This is a guest post by Tash Rosehill whose wedding we featured on Smashing The Glass last May
Hands up if you’re planning a hen do (or bachelorette party!) right now? Chances are, if you’re in wedding mode, you’re also in hen mode. If you’re like me and having a bumper year, you have a wedding or hen do almost every weekend during the summer months.
Where to start?
The first thing to think about, unsurprisingly, is the hen herself! What type of things does she like to do? Is she more artsy than outdoorsy? Does she prefer a can of coke over a champagne? Is her Instagram more restaurants than raves? Take a few of her favourite things and try and think up a couple of activities that she might find interesting.
Breaking the ice
If you’re planning a hen, or going on one, you may be worried about bringing different groups of friends together. This is where hen games come in, yes they are cringe but they are supposed to be, so embrace it! Hen games are a great way to help everyone get to know each other a bit more and start the drinking off as well (if you haven’t already!)
A Memory Book
A lot of hens also make a hen book, which is a lovely little memory for the bride-to-be, filled with memories. This could be a traditional book with messages, pictures and even recipes, or something entirely different! You could make a collage-style canvas out of the pictures, or get photos, drawings, or messages printed onto pretty much anything!
Hen Game ideas
- Toilet paper wedding dress – Divide the hens into 2 teams, give them several toilet paper rolls and get them to construct a dress on a model. Make sure the bride is one of the models (or gets to choose the winner!)
- Cads About Matrimony – if you love Cards Against Humanity – you’ll love the wedding version! You can always instigate a drinking game element too – download and print off here: http://cadsaboutmatrimony.com/product/cads-about-matrimony/
- Mr & Mrs – Q&A where the bride and groom answer questions about each other – sometimes done as a video. If the bride gets it wrong, she has to drink! (I know this is an oldie but always goes down well)
- Dare necklace – get everyone in the hen party (and maybe mummy hen too!) to submit some dares. Write these on card, number them from nice to naughty, fold over, hole punch and thread a ribbon through to create a necklace. The bride can complete some/all of the dares during the course of the hen do to win a prize!
Decor and theme ideas
You might find it helpful to theme the hen weekend or each part of it around things in the hen’s life. For example, I’ve planned a Doctors and Nurses themed hen for a Doctor, been on a safari night for another hen (it was where her now-husband proposed) and completed political hen games for a hen obsessed with current affairs.
Don’t forget the little touches – decorating the venue and yourselves with photos, banners, or even just willy confetti all add to the spirit of the hen do. Sashes, personalised t-shirts, temporary tattoos and even a bouquet made of willies (yes – its a REAL thing and yes, I have bought it for a hen do!) amplify the silliness. 
