What is a Hen Do?

What is a Hen Party?

A hen party (also referred to a hen do, hen weekend or bachelorette party by our American sisters) is a pre-wedding celebration where the bride and her closest friends go away for a long weekend to celebrate her upcoming marriage.

Why is it called a Hen Party?

Many, many, many years ago, the term 'hen' wasn't exclusively reserved for female poultry, rather it was used to describe the females of any species. The same is said to be true for 'stags' and the males of each species, hence the terms hen party and stag do.

What Happens at a Hen Party?

A hen party, usually arranged by the maid of honour, generally involves heading to a different location, be it in the UK or abroad, and involves a number of activities and nights out.

Some of our most popular hen do activities include:

1. Cocktail Mixing
2. Spa Days
3. Afternoon Tea
4. Escape Rooms
5. Dance Classes
6. And much more!

How Much is Reasonable to Spend on a Hen Do?

How much you’re willing to spend is dependent on your groups budget.
According to our Hen Do Stats for 2019, we found the average individual spend per hen was £147 (activities and accommodation).

How to Make a Hen Party Special?

There are loads of ways you can make a hen party special!

• Whisk the bride off to an incredible destination!
• Include some amazing activities she’s never tried before.
• Decorate your accommodation.
• Organise a surprise for the bride!
• Play our hilarious Mr & Mrs Game
• Fancy dress!
• Throw the bride her very own mini-festival!

Who to Invite to a Hen Party?

Depending on the bride's relationship with her friends, family, soon to be in-laws and work colleagues will dictate who you should invite.

If, for example, the bride gets on with her partner's mother and her own mother, but the activities and events you have planned aren't necessarily appropriate for them, why not organise a separate event for all of them to get together?

Top Tip - If in doubt, ask the bride. She'll be able to make yes/no decisions meaning you won't be liable for judging the situation incorrectly!

How to Invite the Hen to Her Hen Party?

Whilst you might message each other 24/7, it may not be the most exciting way for you to invite her to her hen party. Why not try out one of the following ideas for an extra special invitation?

• Give her a bespoke invitation
• Record a video with all the attendees and slowly reveal details
• A hen party poem
• Host a pre-hen party and bring along drinks and dishes from your chosen location