Being asked to plan the hen do is a huge compliment — and a lot of work. The good news: there's a repeatable playbook. The better news: it starts with not guessing.
What is a hen do?
A hen do (also called a hen party, hen weekend or hen night) is a pre-wedding celebration for the bride with her closest friends and family. It's usually organised by the maid of honour and the bridesmaids, and can be anything from a chilled afternoon tea to a long weekend in Ibiza. The format isn't fixed — what matters is that it reflects the bride.
Get the bride's vibe (without spoiling the surprise)
The single biggest mistake hen party planners make is guessing. Before you book anything, find out what the bride actually wants: how big, how wild, how far, how expensive.
The easiest way? Send her a Vibe Check. She answers a pretty, image-led quiz — you get back a mood board with destinations, activities, budgets and non-negotiables.
Build the guest list
- Ask the bride for her must-invite list first.
- Confirm budgets privately with each guest — never in the group chat.
- Decide early if partners, mums or work friends are coming.
Pick a date and destination
Aim for 6–8 weeks before the wedding so the bride isn't recovering the week of the big day. For UK hens, Brighton, Edinburgh, Liverpool and the Cotswolds are reliable winners. For abroad, Ibiza, Lisbon, Amsterdam and the Amalfi Coast top our most-requested list.
Hen party ideas that actually work
Daytime
- Beach club
- Boozy lunch
- Cocktail making
- Old town shopping
- Coastal walks
- Spa afternoon
Evening
- Rooftop bar
- Private dining room
- Dress-up theme
- Karaoke
- Late-night dancing
Low-key
- Airbnb takeover
- Pottery class
- Wine tasting
- Sunset cruise
- Afternoon tea
Budget — be transparent
Break the cost into accommodation per person and activities per person— that's how guests actually think about it. Be clear about what's covered, what's an add-on, and whether the bride's share is being split.
Send invites & run the squad quiz
Once the basics are locked, send digital invites with the dress code, payment deadline and a packing list. A short squad check-in on logistics (arrival times, dietary needs, comfort with the budget) saves dozens of WhatsApp messages later.
Hen do planning at a glance
- 6+months out
Agree date, destination and budget range.
- 4months out
Book accommodation and headline activities.
- 2months out
Send invites, collect payments, finalise itinerary.
- 2weeks out
Share the schedule, group chat and packing list.
Ready to start?
Send the bride her Vibe Check.
Stop guessing. Start planning the hen she actually wants.