What To Put In Hen Party Bags: Fun And Practical Filler Ideas

A good hen party bag solves a problem the guest was about to have. Plasters at hour six, a hair tie, a painkiller, something to eat on the train home.

Below: what to put in, what to skip, what it should cost, and how to assemble sixteen bags in under an hour.

The practical things people genuinely use

• Blister plasters - the single most used item in any hen bag, every time.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen, in a sealed pack, one dose per person.
• Hair ties and a couple of kirby grips.
• A mini deodorant or face wipes for a long day.
• A hand sanitiser or mini hand cream, useful in a cottage with one bathroom.
• A small bottle of water - forgotten by every organiser and thanked for by every guest.

Treats that feel like a present

• One good chocolate bar rather than three cheap ones.
• A sachet of decent coffee or a proper teabag for the morning after.
• A mini bottle of something, if the group drinks and the travel allows.
• A pin badge - small, cheap, keeps working long after the weekend. Shop this card
• A packet of table confetti to scatter at whatever the group does next.
• A lip balm, the most reliably used cosmetic in any goody bag.

The personal touch that makes the bag

• A handwritten name tag on every bag. It takes ten minutes and it's the bit people mention.
• One line about that guest and the bride, folded inside - how they met, one shared memory.
• A printed card with the weekend's plan, times and the house address, so nobody messages you at nine on Saturday.
• A photo of the guest and the bride, printed small. Costs pennies, gets kept.
• The wifi code, if you're hosting. Genuinely the most popular item in any bag.

What to leave out

• Anything rude that the bride's mum or a colleague also has to open.
• Sashes and veils, unless the bride has specifically asked for them.
• Novelty straws and inflatables - almost all of them end up in the bin by Sunday.
• Anything that leaks in a handbag.
• Anything you'd be annoyed to unwrap at the end of a long train journey.

Costs and assembly

• Budget £5 to £8 a bag including the bag. Above £10 people feel awkward about it.
• Buy in multiples of the group size plus two spares. Somebody always brings a plus one you weren't told about.
• Use paper bags with handles rather than fabric ones - cheaper, lighter to transport, and nobody keeps a branded tote.
• Assemble production-line style: lay all the bags open, walk the length of the table once per item.
• Do it the night before with one other person and a drink. Alone on the morning is how items get missed.

Shop party bag fillers

How to write it so it lands

• Put one item in every bag that solves a problem: plasters, painkillers or a hair tie.
• Write the names by hand. It's the cheapest thing in the bag and the most noticed.
• Pack two spare bags. There's always one more person than the list said.

Where to shop next

• How to host a stylish hen party at home
• Glamping hen do ideas
• Classy hen party themes
• How to plan a hen do on a budget
• DIY afternoon tea hen party
• Hen party games at home
• Low-key hen do games
• Classy hen party games
• Hen party cottage ideas
• Hen party ideas in the UK
• How much a hen or stag do costs
• Shop party supplies
• 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?
• Congratulations cards
• Mother's Day gifts
• Wedding cards
• Wedding cards guide
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What do you put in a hen party bag?

Three practical things (blister plasters, painkillers, hair ties), two small treats (chocolate, a pin badge or lip balm) and one personal touch such as a handwritten name tag or a printed plan for the weekend.

How much should a hen party bag cost?

£5 to £8 per bag including the bag itself is the comfortable range. Guests are usually already paying for travel and accommodation, so a bag that feels expensive can feel like pressure.

Do you need hen party bags at all?

No. They're a nice touch, not a requirement. If the budget is tight, one shared bowl of practical bits in the bathroom does the same job for a tenth of the cost.

When should you hand out hen party bags?

On arrival, before anything else starts. Half the contents are things people need during the day, so a bag handed out at the end is a bag half wasted.

Do you sell hen party decorations?

Not hen-branded ones - no sashes, veils or slogan kits. We do make and post real party decor that works for a hen do: bunting and banners, balloons, table confetti, cake toppers and party bag fillers, along with wedding and engagement cards and art prints.