Oh my goodness, it’s finally here! The day every bestie waits for. You held her hand after her first heartbreak, helped her delete that text at least five times, and pretended to like her annoying little brother. But, it’s all paid off, because now you’re planning the ultimate hen party—and it’s going to be epic!
Whether you’re planning a weekend away or a small intimate celebration, there’s nothing better than having all your girls (and the occasional honorary guy) come together to celebrate the bride. But, it can be a little stressful trying to please everyone, stick to a budget, and make sure the bride has the time of her life without losing your own mind in the process.
Don’t worry—we’ve got you. From early planning tips to genius activity ideas and ways to keep the vibes going, this guide is your go-to for pulling off a stress-free, feel-good hen party.
What is a hen party?
A hen party is a party, night out, or holiday attended by the bride and her bride tribe. This might include her family, friends, wedding party, soon-to-be in-laws, or whoever else she might like to invite.
Traditionally held slightly before the wedding, the hen party can be a low-key meal followed by dancing, a classy afternoon tea, or an all-out girls weekend in Ibiza. Whatever the bride’s vibe, your job, as designated bestie, is to make it come true.
It’s not about ticking boxes or following trends, it’s about celebrating your bride in a way that feels authentically her. Don’t feel pressured to plan a BNO (Big Night Out) if that’s not the bride’s style; a cosy cottage with some board games can be just as special if you have the right people around you.
How to plan a stress-free hen party
Ready to start planning? Check out this step-by-step guide to planning a hen party, followed by some top tips and an FAQ section to give you the full picture.
1) Speak to the bride
First things first—speak to the bride. If you’ve known them for a long time, you might feel you know exactly what they want. But, it’s better to be safe than sorry, and your idea of the perfect hen might not match hers. Ask her how involved she wants to be in the planning, what she wants the vibe to be, or whether there are any no-gos. For example, strippers or butlers in the buff, although a “staple” of many hen parties, can make some people super uncomfortable. It’s best to have this conversation ahead of time to avoid any nasty surprises.
You can keep some of the details a surprise, but getting clear on the tone—boujee brunch or bar crawl chaos—will help steer the rest of your planning.
Questions you should ask include:
- When would they like the hen party to be? Narrowing down to the month is enough of a steer.
- Do they have anything in mind that they’d like to do? Any activities or venues they’d like to be included?
- Any absolute no-gos? As above, strippers and excessive drinking aren’t to everyone’s taste.
- What are you comfortable spending? You don’t need an exact figure, but a ballpark range can help you shape plans without overcommitting guests or springing unexpected costs on anyone.
- What’s most important to you with your hen party? Is it that everyone’s together, is it to have an unforgettable celebration, or something else? Having this information will give you a good steer as to the size and scope of the celebration.
2) Compile a guest list
The next step is to compile a guest list. You’ll need the bride’s help with this, too.
Ask for a list of everyone she wants to invite, and get their mobile numbers. This is undoubtedly the easiest way to get in touch with everyone and get the ball rolling. Once this step is complete, you can let the bride get on with wedding planning and take the reins.
Pro tip: It’s a good idea to have a bit of a ‘Who’s Who’ run down with the bride if you’re planning the hen party. You don’t need their life story, but just an overview of how she met the people invited, whether they’re friends or family, and if there’s any history you should be aware of. For example, if two guests used to date or there’s a bit of family tension, it’s helpful to know in advance so you can plan seating arrangements, room shares, or activities accordingly. A little heads-up can go a long way in keeping things smooth and drama-free.
3) Consider themes
Who doesn’t love a theme? Picking your theme as the first port of call makes life so much easier when it comes to planning activities, outfits, and decorations. It’s a good idea to choose your theme before you create the group chat so that everyone’s on the same page from the get-go and you can start building the excitement early.
Current trends include:
- Mourning the Miss. A chic, funeral-themed hen party to ‘Mourn the Miss’ before she becomes Mrs.
- Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie a Man. An Abba-themed hen party for lovers of musicals, Greece, or Abba.
- One Last Rodeo. A cowboy-themed hen with denim, boots, and fringe galore. Add line dancing, shots of whiskey, and a mechanical bull if you’re feeling bold.
- She said Oui. A Parisian, girly-chic hen for lovers of all things French. Think macarons, berets, and plenty of champagne.
- Feyoncé. A Beyoncé-themed celebration for members of the bey-hive. Dance the night away to Single Ladies and Crazy in Love to be bang on theme.
4) Create a group chat
Whether it’s WhatsApp, iMessage, or Facebook Messenger, creating a group chat is an absolute must. It’s a great way to keep everyone in the loop with what’s going on, and builds a great vibe in the run up to the hen.
Encourage people to introduce themselves in the chat with their name, how they know the bride, and maybe a fun or silly fact—something to break the ice and get the banter flowing early!
Pro tip: Incorporate the theme into the group chat from day dot. Using themed emojis in the title, creating a cute custom background, and adding a fun profile picture sets the tone right away.
5) Get a feel for dates
One of the first questions you should ask is when people are available. Do they have any holiday booked in the month the bride has designated, or any big life events coming up, like their own weddings, exams, or family commitments? Getting a feel for dates early on means you can avoid unnecessary clashes and give everyone the best chance of being able to come.
Pro tip: Don’t give people too many options. If the bride said, “any time between March and June is fine!”, don’t give the bride tribe that option. Giving people too much choice can invoke a quasi “bystander effect” where nobody wants to make a decision out of consideration for the others. Instead, pick a few weekends within the timeframe designated by the bride, and offer those as choices (ideally no more than three). That way, you keep things simple and increase the likelihood of getting clear answers quickly.
6) Ask about budget
This can be a little awkward, but talking about the budget is an important part of planning the hen. It prevents awkward conversations down the line, and helps set realistic expectations from the get-go. You don’t need people to divulge their bank statements; just ask for a rough range they’d be comfortable spending. This includes everything: travel, accommodation, activities, food, and any extras like outfits or gifts.
Where possible, create a poll with price brackets and ask people to vote. Go with the majority and be upfront that you’ll be planning around that average.
Pro tip: Always give people the option to reach out to you separately, if you’d prefer. Regardless of personal circumstance, some people aren’t confident or comfortable talking about money in front of others, and a little consideration goes a long way.
7) Plan the activities
The next step is to plan the activities. Is there anything specific the bride asked to do, or anything you know she’d really love? Maybe she’s always wanted to do a cocktail masterclass, try a spa day, or get everyone involved in a dance workshop. Now’s the time to build your itinerary around those key moments.
Aim for a balance of planned fun and downtime (no one wants to feel like they’re being corralled on a school trip). A mix of activities, from silly games to classy dinners, works best. And if you’re going away for the weekend, don’t forget to plan for hangovers (trust us, future you will be grateful).
And remember—not all activities need to be paid. If you’re booking an apartment or going away for the weekend, you can have just as much fun in your pyjamas with a silly game of “Who Knows Her Best!”
8) Get booking
Once you’ve got the plan, the budget, and the guest list locked in, it’s time to start booking! Whether it’s the accommodation, dinner spots, or activities, the earlier you get things confirmed, the better. You’ll often find better availability, better prices, and a lot less stress if you get ahead of the game.
Our advice is to do this yourself. While you can ask for ideas and suggestions from the wedding party, too many cooks really can spoil the broth, and nothing slows down a plan quite like trying to get a group of ten people to agree on a dinner spot. Take the reins, make confident decisions, and remember—you’re doing this out of love.
9) Create an itinerary
Create cute, custom itineraries once everything is booked and locked in. Not only does this help everyone know what’s happening and when, but it also builds excitement in the lead-up. Pop in key info like arrival times, dinner bookings, outfit themes, and any essentials they’ll need to bring (like swimwear or a specific outfit for a theme night). You can either do this yourself on Canva, or download and print an Etsy template if you’re not feeling super creative.
Although the bride will need to know things like timings and outfits, it’s nice to keep some of the activities a surprise. Leave out the specific details of any treats or secret plans, and just pop in a little “you’ll see…” or “surprise!” to keep her guessing.
10) Enjoy!
We know it’s easy to say, but don’t forget to enjoy yourself! This is your girl, and she’ll be over the moon to have everyone she loves in one place. Don’t stress if every detail doesn’t go perfectly—what matters most is the memories you’re making together.
Laugh lots, take photos, soak it all up, and have that extra Prosecco if you fancy it. You’ve earned it!
Top tips for planning a hen party
Check out these top tips for planning a first-class hen party.
Limit the options
As above, don’t ask for everyone’s input on every decision, or it’ll take forever to get anything booked. Offer two or three curated options if you need feedback. Think “this or that” rather than “what do you want?” For example:
- Should we drink Aperol Spritz or Prosecco?
- Pink or purple theme?
- Macaroons or fairy cakes in the apartment?
- Glam night out or cosy night in?
Giving people short, snappy options will keep things moving along and prevent decision fatigue.
Delegate, delegate, delegate
Don’t feel like you need to shoulder the whole thing yourself. If someone in the group is great at organising travel, let them handle transport. Got a friend who’s a Canva queen? Ask her to design the itinerary. Someone who lives for spreadsheets? Put them on budgeting duty. Everyone coming is an adult, and they’re more than capable of helping you plan this day/weekend.
Make a spreadsheet
Trust us, finances get confusing really fast when you’re planning a hen. Who’s paid and who hasn’t, who’s sent the snack money, and what’s this random £15 someone handed you in coins for? Creating a simple spreadsheet keeps everything clear and helps you stay on top of payments, budgets, and bookings. Include columns for
- Guest names
- What they owe
- What they’ve paid
- Due dates for any upcoming costs
- Extras (buffer money for decor or extra treats)
You can even colour code it for quick-glance updates. Green for paid, yellow for pending, red for chasers. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just functional.
Hen party FAQS
How far in advance should I plan a hen party?
Honestly, it depends on the scale of the hen party. If you’re planning an all-out, long weekend in Mykonos, the earlier you start, the better. This gives people extra time to save and book time off work, and gives you the best shot at snapping up accommodation, flights, and activities before prices skyrocket.
As a general rule:
- A UK-based weekend/staycation – 4-6 months in advance.
- A destination hen – 9-12 months in advance.
- A local night out, afternoon tea, or spa day – 2-3 months in advance.
Who usually organises a hen party?
The maid of honour usually organises the hen. However, if there is no maid of honour, or one of the bridesmaids is particularly organised, they might take the reins. Sometimes, a close friend or sibling steps up. It all depends on the group dynamic
Who traditionally pays for a hen party?
Traditionally, the bride doesn’t pay for anything. The guests will usually split the cost of the hen between them. It’s not a hard rule, though. Some brides want to contribute, or even cover part of the costs themselves. The best approach is to be upfront from the beginning and agree on what’s included in the price.
What’s a reasonable budget for a hen party?
The cost of a hen party can range anywhere from £50 for a local afternoon tea to £500+ for a weekend abroad. It really does depend on what you’re doing and how many people are invited.
Can men go on a hen party?
The bride can have whoever they want on a hen party. This is their party, after all!
The bottom line on hen parties
Hen parties are the bride’s last hoo-rah before she’s a married woman. Although they used to signify the “end of freedom”, they’re now a much happier and more empowering celebration of love, friendship, and new beginnings. Whether it’s a full-blown trip abroad or a chilled weekend with her favourite people, the hen should be fun, fuss-free, and feel like her.
So, don’t sweat the small stuff. Focus on what will make her feel special, be in the moment with your bride tribe, and keep the champagne flowing. These memories of girlhood and pure joy will last long beyond the wedding day. So, do your girl justice, and make it a send-off she’ll never forget. Go forth, party planner—you’ve got this!
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Happy Planning!
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