AUTHOR: BEC OF 'FOR EVERY HEN'
So, you've made the decision to host a hen party or bridal shower at home. There are so many positives in this choice; from saving money on food and alcohol, to the ease of getting guests home after the event. Now your next challenge is planning the actual celebration. And this can be tricky (hence the reason you're probably searching for hens night ideas at home in the first place!). Whilst you always have fun catching up at each other's houses, this upcoming get together is different. After all, it's for an extremely special occasion, celebrating a HUGE milestone in your best friend's life. So what are you going to do? To help you decide, I've put together a list of tips, tricks and activity ideas that will guarantee an incredible party... without leaving the house! Handy Hint: Some activity ideas include their own blogs for additional information (you will see their images as you scroll through this article). These blogs are to help with your planning - if you like the sound of a particular activity, click the image and learn more about it! BRIDAL SHOWER & HENS NIGHT IDEAS AT HOME
ADULT SCAVENGER HUNT
A hens scavenger hunt basically involve teams’ making their way through a list of tasks and completing as many as they can (such as ‘pose like a statue in the middle of the town’ or ‘find a man who looks like the groom and get a photo with him’). Therefore, if you’re hosting the event at home, you will need to stroll down to the local township or pub to get the most out of this activity (which is perfect if the girls need to stretch their legs or need a change of scenery!). For some great scavenger hunt ideas, click here. 
AFRICAN DRUMMING
If you're searching for a truly unique activity that will come to you, take a look at Interactive African Drumming! You will create lifelong memories through the fun, laughter and bonding experienced during the day. Plus it's something she would never expect (and has probably never tried before)! 
CAKE (OR DESSERT) TASTING PARTY
For any bride-to-be with a sweet tooth, this would be a dream come true! To organise, ask guests to bring along their favourite cake or dessert (whether this be homemade or bought is entirely up to them). On the day, set up some long tables covered in white table-cloths and, as guests arrive, place their cakes/desserts on display (the colours will really pop against the white backdrop!). The way in which you host the party from here on is your choice. Whether it's a free-for-all (i.e. people grab some cake or dessert when they feel like it) or has more structure to it (i.e. one-by-one you make your way through each of the options as a group), a lot of sugar will be consumed, and a lot of fun will be had! Pair this activity with a 'sweet as can be' theme (e.g. bright colours, lolly bags, sweet wines, etc.) and you have the basis for a great celebration! Check out this gorgeous ice-cream balloon DIY - perfect for decorating this type of event. 
CARICATURE ARTIST
Hire a caricature artist and get entertainment and souvenirs all in one! Your guests will love watching and giggling as they each have their very own cartoon drawn; the perfect option for a G-rated and entertaining celebration! Click here to learn more about caricature artists and hen parties. 
Photo credit: Allan of Cartoon Guy
CLASSIC SLEEPOVER
Remember the days of staying up all night with your closest fal pals? Giggling, talking about boys, watching movies, eating as much junk food as humanly possible and generally having the BEST time? If your bride-to-be isn't keen on hitting the town, but would rather spend some quality time with her friends - consider a good old fashioned sleepover - full of games, chick flicks, food and fun. To pull it off, fill your lounge room with mattresses, cushions, blankets, lollies, chocolates, dressing gowns, champagne, wine, board games, movies and more. Want to splurge and make it a little more special? Consider hiring a beautiful hotel room or house for the special occasion.
To pull it off, fill your lounge room with mattresses, cushions, blankets, lollies, chocolates, dressing gowns, champagne, wine, board games, movies and more. Want to splurge and make it a little more special? Consider booking a beautiful hotel room where you can enjoy room service; or hire a house in a stunning location and make a weekend out of it!
CLOTHES SWAP PARTY
Inform guests' that they are going to be taking part in a clothes swap party via their hens night or bridal shower invitations. Specify only clean clothes that are in good condition can be brought along (nobody wants your old rags!), and some sort of bag to carry your new party clothes home is also desirable. Once everyone has arrived at the party, hand each guests one token per item of clothing they have brought (in other words, if they have three items for the clothes swap, they receive three tokens in return). Once tokens have been given out and clothes have been placed around the venue for everyone to see, it's time to get the party started! Use a fair system (such as pulling numbers out of a hat) to decide who goes first, second, third, etc. and limit the number of items each guest can swap per turn to one or two (meaning those who don't get to take part in the clothes swap until later will still have the chance to grab some nice outfits as not everything will be gone). This party is great fun in itself, however adding delicious food platters, wine and other beverages, a million photos, a couple of games to break up the event and, of course, some fashion shows with your new outfits is what makes it memorable! Handy Hint: make cute tokens using your bride-to-be's photo by printing off lots of mini pictures and mounting them onto card! 
COMEDY HYPNOTIST
A fantastic and unique option that many don't consider - most hypnotists will be happy to put on a hilarious and memorable show right in your living room! As Comedy Hypnotist Gerard V says, "Seeing your aunt doing a fantastic air-guitar solo can be a life changing experience, and a memory that will stay with you. The photos on social media will bring back a smile in later years." To learn more about hiring a hypnotist for your celebration, click here. 
DANCE PARTY
Hire a local dance instructor to bring the moves to your celebration! Any hen who loves a good boogie will jump at the chance to get her dance on with her favourite girls. The best part? The choreography you learn as a group can be used as a surprise 'flash mob' dance at the wedding! 
FOOD TRUCK PARTY
The perfect option for any foodie hen - food trucks are a fun and unique way to get your hunger (and thirst) fix. Being replicas or refurbishments of vintage trucks and caravans, they're often quite stunning to look at PLUS they also make amazing backdrops for selfies or any other piccies you may snap during the event. If you're interested in hosting your very own food truck festival (or even hiring one or two for fun), click here for some great tips. 
HOST AN AT HOME PAMPER PARTY
With your best friend's wedding just around the corner, she's sure to be going through a range of emotions. Whether she's excited, stressed or somewhere in between, a little pampering definitely won't go astray! How much you spend on this option is entirely up to you. With hair, make-up and massage businesses more than happy to come to your venue, it's easy to put together a professional experience that guests will adore. Whilst it can get pricey, this option also means you don't have the added pressure on the day of running activities yourself. Alternatively, a DIY pamper session with the girls can be just as fun. Ask everyone to bring their own dressing gowns/robes, set up pamper stations around the house/venue (such as nails, massage, facials, foot spas filled with rose petals, etc.), and hand out gorgeous little goodie bags filled with chocolates or chocolate coated strawberries and beautiful beauty products. You could also ask the girls if they're interested in putting in some money to organise for one professional to come out and treat your bride-to-be (and the rest of the group) alongside your DIY options. Whichever way you decide to go, combined with a girly sleepover full of food, wine, games, movies and giggles; you're definitely onto a winner! Handy Hint for you DIYers: print off DIY facial recipes that you can make as a group (with drinks in hand, of course!). It will get everyone mingling, so makes for the perfect ice-breaker activity when you have a number of guests who don't know one another. For some more great DIY pamper tips, click here. 
INFLATABLE FUN
If your house or venue has a large enough outdoor space, inflatable games such as bubble soccer could be a fantastic addition to your party! If you do decide to include such an activity, make sure you give your guests a heads up via their hens party invitations. You don’t want girls arriving in high heels and skirts if they’re going to be running around in large zorb balls at some point during the day!
INTUITIVE PARTY
Is your bride-to-be curious about psychics, chakra healing, mediums, etc.? Then an at home intuitive party could be just what she's after. Filled with games and activities such as oracle cards, tarot card reading, pendulums, tea leaf interpretation, intuitive trees and more; this is a party where your hen and guests alike will learn so much about themselves and one another. If you would like to learn more about intuitive parties, click here. Already sold on the idea? For some great tips on planning and executing your own intuitive style party, click here. 
KARAOKE PARTY
For the hen who loves to sing, why not hire a karaoke machine and have yourself an in-house karaoke party! For even more fun, set a theme for the celebration (such as the 90s) and have guests come dressed to impress. Handy hint: Make a competition by including a different character and song on each invite. For example, one invitation might specify: 'Character - Geri from the Spice Girls, Song - Wannabe by the Spice Girls'. That particular guest then has to come dressed as the character on their invitation and sing the song from their invitation. Have prizes for best dressed, best singer, worst singer, best performance, etc.! 
LASER TAG
For high-tech hide and seek in your very own backyard, hire some laser tag equipment, decorate the backyard with fun obstacles and have guests attend in their best army inspired outfits! With so many fun games to play, you're sure to have an absolute blast! 
LEARN HOW TO MAKE COCKTAILS
Cocktail making classes are a mobile activity option for those who want to enjoy delicious, high quality beverages in the comfort of their own home (whilst learning some handy tricks at the same time)! Don't have the money to spend on a mobile class? Instead, consider either providing numerous bottles of spirits (or asking each guest to bring along one bottle each) and some mixers, printing off some fun cocktail recipes and letting the girls go crazy making their own concoctions! For added flair, make it a 'cocktail party' theme and have guests arrive in their finest attire. 
MURDER MYSTERY PARTY
Add a bit of mystery to the celebration by hosting a Murder Mystery night! It will take a bit to put together, and you'll need a guest list willing to get involved (as costumes are a must!); but the fun you'll have will be worth every bit of preparation! Night of Mystery specialise in these parties, so for more detailed information visit their website by clicking here!
PERSONAL CHEF
A great way to kick off an amazing night in is by having a beautiful meal prepared by your own Personal Chef! Who doesn't want to eat restaurant quality food in the comfort of their home with their nearest and dearest right there with them?! 
PHOTO BOOTH
If your budget allows for photo booth hire, definitely consider it! Photo booths provide lasting, hilarious memories; and the guest of honour often receives a digital copy of every single picture following the event (plus a guest book)! Can't justify spending money on this or want to save your dollars for a different activity? You don't have to go without. Create your own party photo booth by putting together a backdrop (such as streamers or fabric strips - click here for more ideas) next to a basket of props and dress ups. Guests can then use their phones or a provided instant camera to take funny shots of each other throughout the event. Handy Hint: If you have a selfie stick, set it up in front of the backdrop so that guests' can easily take photos of themselves on timer! It's also a good idea to link any props to your overall theme (e.g. if it's an Angel themed party, provide props such as wings, wands, halos, white feather boas, white hats, etc.). 
POOL PARTY
Is one of the bridesmaids in your group lucky enough to have a house with a pool? Then you should definitely consider a pool party! Think lounge chairs, cocktails, inflatable pool toys, pool games (i.e. volleyball), music and more! For those after a cheeky touch, consider hiring some topless waiters to serve food and drinks whilst you enjoy yourselves in the water. 
PUPPETRY FUN
If you’re after a cheekier soiree (with a twist!), ‘Puppetry of the Penis’ will bring the laughs with an entertaining and creative show – in your very own home! Use it to begin your celebrations (thus providing plenty of conversation for the rest of the night) or as a hilarious surprise for your bride-to-be midway through the event (she definitely won’t see it coming!).
SECRET GARDEN PARTY
The perfect option for any lover of the outdoors; garden parties provide a beautiful backdrop, fresh air, a relaxing atmosphere and, best of all, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any spills (in other words, no red wine stains on white carpet!). Incorporate furniture, picnic rugs, platters, and jumbo sized activities (such as giant jenga) alongside some typical hen party games, and you’ll have a celebration that will be remembered for all of the right reasons. For tips on planning an incredible outdoor bridal shower, click here. 
STRIPPERS
For the cheekier hen that is after a little bit of nudity, consider hiring a surprise stripper! Trust me, the sound of ‘Pony’ beginning to play, followed by a fireman appearing in the room is a sure-fire way to get the girls giggling, yelling and more! Private shows can be easily booked for your house or venue in most locations, and whilst it does cost a pretty penny, it’s a great way get party-goers up and about!
TOPLESS WAITERS
If your hen isn't that keen on strippers, but still wants a cheeky edge to her celebration, topless waiters are the way to go. Friendly and helpful, most topless waiters are more than happy to host (or even participate in) games, hand out food and drinks, entertain guests and more! 
WINE TASTING AT HOME
For a more sophisticated affair, wine tastings are a fantastic opportunity to not only learn about the different wines on offer, but to get a taste of them too! Whether you ask your guests to bring a bottle of wine each and host your own version of a tasting, or hire a professional who can lead you through it, this type of event is always a great way to get guests chatting, learning and having fun. 
Now that you have the activities under control, it's time to start thinking about the rest of your event (i.e. decorations, food, drink, etc.). To get you started, I've listed some nifty tips and tricks below:
THE DECORATIONS
Create the perfect atmosphere with any of the following hen party and bridal shower decorations:
If you're hosting a themed event, make sure your decor (and food/drinks) ties into it. For example, a 'Cops and Robbers' theme would suit black and whit decorations, donuts, milk drinks, chocolate coins, etc.; whereas a sophisticated summery theme would be best decorated with gorgeous flowers, greenery, wooden objects, large and bright balloons, etc.
THE PARTY FOOD
There are a few ways you can go about feeding the hoards!
If the hen party is in-between lunch and dinner, serving platters of fruits, cheese, crackers and cold meats is a great way to keep the hunger at bay; as is serving easy finger food such as mini sausage rolls, small sandwiches, fruit skewers, chocolates, mini muffins, cupcakes, hot chips, etc. 
Need something a little more filling?
Consider a BBQ with baked potatoes and salads, or delicious take-away from a nearby shop (pizza is always a great option, bonus points if they deliver!). If you don't want to stress about good on the day/night at all, there's also the option of hiring a catering company to take care of it for you, or having a personal chef come in to WOW your bride-to-be and her friends. For those of you who need to stick to a tighter budget (and don't really enjoy cooking for a large group), there's also the option of a 'Pot Luck Dinner'. Simply pick a theme that your bride-to-be will enjoy (say, Italian), and ask each guest to bring along a plate of food that represents that particular selection. To make sure you have a good variety of food, it's best to assign different courses to guests (e.g. two guests could be assigned 'Italian Desserts', two 'Italian Starters', two 'Italian Beverages', etc.). No matter how you decide to do it, make sure you cater for everyone involved (pregnant women can't eat soft cheese for example, whilst other guests may be vegetarian); and, most importantly, make sure you serve foods that your bride-to-be absolutely loves! 
THE PARTY DRINKS
For starters, what is your hen's favourite drink in the whole world?
You should serve that. And lots of it! For everything you do buy, attempt to purchase in bulk as it will save you money. And don't forget to purchase/offer non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice or even punch. If you want to base the hens party around cocktails, keep an eye out for specials and buy bottles of spirits when they're at their cheapest. Alternatively, work with guests so that everyone brings a different bottle of spirits with them to the party; placing them at a designated 'bar area' on arrival. Provide mixers (such as juice, lemonade and cola) and cocktail recipes, shakers, glasses, etc. for guests' to create their own masterpieces throughout the event! Speaking of spirits, let's not forget shots - jelly shots, normal shots, or shots added to food will all go down a treat. For a wonderful gummy bear pop recipe, click here! 
HAVE THE BEST TIME!
Whether you decide to do one, a few or none of the above hens night ideas at home, I hope you have an incredible time! If you've decided against an at home party after reading this, click here for additional activity inspiration that requires leaving your venue.
I love hearing your feedback - so if you have any suggestions you would like to share with the For Every Hen community, please do so via the comments section below (or social media: Facebook | Facebook Group | Instagram). Cheers to an AMAZING hens party and/or bridal shower in the comfort of your own home! Much love, keep smiling - Bec x P.S. If you're after some sneaky tips to bring your costs down, check out the blog below: 
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