Hen Party Decorations
Hen party decorations: what to buy, what to skip
Most hen party decorations get looked at once and photographed twice, so the trick is spending on the two or three things that show up in every picture and skipping the rest. A backdrop, a table centre and something for the bride to wear will carry an entire weekend.
This guide covers what to buy for a house hen, a hotel room and a hired venue, roughly what each costs in the UK, and the order to put it all up in so you're not still taping bunting when the taxi arrives.
Everything here works whether the hen is a spa weekend, a cocktail night at home or a full weekend away.
Decorations for the hen do
Banners for the wall, cake toppers, table confetti and a sash and crown for the bride — plus pin badges and stickers for the party bags. UK made and posted with the card.
The five things worth buying
- A backdrop — a balloon garland or a foil fringe curtain, about £15 to £30. Every photo happens in front of it.
- A sash or pin badge for the bride, so she's identifiable in every group shot.
- Table confetti and a few tea lights: £5 does an entire table.
- Personalised name banners or letter balloons spelling her name.
- Reusable neon or LED letter lights, if you'll get a second party out of them.
What to skip
- Themed plates and napkins nobody looks at once the food's gone.
- Anything inflatable and rude for a hen where mums and aunties are coming.
- Full room-wrap kits — they take an hour to put up and photograph badly.
- Scatter sequins in a rented house; you'll pay for the cleaning.
- Multiple competing colour schemes. Pick two shades and stop.
Decorating by venue
- House hen: one backdrop wall, a dressed table, and fairy lights in the room you'll actually sit in.
- Hotel room: door hanger, bed confetti, letter balloons, and a bottle waiting on ice. Nothing that needs tape on the walls.
- Hired function room: balloon arch at the entrance, table centres, and a photo corner near the bar.
- Restaurant table: confetti, place cards and a small centrepiece. Check with the venue first.
- Cottage or Airbnb weekend: bring Command hooks, not tape, and take everything down before checkout.
- Spa day: keep it to a sash, a bag of favours and a card. Anything else gets left behind.
What it costs
- Balloon garland kit: £15 to £25 for a 2 metre arch you build yourself.
- Foil fringe curtain backdrop: £5 to £8.
- Sash and veil set: £6 to £12.
- Letter balloons for a name: about £2 a letter.
- Table confetti, tea lights and place cards: £10 to £15 for a table of twelve.
- A full house hen setup lands around £50 to £80 if you build the balloons yourself.
Setup order on the day
- Inflate balloons the night before — air-filled ones hold for days.
- Hang the backdrop first, while the room is still empty.
- Dress the table second, food last so nothing sits out.
- Put the photo corner near the drinks, not in a spare room.
- Leave the sash, veil and card out where the bride arrives.
- Bag up a bin liner for the clear-up before anyone opens a bottle.
Engagement and wedding cards
For the bride, and for the wedding that follows.
There's Someone For All Of Us (Funny Wedding Card)
£3.87
Just Married Cake Polaroid Wedding Day Card (Personalised Names)
£3.87
Personalised Wedding Card Featuring Pigeons
£3.87
Fix Up, Look Sharp. Will You Be My Groomsman? Card
£3.91
Fix Up, Look Sharp. Will You Be My Best man? Card
£3.91
Congratulations To The Bride & Groom (Wedding Card)
£3.87
They Liked It, So They Put A Ring On It (LGBT-Friendly Wedding Card)
£3.87
Just Married (Simplistic Wedding Card)
£3.87
Funny cards for the hen
Leave a few out for the group to sign.
You Old Bastard (Funny Birthday Card)
£3.87
Top Trumps 60th Birthday Card for Dad
£3.87
Top Trumps 90th Birthday Card for Dad
£3.87
Two's A Couple, Three's A Family (Guinness Congrats On The New Baby Card)
£3.87
Top Trumps 80th Birthday Card for Dad
£3.87
65 Years Young Wife Birthday Card
£3.87
Cheeky Wordsearch Valentines Day Card For Him
£3.87
Whose Gonna Make The Brews Now? Leaving Card
£3.87
Pin badges for the group
A cheap favour that people actually wear.
Star Trek Lapel Pin Badges (Set of 3)
£7.49
Pointless Meeting Survivor Pin Badge
£4.00
Yellow Employee Of The Month Rosette Pin Badge
£4.00
World's Best Boss Pin Badge
£4.00
Toe Beans Cat Lovers Pin Badge
£4.00
Smash The Patriarchy Pin Badge
£4.00
Funny Thinking Of You Voodoo Doll Pin Badge
£4.00
ChatGPT Is My Therapist Pin Badge
£4.00
Where to shop next
- How to make a balloon arch
- How much helium do you need for balloons?
- Photo booth prop ideas
- Party bag ideas for adults
- Engagement cards
- Wedding cards
- Birthday party ideas
- Gifts to make someone smile
- Thinking of you gifts
Frequently asked questions
What decorations do you need for a hen party?
A backdrop, a dressed table and something for the bride to wear. A balloon garland or fringe curtain, confetti and tea lights, plus a sash or pin badge covers everything that shows up in photos.
How much do hen party decorations cost?
Around £50 to £80 for a house hen if you build the balloon garland yourself. A backdrop is £15 to £25, a sash set £6 to £12, and £15 dresses a full table.
How do you decorate a hotel room for a hen party?
Door hanger, letter balloons, bed confetti and a bottle on ice. Use Command hooks rather than tape, and check the hotel's policy on confetti before you scatter anything.
When should you put hen party decorations up?
Inflate balloons the night before, then hang the backdrop first thing on the day while the room is empty. Food and drinks go out last.
What hen party decorations should you avoid?
Themed tableware, full room-wrap kits and loose sequins in a rented house. Anything rude is also worth rethinking if mums and aunties are coming.