1. HEN DO IDEAS > ADVICE & TOOLS > HOW TO PLAN A HEN DO

LNOF's Guide to

Being tasked with planning a hen do is a massive privilege (congrats), but it can be tough organising such an important event. That’s why we’ve put together our top 11 tips for planning a hen party. Follow our simple steps and we can guarantee your bestie will have a hen weekend to remember.

1

Choose the Guest List

We know it’s hard to whittle down who should come, but make sure to think long and hard about who to invite. Would the hen really want her future Mother-in-Law and Jan from Accounts sharing her last night of freedom? Better to find out first than have a really awkward weekend. The best way to do this is to start with the bridesmaids and ask the hen if they want anyone else there too. Once you come up with a definitive list, then comes the next step.

An illustration of three women on the stag do guestlist
2

Make a Group Chat

Once the guests have been chosen, it’s down to you to get the ball rolling. Make the most of group chats on Facebook, WhatsApp etc, so that you’re not swamped in confusing phone calls and texts from individual group members. This is a great way to break the ice between group members who may not know each other too, but also chat about important information like dates people can make, what to pack, food allergies, disabilities etc.

An illustration of a hen do group text
3

Set a Budget

Budget is massively important when planning a hen do. Openly discussing exactly how much each person is willing to spend will avoid dropouts and will help you choose a realistic destination. Some things to consider when it comes to budget: location, accommodation (do you want to stay in a hotel, a hostel or hen party house?) a length of trip, what others can afford, activities, surprises for the hen, décor/accessories and spending money. It’s also common for the group members to pay for the hen, so remember to factor this extra cost in when planning. If you’re booking through a company, make sure they protect all client funds, so that you’re covered if anything goes wrong.

An illustration of a purse with money in it
4

Gather The Funds

One of the biggest dramas when it comes to planning a hen do is the issue of collecting cash from each member of the group. However, we at Last Night of Freedom have you covered with our easy online payments. When you book, we ask for names of group members and set up an account which lets you to see who owes what and allows each member pay directly to us. Letting you can focus your efforts on more pressing matters, like what theme to choose for the weekend.

An illustration of a piggy bank with money going in to it.
5

Add a Personal Touch

It sounds simple, but it’s important to have the hen’s interests at the front of your mind when planning. For example, if she prefers blow-the-budget all-nighters in mega-clubs, don’t take her to a flower crown making workshop, or if she can’t swim, don’t take her white water rafting. You’ll also need to sort your personalised hen do T-shirts, hen do hoodies or hen do accessories to unite the group – perfect for photos too.

An illustration of some personalised hen do T-shirts
6

Have a Hen Do Itinerary for the Weekend

Before setting off on your ventures - whether you’re jetting off to a far flung abroad location, or staying within the UK – make sure you’ve got an itinerary of activities plotted out. You might be deemed ‘the boring one’, but they’ll thank you when everything goes like clockwork. When booking with Last Night of Freedom, we send you a travel pack, making sure you know exactly where to be and when.

An illustration of a hen do itinerary
7

Packing Checklist

Just as important as the itinerary, make sure you have a simple checklist of everything you need to pack for your weekend. For instance, if you’re going abroad, your tick list should include passports, boarding details, visas (if necessary), currency, insurance details, sun cream and swimsuits. The good thing about making a list like this is that you can use it as a checklist when you’re packing up to come home, making sure you don’t leave anything in the hotel room.

An illustration of a stag do checklist
8

Organise Entertainment

Have a few hen do games up your sleeve – it’ll break the ice between group members once you get there and get everyone in the hen do spirit. Truth or Dare, drink when and Mr & Mrs are hen do standards. However there are a few games we seriously do recommend playing such as the hen bingo, guess the hen and toilet paper bride. Check out even more hen do games or take a look at what we stock when it comes to hen games.

An illustration of a mr or mrs card and a toilet roll
9

Decorate!

Decorating the hotel room or hen house is a great surprise for the bride to be. If you choose a theme or colour scheme the room will look, put together and well planned. We know the bride will just love it! It doesn’t have to be much, just some balloons and simple accessories/gifts can go a long way. Check out our hen party collections and decorations to help you create that picture perfect hen night look.

An illustration of three team bride balloons
10

Prep for the Hangovers

Don’t just spend the morning after wallowing in self-pity, trying to piece together events of the night before. Organise an adrenaline-pumping activity like bubble mayhen or karting, to blow away those cobwebs from the night before. Or simply locate the nearest Wetherspoon’s for a nice greasy fry-up. Make sure they all get something in them before your planned daily antics. The hens will SERIOUSLY thank you.

An illustration of a full English breakfast and some vitamin C, as a hangover cure
11

Pics or It Didn't Happen

You’ll want the bride to remember this weekend for the rest of her life, but she might be drunk for most of it, so photos are so important. Make sure to get loads of photos of the weekend, both gorgeous and embarrassing! Perfect for your Instagram grids or for trying to remember what happened the night before.

An illustration of five polaroids

How to Plan a Hen Do

  1. Choose a guest list
  2. Make a group chat
  3. Set a budget
  4. Gather the funds
  5. Add a personal touch
  6. Have a hen do itinerary for the weekend
  7. Packing Checklist
  8. Organise entertainment
  9. Decorate
  10. Prep for the hangovers
  11. Pics or it didn't happen

About the Author

Starting her career at LNOF, Hannah knows the ins and outs of the stag and hen world. Having visited 11 (and counting) LNOF destinations, Hannah is passionate about travelling and partying hard- the pinnacles of a stag or hen do. Her first year as part of Team LNOF, Hannah completed her Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with a distinction. Meaning she learnt how to write and advertise for Stags and Hens before anything else.

Article Updated: 04/03/2024

Hannah Leeds

Digital Marketing Assistant

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