🎉 5 Hen Party Activities That Bond Everyone!
Let’s be real — planning a hen party can be stressful. There’s pressure to make it fun, memorable, affordable, and somehow perfectly tailored to a group of people who might not even know each other yet, and who could have completely different ages, interests, and personalities.
I’ve been the organiser before — and I was not the spreadsheet-loving friend. I suddenly found myself responsible for planning an entire weekend for 21 people… and I am not that gal. I love a good time, but the months leading up to it, juggling full-time work and everything else life throws at you — honestly, I was possibly the most stressed I’ve ever been. There was no bridezilla in sight, just this huge pressure to get it right and make it memorable for everyone, including my best friend in the world bride-to-be.
That said… it ended up being one of the best weekends of my life.
Because when you choose the right activities — ones that genuinely include everyone, get people laughing and break the ice — the group bonds so quickly. Suddenly, it’s not just a hen do, it’s a shared adventure.
So if you're in the middle of planning and feeling that same pressure — I see you. I’m here to share what actually helped, the things that brought people together and made the weekend feel easy, hilarious, fun and full of connection — because I know how much that means when it’s your best mate’s hen do.
Here are 5 tried-and-tested activities, including one I get to lead — a hen party dance class that never fails to bring the group together and every time? It turns out to be the highlight of the hen weekend, and often… a surprise dance at the wedding 👀
💃 1. themed hen do dance class
This is the moment I taught a hen party dance class at my best friend’s hen do — they couldn’t stop giggling as I got them hip-thrusting to Britney Spears’ “Gimme More!”
Whether it’s Beyoncé, the Spice Girls, Taylor Swift or full on Dancing Queen ABBA, a themed dance class is a brilliant way to kick off the fun. There’s music, moves, loads of laughter — and no one needs any dance experience.
This is what I teach for hen parties, and the feedback is almost always the same: it was the highlight of the weekend. People often arrive a little apprehensive, unsure, and a tad shy — but by the end, they’re belting out lyrics and nailing choreography together like it’s the finale of a tour. 💫
It’s the ultimate bonding experience and everyone ends up feeling like a kid again, like they’re back in the living room performing a show they made up for their parents. That playful, carefree energy brings the whole group together!
So many of my hen parties go on to perform the dance as a surprise at the wedding too — making that memory even more special. The bride always ends up beaming ear to ear and feeling like a total rock star.
Want to book a hen party dance class in Essex, London or nearby? Message me here or check out all the themed options I offer. I guarantee Dance Yourself Free is your go to for booking a hen party dance class!
🎤 2. Karaoke Machine
Two of our hens absolutely owning the karaoke mic — flower crowns on, disco lights flashing, and full Mamma Mia energy activated.
This was one of the best decisions we made at our hen do — even though we originally debated it. It nudged us just over our agreed budget (I think it worked out at £10 extra each), but it ended up being ICONIC.
You do need a crew who are “up for it”, but once a handful of people get up… that energy spreads, believe me. I actually normally hate karaoke and wasn’t sure we needed it, but I loved it so much I ended up hogging the mic by the end of the night — oops.
It ended up being our main entertainment for Saturday night — totally unplanned. We sang until 5am 😂 — from Eminem to High School Musical to full-blown Celine Dion — and laughed until we couldn’t breathe.
The karaoke set came with two mics, a banging sound system, disco lights, and an iPad loaded with endless songs to choose from. 10/10, no notes, mic drop.
🌸 3. Flower Crown Workshop
Don’t be fooled by the smiles — we were hungover. But this was the perfect chilled start to the Saturday. We kicked things off at midday, crafting, chatting, and listening to music in the sunshine.
Hands-on, wholesome, and gorgeous in photos — a flower crown workshop is such a lovely bonding activity, especially for mixed-age groups or as a relaxed option after a big night sesh.
Depending on the severity of your hangover(!), you can either quietly focus on creating your crown or chat away over the flowers and wire. We all wore ours for the rest of the day — you might’ve spotted them in all the photos! We made them part of our theme: full boho, hippy, festival vibes.
🍽 4. Private Chef Experience
Our private chef in action — smiling as he whipped up 21 delicious desserts in our Airbnb kitchen, making the hen weekend feel extra special and stress-free.
This one’s a real treat — but honestly? Worth every penny. Hiring a private chef to come to your Airbnb or venue takes so much pressure off. No faffing over who’s cooking, no clearing up, and no Deliveroo dramas when you’re out in the middle of nowhere.
You get restaurant-quality food, served right at your place, so you can relax around the table with wine, stories, and quality time. It makes the evening feel truly special — without any logistical headaches.
Plus, he did all the clearing up while we carried on with our evening activities (yes, including the karaoke I mentioned earlier 😝).
Chef’s kiss 🤌
📝 5. Memory Game (My Favourite hen do Ice Breaker)
All of us gathered in our Airbnb lounge, sharing laughs and stories while playing the memory game — the perfect icebreaker that got everyone talking, learning more about each other, and hearing little stories about how each of us knows the bride.
This low-cost, high-connection game always gets people talking — and laughing. Here’s how it works:
Everyone writes down a memory involving the bride, but using just three words.
Fold them up and pop them in a bowl.
The bride picks them out one by one, tries to guess who wrote it, then shares the full story behind the memory.
It can be hilarious, sweet, sentimental, or totally rogue — giving everyone a chance to share something meaningful and offering a little insight into each hen’s connection with the bride.
It’s the perfect way to kick off the night or break the ice when not everyone knows each other. I first played this at another hen do, stole the idea, and it went down a treat!
💛 Final Thoughts
Planning a hen do is no small task — and if you’re in the thick of it right now, trust me, I see you. I’ve been there.
But when it all comes together? It’s pure magic. My best advice: choose activities that get people bonding fast, that suit all ages and personalities, and that the bride will truly love. The quicker everyone connects, the more relaxed and fun the whole weekend becomes — especially if the group includes strangers. I started that weekend knowing maybe two or three of the hens (plus, of course, the bride!) and ended up genuinely sad when it was over. I couldn’t wait for the wedding to see my new best girl gang again!
That weekend’s activities went down in “best hen do ever” history and will be remembered forever. You don’t need to overplan — just pick a few things that spark joy, bring people together, and leave room for the unexpected moments that make memories.
And if you think a hen party dance class might be a good fit (spoiler: it always is 😏), 📩 drop me a message. I’m happy to chat ideas, themes, and help plan a dance class that fits your vibe perfectly. 👉 Message me 😘