There comes a time in life when loads of your friends are ready for marriage and you have to enter the world of weddings and hen parties. Stuck for hen party ideas? Don’t panic, there are plenty of options to choose from.
If you’re part of the bride tribe who are responsible for planning and pulling off an awesome hen party, you’re likely to first think of “traditional” L plates, penis straws and boozing. However, this doesn’t suit every bride and you may have to put a little more thought into your organisation.
Let’s take a look at some awesome hen party ideas that you can plan into an unforgettable and stress-free day/weekend.
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1. Cookery class
Whether the bride is a cookery enthusiast or a complete novice, a group cookery class can make for a fun and unique hen party. Choose a cuisine that your bride enjoys and the whole party will go home with some new skills to show. The best part is you can tuck into your delicious food and have a couple of drinks at the end of the class.
2. Themed bottomless brunch/afternoon tea
Bottomless brunches are all the rage now and afternoon teas have maintained their popularity too. You can’t go wrong with delicious food and a few glasses of fizz. To take this experience up a notch, try looking for themed options that will make the day even more memorable. You could opt for a drag brunch or an Alice in Wonderland-style afternoon tea experience.
3. Food tour
If you’re sensing a food theme here, that’s because food is great! A food tour is another great hen party option for a foodie bride. Have a search online to see if there are any organised options around the hen party location like this one in London. If you have some foodie hens, you could even plan your own food tour.
4. Luxury chocolate making
This is definitely a good one for the chocoholics! It’s a great creative activity for everyone to get stuck into, not to mention you’ll end up with a great box of handmade chocolates and truffles to enjoy.
5. Axe throwing
Does your bride need to relieve some stress after all the wedding planning? If you wanted a unique and awesome activity, what could be better than axe throwing? We’re not talking about heading out into the woods with axes in hand (that would be creepy), there are now actual bars that teach you how to throw an axe. You can celebrate and commiserate with the winners and losers in the bar afterwards.
6. Comedy show
Hitting a comedy club in the evening can make for a really fun hen party, but be prepared, you’re likely to be an easy target for the comedians. If you enjoy a good laugh (including laughing at yourself and each other), this could be one of the standout hen party ideas for you.
7. Speakeasy bars
Did you know there are secret bars that are disguised as newsagents, laundrettes, and apartment buildings? This could be a bar crawl with a difference… Manchester is a great spot for speakeasy bars and has over 13 of them for you to find. You may need a few water and food breaks during the bar crawl if you’re to find all of them though!
8. Make your own perfume
If you’re throwing a more intimate hen party and want an interesting activity, you could try perfume making. Working with an expert perfumer, you’ll be able to learn about different blends before creating a unique scent of your own to take away. This could be a great opportunity for the bride to make her own wedding perfume!
9. Dance lessons
There are loads of great dance lesson options available for hen parties. You could opt for a Strictly-style Latin class or try something more risqué like burlesque or pole. You’re sure to have a good laugh with your fellow hens and you’ll learn some new skills too.
10. Ghost tour
How do you feel about a haunted hen do? A ghost tour can be entertaining, thrilling and interesting all at the same time. You may experience paranormal activity, so stick together and prepare to be afraid.
11. Yoga (with a twist)
If your bride is into yoga, you could organise a hen party that combines her passion with a little bit of extra fun. There are plenty of yoga hen party ideas including:
- SUP (paddleboard) yoga
- Doga (for dog-lovers)
- Aerial yoga
- Rooftop yoga
- Yoga with goats (yes, it’s a real thing)
12. Painting class
A group painting class is a great hen party choice for an artsy bride. You’ll be able to have a couple of glasses of wine while creating a work of art. You could have a prize for the best painting and a forfeit for the worst too.
13. Life drawing class
If you haven’t been to a life drawing class before it can be quite an experience and it’s perfect for hen parties. You can put your sketching skills to the test as you try to do an attractive model justice. A tutor will be on hand to share some tips, but there will probably be lots of giggling and fun.
14. Host a henfest
If your bride loves festival vibes, why not put together your own festival to celebrate her hen party. You’ll want music, BBQ food and some glamping accommodation to make the weekend one that the bride will never forget.
15. White-water rafting
If you fancy something more adventurous, white-water rafting is a fast and furious option for a hen party. You’ll have a couple of hours navigating on the water and can do some team-building exercises along the way. So, place your bets, who’s falling out first?
16. Archery
Another great option for adventurous brides is to try some archery. This activity will fit in well with an outdoorsy weekend, but you may want to save the alcohol consumption until afterwards.
17. Murder mystery evening
Don’t get in a flap (hen pun intended), but some poor soul has been murdered and it’s the hens’ job to uncover the clues and figure out whodunnit. A murder mystery night is a great ice-breaker activity for everyone to work together and have some fun. There may even be some costumes involved.
18. Mini cruise
While it would be lovely to go on a real cruise hen party, most of us have a budget to stick to! While you may not be able to head out to sea on your holidays, you can certainly hit the water and enjoy a mini cruise. This could include dining, drinking, dancing and even a boat hot tub.
What do you think of our hen party ideas?
Have any of the hen party ideas on our list stood out to you? Are there any great ones that you think we’ve missed? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.
