PARTY IN! THROW THE PERFECT VIRTUAL CELEBRATION
■ The things that make a real-life celebration fun are what counts online too. Invite a good mix of people, plan things to do in advance and try to go with the flow.
■ Prepping is important to avoid any awkward silences – and don’t underestimate the time this may take (it took Ruth Barrett ‘six or seven hours’ to make her YouTube hen party tribute book for friend Marj). Remember, you’ll have no outside stimulation when everyone is just sat in a room.
■ Consider making and sharing a music playlist in advance to get your guests in the party vibe and
■ Accept that there will be technical hitches and people will leave early – just like a real-life party.
■ If you’re not a natural organiser or don’t have the time, consider outsourcing some of the organising. Firms like howtohen.com already plan and host Zoom hen parties. Bonjour Baby Showers (bonjourbabyshowers.co.uk) offers a ‘baby shower in a box’ (£37.99) that promises to make the event easier to manage.