A good hen party should be a night to remember for all the right reasons, with the bride-to-be the centre of attention and having as much fun as possible. The maid of honour usually has the task of organising the night, and for most, it can be a big task. As there’s so much pressure to get things right, planning a hen do can be quite daunting. However, with this guide, we’ll make it as easy as possible to plan the perfect night out. 

Considering the Bride 

The hen party should be all about the bride and what she likes. After all, she’s the one who’s going to be getting married! Even if your tastes on what makes a good night out don’t align, you should consider her and her interests above all else.  

Before you take any steps in planning the night out and setting anything in motion, you should ask her exactly what her hopes and expectations are. Some brides want a messy last night of freedom, while others would prefer to have a fun evening before getting home before midnight. Make sure you understand the bride and what kind of night she’d like her hen do to be remembered as.

Initial Planning 

Now you know more about the kind of night you’re going to plan, you can begin the initial planning phase. This should start out with creating a budget and guest list. Your budget should be realistic and needs to consider whether it will be paid for by the bride or by the guests themselves.  

When it comes to inviting people, you probably already have a good idea of who you want to come. However, think carefully about the number of people that you can realistically invite. Generally speaking, the more people there are at an event, the harder it becomes to organise. 

Lastly, think about a possible theme. While you don’t necessarily need to have one, a theme can make a hen do a lot more fun and elevate it from a standard night out. The type of theme you choose will obviously influence the next stages of the planning, so think about this carefully.  

Hen Do Ideas 

There are no rules on exactly what you have to do for a hen party. It can be whatever you and the bride can think of. While some prefer to keep it standard with a night out, you could also do something a little different and plan an experience day of some kind.  

Here are a few hen party suggestions we think you might be interested in: 

Pub Crawl 

A pub crawl is the classic hen party activity, giving the bride and all her friends a chance to let their hair down. Pub crawls are a popular option because they’re normally pretty easy to organise, and they appeal to a lot of people who enjoy a boozy night out.  

Of course, not everyone is a fan of drinking, so it won’t be suitable for everyone. However, it’s a great option for a relatively inexpensive but fun night out. You can combine it with various games and challenges to make things more interesting.  

Paintballing 

If the bride is someone who’s a bit more adventurous and loves action and adventure, paintballing is an excellent activity idea. Lots of paintball arenas cater specifically to hen parties, setting everything up for you to have a blast.  

Who knew shooting each other with paint could be so much fun? Paintball is a great way to build long-lasting bonds and get some adrenaline going before the wedding.  

Art Class 

For a different kind of messy activity, art classes are a great way for everyone to spend time together doing something fun and a bit different. Spin and Paint parties are specifically tailored towards hen parties, offering alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy while you learn how to paint, draw or sculpt.  

There are loads of different art classes to try out, and you don’t have to be particularly arty to do them, as an instructor will always be on hand to give guidance. Why not try out a life drawing class for something a bit cheeky? 

Spa Day 

While hen parties are often associated with raucous parties and loud music, they can just as easily be relaxing and chill if you prefer. A spa day will give you and your friends a chance to be pampered and unwind with a range of different treatments. Choose from massages, facials, and just chilling together in a jacuzzi.  

You can even combine the spa day with a night out later in the evening. The downside of this event is that organising a spa day can be quite expensive, although you could get the guests to pay for their own treatments.  

Bingo Night 

For a fun night in, why not plan your own bingo night? Bingo is an exciting activity that can turn any hen party into a night to remember, letting everyone take part in the fun and games. As most people already know how to play bingo, you won’t have to spend lots of time explaining the rules.  

The only things you need to get started are bingo cards and prizes. It’s easy to find free printable hen party bingo online, but you’ll have to come up with the prizes yourself. You can create gag prizes or set up a fund to purchase some nice gifts that everyone would enjoy. 

Putting Everything Together 

Before you finish the planning phase, make sure you’ve accounted for all the details, such as timings, venues and transport. Ideally, it should be convenient and fun for all your invited guests. Otherwise, you might find some people don’t attend. 

Remember that hen parties don’t have to be expensive, you can still have a great night out with all your friends without breaking the bank. Focus on creating happy memories and a day that the bride will be able to look back on fondly. Getting everything right can feel like a challenge, but as long as you follow this guide it should all fall into place.