How To Host A DIY Crafty Hen Do At Home: Ideas And Kit Lists

Not every bride wants a weekend in Benidorm. A crafting hen do works brilliantly for a cosy, budget or alcohol-free hen, and it solves the problem every hen party has - people who've never met sitting in silence.

Hands busy means talking is easy. Here's the running order, the kits and what it costs.

Craft activities that work for a group

• Paint a mug for the bride and groom. Everyone decorates one mug each, the pair go to the couple, and the rest go home with the guests. Cheap, keepable, and no skill needed.
• Flower crowns - buy a bulk box of wholesale stems and florist wire. Doubles as the photos for the day.
• Tote bag printing with fabric pens and stencils, so everyone leaves with something they'll actually use.
• Candle making with soy wax, which is far easier than it sounds and smells like the whole house made an effort.
• Pottery painting at home with a ceramic kit, at a fraction of the studio price per head.
• Cocktail or mocktail making, which counts as a craft and keeps the alcohol-free guests fully involved.
• A big group canvas where everyone paints one square and the bride keeps the whole thing.

A running order for the day

• 12pm - arrivals, drinks, name tags if half the group has never met. Nobody minds name tags; everybody is relieved.
• 12.30pm - food first. Crafting over a shared lunch works; crafting while hungry doesn't.
• 1.30pm - the main craft. Ninety minutes is right for mug painting or flower crowns.
• 3pm - a break, cake and one gentle game while things dry.
• 4pm - photos with everything everyone made.
• 5pm - either wind down, or clear the table and turn it into an evening. Both are fine; say which on the invitation.

The kit list

• A cheap wipe-clean tablecloth, and one tray per person so the mess has an edge.
• Aprons, or a warning on the invitation not to wear anything precious.
• The craft kits themselves, one per guest plus two spares. Somebody always brings a plus-one.
• Kitchen roll, wipes and a bin bag within reach of the table.
• Bunting, balloons and table confetti - decoration does the heavy lifting on how the day feels in photos.
• A card for the bride that everyone signs at the door, before the paint comes out.
• Labels or masking tape and a pen, so nobody's drying mug gets muddled with anyone else's.

What it costs per head

• Craft kit: £6-£12 per person depending on the activity.
• Food and drink at home: £10-£15 per head, and far less if it's a bring-a-dish.
• Decorations: £20-£30 for the whole room, not per person.
• Total: usually £25-£35 a head, against £150 and up for a night out or a weekend away.
• Collect the money before the day, not on it. Nobody enjoys the group chat that follows.

Shop wedding cards

How to write it so it lands

• Ask the bride first. Some would love this and some would rather be in a bar.
• Label everything as it's made. Wet mugs all look the same by four o'clock.
• Have one person on photos who isn't also hosting.

Where to shop next

• DIY teacher gifts kids can make
• Rainy day craft kits for kids
• Homemade Father's Day gifts
• DIY gifts for grandparents
• Pottery painting at home
• Cheap date night ideas
• Date night at home ideas
• Date nights that keep the spark going
• Date night ideas for parents
• Date night ideas in the UK
• Rainy day activities for kids
• Teacher thank you gifts
• Hen party at home
• Hen party decorations
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Wedding cards
• Wedding cards guide
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What are good crafty hen do ideas?

Mug and pottery painting, flower crowns, tote bag printing, candle making, a group canvas and cocktail making. All work round one table, need no skill, and send everybody home with something.

How do you host a hen party at home?

Feed everyone first, run one main craft for about ninety minutes, break for cake while things dry, then decide in advance whether it turns into an evening - and say so on the invitation.

How much does a crafty hen do cost?

Usually £25-£35 a head including the kit, food and a share of the decorations, compared with £150 upwards for a night out or a weekend away.

Is a crafting hen do good for an alcohol-free hen party?

It's one of the best options. The activity carries the day rather than the drinking, mocktail making keeps everyone included, and nobody has to explain why they aren't drinking.

Do you sell craft kits or mugs?

No. We design and print greetings cards, enamel pin badges, prints and party decorations, all posted from the UK. Any craft kit or mug kit mentioned here is an outside recommendation, not something we stock.