“Planning a few hen party games”. Sounds simple.. BUT… From the host side of things, we see what actually gets used and enjoyed, how they ‘go down’, and what gets left behind in the morning after everyone has gone home.

So here’s the brutally honest version of HEN PARTY GAMES from a glamping host who has seen the lot from over a decade of hosting hen weekends.  The ones that work are simple, social, and easy to drop into the weekend. The ones that don’t? They often stay in the packet, instructions abandoned, while everyone is too busy catching up, pouring drinks, heading to the hot tub, or getting ready for the crafts or archery they actually came for.

Why Incorporate Games into a Hen Party?

From our side as hosts, the best ones do a few simple jobs:

Ice Breaking and Group Bonding

Often there are a few ‘hens’ who don’t know many of the others in the group. This can feel awkward at first. Or there can be several ‘realms of the Brides life; eg school, college, family, motherhood; who may not naturally mingle outside their existing friends group when it’s placed in a larger ‘hen party group’.  Games break the ice without taking over the whole weekend and get everyone the bride knows and loves celebrating as ‘one’.

Energy Management

A good hen party game fills the awkward gaps after arrival, when folk can arrive tired from a day of work and the drive there… lifting up spirits. It can gather everyone together to be in the same place eg. before food, or when everyone is waiting for the ‘last ones out’ of the shower to finish getting ready to go out, before the taxi arrives. It tempers those moments that can swing from flat lining to chaos, with some…

Gentle Structure

Hen Party Games can give a bit of structure to an evening without it feeling too ‘organised’ or needing vast amounts of planning props that just get abandoned.
And speaking of abandoned props, yes, things do get left behind. The all-time standout? A 3-foot inflatable penis. It was never claimed, so naturally it ended up stuck to my teenage son’s car windscreen when he was being a bit arsey. That, in a nutshell, is what hosting hen parties teaches you: people bring far more props than they actually need. Just a little something to facilitate connection and chill time.

That’s why our honest advice is simple: don’t overcomplicate it. Keep one, maybe two easy games ready, then leave plenty of room for the bits people actually take away.

1. Active Games
   For groups with good energy, especially in a rural setting, active games are brilliant because they get everyone moving without needing loads of props or prep.
   Scavenger Hunts
   A scavenger hunt is still one of the most reliable HEN DO GAMES going.
   The Format: Split into teams and give each group a list of things to find, photos to take, or daft little challenges to complete.
   Why it works: it gets people laughing, walking, and mixing without anybody needing to sit through instructions for twenty minutes.
   Hen Party Pong
   A twist on Beer Pong, usually with larger cups (for more guaranteed success!) and silly forfeits. It works best as a quick burst of fun rather than the main event. At Wild Harvest, we have picnic benches on a grassy surface so the ideal place for hen party pong.  If your group enjoys outside games you could also consider our instinctive archery sessions.
   Pin the Tail on the Husband-to-Be
   This is one of those classics we genuinely see in the wild here, pinned to one of our wooden units.. We have oft’ noted a cartoon-like drawing of a semi nude male topped with a photo of the brides partners face.  A blind-folded Bride To Be being spun around by her maid of honour…the plastic penis  in her hand flailing slightly in the wind as she turns.  Where it lands is sometimes funny, but sometimes also it’s deeply scary haha. Either way, everyone understands it immediately. It’s a game and no harm to the future husband is intended.
   Why it works: no explanation needed, very low effort, mildly chaotic, usually hilarious after a drink. Only works with partners with a penis.
2. Campfire Games
   If you are glamping, sitting round the fire, or winding down in a cottage, this is where simple card or word games win every time.
   Guess the Memory
   The Format: Everyone writes down a memory with the bride. They go into a jar, get read out, and the bride guesses who wrote each one.
   Why it works: It feels personal, gets everyone involved, and effortlessly leads into the sort of catching up people actually want to do.
   Truth or Dare
   This is usually a ‘bought-in’ pack of cards each with a truth or dare question and they can be quite risque.
   Here’s the brutally honest host view: Truth or Dare card games are often bought, never opened, and left behind. Not because they’re terrible, but because people are usually too busy chatting, laughing, topping up drinks, and catching up properly.
   Also in a celebratory event some truths are simply left best untold…  eg. why you ditched your friend that night when you weren’t really ill, or who you fancied at school!
   Finally, asking Auntie Sue or the new Sister-in-law-to-be ‘what her husbands favourite position is’ … may feel more excrutiating than fun.
   So if YOU want to do Truth or Dare, keep it informal and no pressure to answer, OR limit the type of questions so that the mood stays fun. We have actually seen someone cry sad tears at a hen party, so lets keep that kind of vibe away.
   The Forbidden Word Game
   Another common sight now, though at first I had to ask what was going on when I saw people trying to trick others into saying a word, then exchanging plastic rings.  The usual version is that nobody is allowed to say “Bride”, and if they do, they lose a plastic ring or have to take a shot from a shot glass hung around their neck.
   This game works because it kind of ‘runs in the background’, no dedicated ‘slot’ is needed for it, the group just goes about their evening mingling, with the odd ‘trick’ question in to try to elicit the ‘forbidden word’ thrown in.
3. Drawing and Creative Games
   Creative games allow guests to use their hands and can result in some of the funniest moments of the trip.  We have even had one group bring oil paints and mini canvases for each guest to paint the groom.
   Pictionary-style ‘Draw the Groom’
   The Format: Using a large flipchart or even individual pads, guests are given prompts related to the groom’s hobbies, appearance, or habits. They must draw them for others to guess.
   Why it works: It requires zero artistic skill and usually results in hilarious interpretations, with a general observable theme running through each drawing!
4. Guessing Games
   Guessing games at a hen party usually involve ‘cards’ or a list of questions, such as what was the Brides first pet called, what’s her favourite drink, where did the couple meet? This is is nice as it puts the Bride in her special place at centre of the game and it’s also nice for guests to get to know facts about her and the couple that they may not have known, before the wedding day. You can ask the questions and score each hens answer; right or wrong, and see ‘who knows the Bride best’?
   Mr & Mrs Quiz
   This is the gold standard of HEN PARTY  Guessing GAMES.
   The Format: Interview the groom beforehand (ideally on video) asking a series of questions about their relationship and the bride. At the party, ask the bride the same questions to see if their answers match.
   Why it works: It’s engaging for the whole group to watch and see if the partners answers match the Brides.
   When It May Not Suit: This game can be scarily revealing. If the partner gets lots of questions badly wrong at the interview stage, just don’t try to pull this one off. The Bride may get a tad disheartened that their soon-to-be life partner ‘doesn’t know her as well as she thought they should’. And fair enough.
5. Table Games
   These are best for the in-between bits: waiting for food, having a brew, or settling in during a crafty workshop.
   Advice for the Bride
   The Format: Put out little cards and let guests write advice, date ideas, or funny predictions.
   Why it works: It’s easy, keeps people busy for a few minutes, and gives the bride something lovely to take home.
   

A Host’s Honest Advice About Hen Party Games…

Keep it simple, pick one good game to run alongside your other activities like craft workshop, archery or foraging walk. Consider consequences of questions, appropriate level of rudeness for the guests present, and please take your plastic penises home 🙂
If YOU are looking for a venue that combines nature, activities, and space to celebrate, consider Wild Harvest Hen Fest Tipi site in the Rural Outskirts of York for your next celebration

Recommended UK Hen Party Game Suppliers

If YOU are looking for physical game products rather than DIY versions, these UK-based suppliers offer excellent professional options:

1. Team Hen: Known for stylish, modern, and “Instagrammable” game cards and accessories. Ideal if you want a contemporary aesthetic.
2. Party Packs: A reliable source for classic party games, scavenger hunt kits, and general decorations that work well for any hen do theme.
3. Ginger Ray: Offers beautifully designed, coordinated collections. Their “Advice for the Bride” and “Date Night” cards are particularly popular for their high-quality finish.
4. The Hen Planner: Focuses on “classy” hen party supplies. Their game selection is curated for groups who want fun without the typical “tacky” elements.

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