Hen Party at Home: A Full Plan

We make cards, pin badges, prints and party bits in the UK. We don't sell inflatable anything, so this is a plain guide with our own bits only where they genuinely fit.

A hen party at home costs a fraction of a weekend away, includes the people who can't travel, and is often the one the bride remembers.

Here's the full plan: a timeline that works, food that feeds twelve, and what to actually decorate.

A timeline that works

• 2pm: arrivals, fizz, name badges saying how everyone knows the bride.
• 3pm: the activity - a cocktail class at the kitchen counter, a craft, or a pamper hour.
• 5pm: food, then two games while everyone is sitting down.
• 8pm: the older guests head off, the music goes up, and the evening runs itself.

Food for a crowd

• One big hot thing - a curry, a chilli, a pasta bake - plus bread and salad.
• A grazing board built on a chopping board costs less than a catered platter and looks better.
• Everyone brings one dish if money is tight. Assign categories so you don't get six puddings.
• Order the takeaway for 8pm before the drinking starts, not after.

Decorations and setup

• Bunting, balloons and one banner does the whole room - don't buy a themed kit for every surface.
• A photo corner: a plain wall, a string of lights and a couple of props.
• Pin badges instead of sashes. Cheaper, less mortifying and people keep them.
• Clear one table for games and one for food, and put the bins out early.

Budget and inclusion

• £15 to £20 a head covers food, drinks and decorations comfortably.
• Video-call in anyone who can't travel for the first game - it takes two minutes and means a lot.
• Have a proper non-alcoholic option, not just orange juice.
• Sort taxis in advance; rural pickups after 11pm are the one thing that goes wrong.

Browse wedding cards

How to write it so it lands

• One big hot dish, not a buffet of nine things.
• Photo corner beats a themed kit.
• Book taxis before anyone drinks.

Where to shop next

• Hen party games
• Hen party gift ideas
• Stag do ideas in the UK
• Stag do games
• How much a hen or stag do costs
• How to be a good bridesmaid or best man
• Hen party ideas in the UK
• Stag and hen planning checklist
• Stag do gift ideas
• Hen party bag ideas
• Hen party fancy dress themes
• Wedding gift ideas
• Wedding speech one-liners
• Party supplies
• All guides
• 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?
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

How do you throw a hen party at home?

Start mid-afternoon, run one activity, serve one big hot dish, play two games, and keep decorations to bunting, balloons and a photo corner.

How much does a hen party at home cost?

Around £15 to £20 a head covers food, drinks and decorations for a group of ten to twelve.