Why Brides Are Saying Yes to Classy Hen Party Ideas at Home

Murder Mystery Hen Party at Home

A murder mystery night is one of those hen party ideas at home that sounds like loads of effort but is actually really easy to pull off. You buy a pre-made kit, assign everyone a character, and let the drama unfold. It's interactive, it gets everyone talking, and it's a really fun way to spend an evening.

The best bit? You can theme it however you want. There are kits designed specifically for hen parties with cheeky storylines, or you can go for something more classic like a 1920s speakeasy mystery or a Hollywood whodunit. Everyone dresses up for their character which makes for great photos!

You can find brilliant murder mystery kits on Amazon and Etsy from around £15-£25 for the whole group. Pair it with some themed cocktails and nibbles and you've got a full evening sorted.

Tips for your murder mystery hen party at home:

• Send character assignments out a week early so everyone can sort an outfit
• Set up different rooms as different scenes if you've got the space
• Make a themed playlist to set the mood in the background
• Serve cocktails that match the theme (think prohibition era drinks for a 1920s mystery)
• Give a prize for best dressed and best detective

Cocktail Making at Home Hen Do

Cocktail making is one of those hen do ideas at home that works for literally every group. You can book a professional mobile bartender who comes to your house with all the equipment and ingredients, or you can go full DIY with a cocktail station and recipe cards.

If you're going the DIY route, pick three or four cocktails, grab the ingredients in advance, print out some recipe cards, and set up a little station in the kitchen. Espresso martinis, pornstar martinis, and mojitos are always crowd pleasers. You could also do a prosecco bar with different mixers and garnishes, which looks lovely and is dead simple to set up.

For something a bit more elevated, there are loads of companies that do at-home cocktail making classes for hen parties. They bring everything and teach the group how to make two or three cocktails. It usually lasts about an hour and a half and works really well as the opening activity before dinner.

Cocktail making ideas for your at-home hen do:

• Book a mobile cocktail class (they come to you with all the kit)
• DIY cocktail station with printed recipe cards and all the ingredients
• Prosecco bar with different juices, syrups, and garnishes
• Cocktail competition: split into teams and judge each other's creations
• Personalised cocktail named after the bride

Hen Do Scavenger Hunt at Home

A scavenger hunt is a really fun hen party activity at home that doesn't cost a thing. You can keep it inside the house, extend it to the garden, or even make it a neighbourhood challenge if you're feeling brave.

The easiest way to do it is to make a list of tasks and challenges, split into teams, and set a time limit. You can mix photo challenges (take a selfie with a stranger, recreate the couple's first photo together), trivia about the bride and groom, and silly physical challenges. The team with the most points wins.

You can make it as classy or as wild as you want. For a more refined version, think treasure hunt style with written clues that lead to different spots around the house, with a prize or a round of drinks waiting at the end.

Hen do scavenger hunt ideas:

• Photo challenge scavenger hunt with a scoring system
• Treasure hunt with written clues hidden around the house and garden
• Bride trivia hunt where each clue reveals a fact about the couple
• Neighbourhood scavenger hunt with teams racing to complete tasks
• Digital scavenger hunt using a free app like GooseChase

Hen Party Games at Home

No at-home hen party is complete without some good games. They fill the gaps between activities, they cost next to nothing, and they always get everyone laughing. Here are our favourites.

Mr and Mrs Quiz

The classic for a reason. Message the partner beforehand and get their answers to a list of questions, then watch the bride try to guess them at the party. Things like 'who said I love you first' or 'what would they say is your most annoying habit' always go down well. You can find free printable templates online or make your own.

Prosecco Pong

It's beer pong but make it classy. Set up some plastic champagne flutes on a table and play in teams. You can use prosecco or keep it non-alcoholic with lemonade. It's simple, it's competitive, and it always gets people going!

How Well Do You Know the Bride?

Put together a quiz about the bride with questions like 'what's her biggest fear' or 'what was her first job'. The person who gets the most right wins a prize. It's a lovely icebreaker, especially if not everyone in the group knows each other that well.

Hen Party Bingo

Make bingo cards with things that are likely to happen during the hen party like 'someone cries', 'the bride says she loves everyone', or 'someone spills a drink'. Play throughout the whole event and give a prize to the first person to fill their card.

Two Truths and a Lie

Everyone takes a turn sharing two true things and one lie about themselves, and the group has to guess the lie. Simple but it always throws up some surprises, especially with a group of friends who think they know everything about each other.

Pass the Parcel (Hen Party Edition)

Wrap up little gifts, dares, or questions in layers and pass them around to music. Each person unwraps a layer when the music stops. Fill it with mini prosecco bottles, funny dares, or little hen party accessories. It's a nice one to bring out later in the evening.

Quick hen party games at home:

• Mr and Mrs Quiz: the partner's answers vs the bride's guesses
• Prosecco Pong: beer pong but classier
• How Well Do You Know the Bride: quiz with a prize for the winner
• Hen Party Bingo: play throughout the whole event
• Two Truths and a Lie: always gets some surprises
• Pass the Parcel with dares, mini gifts, and questions
• Bridal Charades: act out wedding and relationship moments
• Guess the Age: photos of the bride from different ages, guess how old

More Classy Hen Party Ideas at Home

Looking for more at-home hen party ideas? Here are some of our other favourites that keep things classy and fun.

Pamper Night

A pamper night is perfect if you want a relaxed, feel-good hen party at home. Set up face mask stations, get some nail polishes out, play calming music, and put out some candles. You can buy sheet masks in bulk for a couple of pounds each and it feels really indulgent. Pair it with prosecco and a cheese board and you've got a gorgeous evening.

Afternoon Tea at Home

An afternoon tea hen party at home is one of the classiest options and it's easier than you'd think. You can order everything pre-made from a local bakery or make your own with finger sandwiches, scones, and mini cakes on a tiered stand. Set the table nicely, add some flowers, and it looks like you've put in way more effort than you actually have.

Private Chef Experience

If you've got the budget, hiring a private chef for the evening is a lovely treat. They come to your house, cook a three course meal, and clean up afterwards. Some companies let you pick the menu and even do a little cooking demonstration as part of the experience. It feels really special and takes all the stress out of dinner.

Wine or Cheese Tasting

You can book a virtual wine tasting where a sommelier guides you through different wines over Zoom, or set up your own with a selection of wines and tasting notes. A cheese and wine pairing works really well too. It feels sophisticated without being stuffy, and you get to drink wine, so everyone's happy!

Life Drawing Class

A life drawing class is one of those hen party activities at home that always gets people talking. You can book a model through a company that specialises in hen party life drawing, and they'll send a model to your location. Everyone gets an easel and some paper and has a go at drawing. The results are always funny and they make great keepsakes.

Craft Activities

A craft activity gives everyone something to take away as a memento. You could do flower crown making, wreath making, candle making, or even pottery painting. Kits are available on Etsy and Amazon that come with everything you need for the whole group. It's a lovely relaxed activity to do in the afternoon before things pick up pace in the evening.

Movie Night

Round off the evening with a movie night. Set up a projector or a big telly, make some popcorn, get the blankets out, and put on a classic like Mamma Mia, Bridesmaids, or 27 Dresses. It's a nice way to wind down after a full day and everyone can just relax and enjoy each other's company.

How to Plan the Perfect Hen Party at Home

Planning a hen party at home takes a bit of thought, but it's so much easier than trying to coordinate a full weekend away. Here are our top tips to make sure it all comes together.

Planning your at-home hen party:

• Set a budget early so everyone knows what they're contributing
• Pick 2-3 activities max so you don't end up rushing through everything
• Decorate the space, even just balloons and a banner makes it feel special
• Sort the food and drink in advance, a cheese board and prosecco goes a long way
• Make a rough schedule but leave plenty of free time for chatting
• Create a shared playlist with the bride's favourite songs
• Set up a photo area with props for memories that last
• Send invites early with a dress code if you've got a theme

The best at-home hen parties we've seen don't try to do too much. Pick a couple of activities that suit the bride, sort some good food and drinks, and let the rest happen naturally. Some of the best moments at a hen do are just sitting around laughing together.

Sample At-Home Hen Party Itinerary

Need a bit of help putting the day together? Here's a sample itinerary for a classy at-home hen party.

Sample classy hen party at home itinerary:

• 2:00pm: Guests arrive, prosecco and nibbles, opening games
• 3:00pm: Sashay Dance hen party class (90 mins of fun!)
• 4:30pm: Cocktail making or afternoon tea
• 6:00pm: Dinner (private chef, homemade buffet, or order in)
• 7:30pm: Mr and Mrs quiz and hen party games
• 9:00pm: Murder mystery night or movie and pamper session
• 11:00pm: Late night dancing and karaoke

Obviously you can adjust this however you want. If it's a full day, start earlier. If it's just an evening, pick two or three things and let the rest be relaxed. The bride will have the best time either way!

Book a Hen Party Dance Class for Your At-Home Celebration

If you're planning a hen party at home, a Sashay Dance class is the easiest way to make sure the whole group has the best time. We come to you wherever you're hosting, bring everything we need, and do all the hard work while you and your girls just enjoy the class.

A personalised experience choosing any 2-3 songs or one of our Sashay Dance themes and with over 2,150 hen parties delivered, and an abundance of five star reviews, we've got you covered. The bride dances free, the organiser goes free too with 18+ people, and you can adjust your group size up to one month before. Don't worry about a thing, we'll sort it!

Enquire about your at-home hen party dance class now