Quick Answer
What is a hen do?
A hen do (also called a hen party or hen night) is the British and Commonwealth term for what Americans call a bachelorette party — a celebration for the bride-to-be with her closest friends before the wedding. It ranges from a single night out to a multi-day trip abroad.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is a hen do?
Also called: hen party, hen night.
If you hear a British wedding party talking about "the hen do," they mean exactly what a bachelorette party means in the US — the bride-to-be's send-off celebration with her friends. The name comes from "hen" as the traditional counterpart to "stag" (the groom's equivalent), a pairing that goes back to at least the early 20th century in British slang. The format has grown well beyond a single night out: UK and Irish hen parties now commonly run as full weekends, and "hen weekends abroad" — to places like Amsterdam, Dublin, or the Algarve — are routine among groups with the budget for it.
How a hen do differs from a US bachelorette party
The core concept is identical — the format is what shifted. British and Irish hen dos lean harder toward a themed weekend away than a single night out: cottage rentals, spa weekends, or a flight to a European city are all standard, not aspirational. Matching outfits, a sash for the bride, and a "hen party" games kit (often cheekily risqué) are near-universal props. The guest list is usually decided by the bride or her chief bridesmaid (sometimes called the "hen do organiser"), and it is common — though not required — for the bride to cover little to none of her own costs.
Planning notes
- •Nail down a budget range and communicate it before booking anything — multi-day hen weekends abroad can get expensive fast for the wider group.
- •Confirm numbers with a hard RSVP deadline; accommodation and activity bookings for hen weekends are usually non-refundable past a certain date.
- •If the hen do and stag do land on the same weekend (common when couples want one "free" weekend before the wedding), coordinate transport and check-in times so nobody's double-booking a car.
- •Keep the hen do guest list separate from the wedding day guest list in your planning — they overlap but are rarely identical.
Coordinate hen do headcounts over WhatsApp
Weddingkart lets the wedding party send hen-do dates, venue details, and payment reminders as WhatsApp announcements, so nobody misses a non-refundable deposit deadline.
See WhatsApp announcements →Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hen do the same as a bachelorette party?
Yes — "hen do" (or hen party, hen night) is simply the British and Commonwealth name for the same event Americans call a bachelorette party.
Who organises the hen do?
Usually the maid of honour or chief bridesmaid, in consultation with the bride on budget, dates, and location — though some brides plan their own.
How long before the wedding is a hen do held?
Typically a few weeks to a few months before the wedding, though there's no fixed rule — it's scheduled around when the group can travel and when venues are available.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated