touching at all times.
• If the lips part - the couple are immediately disqualified.
• Contestants must be over the age of consent in the country the event is being held.
• The couple must be awake at all times.
• The contestants must stand during the attempt and cannot be propped together by any aids, such as pillows, cushions or people.
• No rest breaks are allowed.
• Incontinence pads or adult nappies/diapers are not allowed.
• Couples must not leave the venue during their attempt.

Ok so they may seem harsh but hey I am still in so lets check out what the current record is,  well everything was looking ok up to this point now I think I am in trouble, as the current record is standing at 50 hours.   Good Golly Miss Molly, I can't imagine how you would feel after 50 hours of lip locking and more importantly dealing with a stubble chin that's 2 days of growth to deal with!!

You realise this must have been a tremendous feat as not only having to contend with 50 hours of continuous of lip touching how do you get past point 4 and 7? and for that reason and that reason alone I am having to go and seek another record to break, so the only thing left to do now is find a way to let Hugh down gently me thinks x

Dessert?

Day 9 and we have a couple of sweethearts from the roaring 20's. Many believe the 'X' symbol became synonymous with the kiss in medieval times. People who couldn't write their names signed in front of a witness with an 'X.' The 'X' was then kissed to show their sincerity.

Groovy

Day 7 
..........and dig those hep cats!

Love is the only force capable of turning an enemy into a friend.
 ~Martin Luther King, Jr.~

Love Birds

We discover that there are some weird and wonderful facts out there regarding kissing. Did you know that in Indiana, in the United States of America, it is illegal for a man with a moustache to "habitually kiss human beings" - ha ha true or not that certainly tickled our fancy!

Also keeping on the bird theme did you know that it was once said that if a woman saw a robin flying by on Valentines Day, she was destined to marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry poor, but live a happy life with her hubby. Seeing a goldfinch meant there was a rich man in her future. (Anyone see any goldfinches lately ... ?)

Frankly my dear....

Frankly my dear I would have given a damn!

On Day 4 of our 'Kiss a Day' for Valentines we could have not missed out this all time classic...one of my favourite movies of all time, in fact I can't remember the last time I saw this so it is due for another airing me thinks ♥

Do not return to sender!

Ok its Day 3 of our 'A Kiss a Day' for Valentines and we started to think about the men you would have loved to have had the opportunity to kiss and the man that sprung to mind for both of us was the King himself, what women could resist him.   We found this picture and it sealed it for us who would have not had the jelly wobble legs and butterflies!

This though led us to talking about our second love which of course has to be chocolate and who wouldn't want to receive a yummy box of chocolates on Valentines day, so it got us to thinking about chocolate and why it is linked to the day well you might be surprised to find out the following couple of fascinating facts,

Casanova well known as 'The World's Greatest Lover' ate chocolate to make him virile,  Physicians of the 1800's commonly advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for lost love now these seem like my kind of doctors, so as you can see chocolate satisfies both ends of love well thats our excuse anyway!

A Kiss a day for Valentines ~ Day 2

Pucker Up Girls!
http://artiswithin.tumblr.com/post/5890420495 

Of course we all know about Valentines day and most of us look forward to it in fact I wonder whether we all secretly hope to receive a little something just to know that someone loves us, so it got me to thinking where did it all start?.....There are various theories on the origin of Valentine's Day, but the most popular dates back to the time of the Roman Empire during the reign of Claudius II, 270 AD. Claudius didn't want men to marry during wartime because he believed single men made better soldiers. Bishop Valentine went against his wishes and performed secret wedding ceremonies. For this, Valentine was jailed and then executed by order of the Emperor on February 14. While in jail, he wrote a love note to the jailor's daughter signing it, "From your Valentine." Sound familiar?

Vintage Prom Anyone?

There comes a time in your life where there are key memorable moments and your School Prom is one of them,  I can't think of better way then celebrating the end of your school life and stepping out into the big wide world.

Unfortunately when I left school there wasn't anything like this in fact the most you had to take away is an autograph book where your friends got to write some messages about you! You might be surprised to find out that the School Proms have now been in the UK for over 10 years now and with each year they seem to get bigger and more extravagant.   

I think the best School Proms for me were the ones based in the 1950's now this could be based on my memories of seeing 'Grease' and having the notion that every School Prom should have a John Travolta present with streamers and beautiful Prom dresses and of course great dance music with the obligatory dance off competition!  I am beginning to think that I was definitely born in the wrong era.

So with this in mind we thought we would step back in time and look to add to our H&G stable a Vintage Prom Makeover Party, this is a chance to get together with your friends all receive a makeover and a chance to make your corsage whilst enjoying a fabulous afternoon tea (or fruit cocktails and nibbles).  We can even complete the look and arrange a vintage car to complete the vintage look and whisk you all to the party.

How wonderful and what a fabulous way to start a School Prom oh to be leaving school again!

Whats Your Yellow Brick Road Destination?

Yellow Brick Poster available to buy on the following link
http://www.etsy.com/listing/32098468/be-happy

Its been an exciting time since the beginning of the new year and we have been looking at where the yellow brick road will take us in 2013.   One of new year resolutions is to keep on top of our blog and bring you along on our journey with us, share with you some of the craziness we encounter and also introduce you to some of the wonderful people and places we meet along the way... fasten those seat belts and hold tight its going to be one hell of a roller coaster ride x