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Virtual Hen Do Advice from Gigi and Olive
Today we speak to Georgie Le Roux, founder of the unbelievably chic bridal & hen party brand Gigi and Olive. Georgie gives us an insight into her brand and gives her top tips for a seriously stylish virtual hen do. We know that a number of our brides have had to postpone their hen dos, and the prospect of a virtual hen can be a bit awkward, but Georgie’s tips and ideas will guarantee a brilliantly fun and stylish evening.
Where Did you get the inspiration for GIGI and Olive From?
When my sister got engaged, I was so excited to organise her Hen Party, and as her maid of honour, I really wanted to make the lead up to her wedding super special. However, I couldn't find what I wanted especially not all in one place. I spent hours trawling online, ordering 1 item from somewhere and taking it to get embroidered at another. As more of my friends started to get engaged and married, they told me how difficult and time consuming it was to source tasteful and thoughtful gifts for bridal occasions. I wanted to remove the sometimes negative stigma that surrounded 'Hen Parties' and create an exciting opportunity for friends to celebrate the preparations for marriage with chic and thoughtful merchandise.
The name Gigi & Olive derives from my name, Georgie, and my sister's name, Olivia. Although she isn't directly involved with the brand, she is a huge inspiration and always the person I call for advice. Excitingly now it’s growing into great gifting for all occasions.
Do you have any advice on throwing a virtual Hen Do?
Drinks! I think it's really fun to have a plan or theme so that it feels different from the 100s of other zoom calls everyone is currently on. Popular ideas that we have seen is sending the Bride a 'Gigi & Olive' Bride Box or Veil for something fun to wear on the call and make her feel special. We also have Bride Advice Cards which are great to then put in a picture book with photos of the Bride and her hens. Cocktail making is a fun activity and one that everyone seems to love, but there are so many amazing online activities now - you can choose something more relevant for your Bride.
I also think that the small details really make all the difference at the moment, and even more so for a virtual hen do. Think about all the little things that your bride loves and try and incorporate them into the virtual hen. You might need to plan in advance and enlist her fiancé or another family member to help you, but those little touches can make all the difference. Think about her day from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep and make sure she has everything that she needs to make the day truly special, even if you're not all there in person to rally around her.
What are the most popular GIGi and Olive presents for brides?
Hair accessories such as the Black Polka Dot Ribbon and the Stars & Moon Veil are always very popular. As are the super fun Lemon Earrings.
Our Nabila White Swimsuit and Solitare Swim in White are also very popular. For when we can have abroad hen dos again, all the bridesmaids in matching swimsuits is a great photo!
A very popular feature on our website is the Build your own Bride Box option. This allows you to tailor the box to your bride-to-be's tastes. We have found the Pamper Hamper has been a great option for bridesmaids to buy their bride-to-be in wake of postponements. As have our Georgia Sleeper Set and Party PJs Set with Feathers in White. Great for the hen do and the wedding morning pictures!
Georgie's Favourite Wedding Presents
