Hen parties used to involve sitting around, sipping sherry with a bunch of elderly aunties while the mother-in-law told the bride why she’d never be good enough for her son. Not anymore!

Nowadays they offer the chance to sweep up a bunch of female mates and head off for an adventure. Cities like Bristol, Liverpool or Nottingham cater for bawdy behaviour and are rammed full of pubs, clubs and restaurants. Accommodation may work out cheaper if you book as a party, so always ask about group discounts.

Another hen party option is to indulge yourselves with a sojourn to a spa retreat. There you can get absolutely trashed while pretending that your body’s really a temple. Plus there’s always the chance of a bit of eye candy as it’s a well known fact that every retreat has a muscular masseuse called Sven.

Dressing up is essential, so be as glam as you can. It’s absolutely imperative that everyone gets dolled up together for the big night. And really go to town on the bride. She must look either completely gorgeous or utterly ridiculous and certainly nowhere in between.

Pick a theme. Imagine hitting the down dressed up in fancy 1930's cocktail dresses, with plenty of fake diamonds and tiaras. And of course, the hen night classic couture of angel wings and pink tutus is another option. Then again, what would a true dancing queen be without her big wigs and gaudy 1970's club gear. Those skin-tight, leopard-skin hot pants will go down a storm in Rhyl.

In the spirit of non-sexism, do what the boys do. Abandon that ladylike vibe and become an Amazonian paintball warrior for the afternoon. Or how about jumping from a plane strapped comfortably to a parachute and a handsome instructor?

Or instead relax a sauna and Jacuzzi, leaving plenty of time for a pedicure and a hot stone massage.

At night, the emphasis can be either on glamour or simply larging it. If the luxury of glitzy cocktail bars doesn’t grab you, there’s always the chance of a boogie round the handbags at a top local night club. Or perhaps the group will be drawn into the murky world of the male strip joint, where one and all can lose themselves in the excitement of brilliant white teeth, shaved torsos and dodgy mullets.

Will it be a bit of five-star, four-course dining at a posh restaurant? Oh, yes! Bring on the caviar, oysters and gull’s eggs. Or allow the ladies to swoon around somewhere swish and modern surrounded by sushi. If the weather gods allow it, throw a fancy picnic in the park. If all that sounds a tad over the top, then the local Chinese, curry house, pizza parlour or chippy should do the trick.

Diamonds may well be a girl’s best friend, but the best kind of sparkle comes wet out of a bottle. Champagne is obligatory and should be drunk throughout. The more the better, in fact. Cocktails should also be a central theme. The group will buzz on classic martinis, manhattans and the odd slow comfortable screw — the drink that is.

1.	Cyndi Lauper / Girls Just Want to Have Fun
2.	Abba / Dancing Queen
3.	Madonna / Holiday
4.	The Weather Girls / It's Raining Men
5.	Gloria Gaynor / I Will Survive
6.	Blondie / Heart of Glass
7.	Sugarbabes / Hole in The Head
8.	Kylie Minogue / Can't Get You out of My Head
9.	John Travolta & Olivia Newton John / You're the One That I Want
10.	Pussycat Dolls / Don’t Cha

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