What is a hens party?

A hens party is a pre- wedding celebration for a bride-to-be, usually attended by her female friends and close family. It is also commonly called a hen night, hen do, or in the US, a bachelorette party.

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Quick Scoop

Most people use “hens party” to mean a fun send-off before the wedding, often with food, drinks, games, or a weekend away. The idea is to celebrate the bride and mark the end of her single life in a light, social way.

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Common meaning

• Who it is for: the bride-to-be.
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• Who usually attends: mainly female friends, though modern versions can vary by the bride’s preferences.
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• What it is for: a pre-wedding celebration and social gathering.
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Where the term comes from

The word “hen” has long been used in English to refer to a female bird, which is part of why the phrase became associated with women’s gatherings. Over time, it came to mean a women-only social event and then specifically a bride’s pre-wedding party.

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Typical activities

• Dinner or cocktails.
• Games and party challenges.
• A spa day, weekend trip, or themed night out.
• Gift-giving or toast to the bride.
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Regional note

The phrase is especially common in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, while “bachelorette party” is more common in the US.

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TL;DR: A hens party is a bride’s pre-wedding celebration, usually with her friends, and it is basically the same idea as a bachelorette party.