Forget the boat and the life drawing, the time has come to give the humble hens party a bit of a ‘glow up’. That is, discover hen’s party ideas that aren’t like the usual celebrations you see plastered all over instagram.
That means no strippers. Come on. It’s been dooooone to death. If you haven’t sipped on a penis straw by now, then I’m afraid to say your time is up. Or not?! If you want the ‘traditional’ hens experience, you’re well within your rights, sash and feather boa and all.
But for those who are looking to take their team on a bit of a different journey to celebrate their impending nuptials, this is the article for you.
Here, we asked 10 real brides who celebrated an out-of-the-box hens party to share their secrets, so that those yet to be wed can gather up some serious inspo from their hen’s party ideas!
The one where you learn how to decorate cakes
“Everyone knows those retro cakes with the ripples and icing are so in right now, so I thought I’d get my friends along to learn how to decorate them. We had so much fun getting messy and sampling as we went, and we picked up a new skill in the process!” – Rachel
Casa Dolce Desserts are running a pop-up cake decorating workshop in Sydney! Check out the website for more details.
Cake Waves in Melbourne also offer cake decorating classes.
The one where you have a dinner party in an undisclosed location
“Secret foodies is an exceptional culinary experience, with events in Sydney and Melbourne throughout the year. The premise is that you scan the list for the theme (and glimpse of the menu) that appeals to you, and book your tickets. You don’t get told where you’re going until 2 hours before your dining time. The time we did it, we dined amongst the koalas at the WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo at Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney. It was opened just for us after hours, so we had the whole place to ourselves, it was amazing!
If you don’t want to dine with anyone else Secret Foodies runs private events, too!” – Olivia
The one where you paint and drink
“Paint and sip classes are nothing new, but they actually do make for an amazing night with your best girls. We brought our very best bottles of red, enjoyed some nibbles and were in absolute hysterics as we attempted to get our ‘Picasso on’ and failed miserably. I have never laughed so hard in my life.” – Mishelle
Paint & Picasso and Champainting are just two venues that offer this. Another hen’s party idea is to even get a drag queen to come along for a healthy (extra) dose of sass!
The one where you appreciate Burlesque
“I knew I didn’t want strippers for my hens, but I thought there was something really sexy – and not icky – about seeing a female burlesque performer do her thing. We found a place that offered a dinner package with the show, and each of us were just totally captivated by how she moved. It gave us all a whole new appreciation for the female form and just how amazing girls are. The room was moody and the atmosphere was great, we couldn’t have had a better hen’s night.” – Alysha
The Bamboozle Room in Sydney is incredible for dinner and an unforgettable show, while The Burlesque Showboat is incredible for a memorable night out with your best girls in Melbourne.
The one where you kick up your heels in Drag Queen Bingo
“When I say we had a ball, I mean we had a BALL! Drag Queens have got to be the sassiest, most amazing and fun people to spend a night with. We had a beautiful dinner close by earlier in the night, and then all got super competitive with the bingo, enjoyed some yummy cocktails and laughed our socks off at the performers. 10/10 recommend!” – Rochelle
Sydney Drag Queen runs many drag bingo events, including the insanely popular Kath & Kim themed events. Drag Queen Brunch with bottomless cocktails! In Melbourne, check out Drag Bingo and Bottomless Bubbles via My Ultimate.
The one where you taste gin with your gals
“I’m not really a wine drinker, and my bridal party knew that, so they decided that a gin masterclass would be a great experience for us to have together as a hen’s party. We all gained a new found appreciation for gin, how it’s made and how to mix it. We loved the sophistication of the night and being able to actually catch up and talk without it being too loud.” – Sophia
Archie Rose Distillery runs gin tasting masterclasses, while Little Lon Distilling Co is the pick for a gin masterclass in Melbourne.
The one where you get to smash everything
“You know as a woman you’re usually about keeping your house neat and tidy and in order? What I really wanted for my hens, was the kind of reckless abandon that meant I could leave a path of destruction in my wake, and not have to tidy up after myself. I got all my wedding stress and anxiety out, including my frustration with my mother-in-law, as I got to just SMASH everything around me!” – Hannah
The Smash Room in Melbourne is perfect for a hen’s outing, while Smash Room City in Sydney gets our vote.
The one where you enjoy a luxury picnic in the park
“We chose a day in summer so that we could be outside somewhere with a view! One of my friends had the genius idea of getting it catered, and then another friend thought of getting a luxury picnic business to do all the heavy lifting for us. We were actually blown away by the styling and how comfortable and well fed we were throughout the afternoon. We went on to have a good dance together close by and didn’t have to worry about any of the picnic clean-up! Win win!” – Claudia
We love the style of Crate Your Date in Melbourne, and for Sydney Graze and Gaze gets our vote.
The one where you go on a massive scavenger hunt around the city
“I am really competitive, like really competitive, and not much of a drinker, so I knew finding a hen’s party idea that would be fun for everyone would be kind of tough. When I heard about the scavenger hunt idea, I was instantly curious. I read the reviews and was super keen to try it, whether it was for my hens or not!
The girls were all keen, so we booked it and we had absolute ball, it was like ‘The Amazing Race’ the way we were zipping through the city. I was on such a high! I can’t wait to do it again!” – Billie
For all of your Scavenger Hunt needs in Sydney and Melbourne, Scavenger Hunts Australia has got you covered!
The one where you have a catered staycation with your besties
“With how big the wedding was going to be, I knew I just wanted some low key time with my best girls. We hired an Airbnb house down the coast for two nights and had a chef come in one night to make dinner for us. We dressed up in our best Coachella-style gear and had a beautiful dinner, before heading to the local bar and having a dance and a few cocktails. It was exactly what we needed to unwind.” – Marley
// By Olivia Mackinnon
