ULTIMATE GUIDE: HOSTING A BACK TO SCHOOL THEME PARTY FOR ADULTS!

AUTHOR: BEC OF 'FOR EVERY HEN'
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After dropping the kids to school the other day, a thought crossed my mind... how fun would a ‘back to school’ party theme be for a hen do?! Set up like a normal school day ('class schedule' and all), you could make your way through different subjects, eat your way through delicious food, and, of course, drink you way through refreshing bevies! If you like the idea of a back to school theme party for adults (or you’re intrigued by the idea), read on!

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IT ALL BEGINS WITH A CLASS SCHEDULE

When thinking of what to do for your best friend's 'back to school' hen's party, it's best to start with a 'class schedule'. This will not only fit in perfectly with the overall theme and make for a great invitation (giving guests a hint of what's to come), but having it all written down will also help you decide on activities, decide on approximate times for said activities and more!

To make this task easier for you, we've provided some 'class/subject' inspiration below. Include three or more of the following classes to guarantee an amazing day!

Hot tip: We have provided activity ideas and back to school party games inspiration for each class. You don't have to do every single one of these suggestions, just choose the ones that you like/suit your party best and go from there! Happy planning :-)

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DRAMA CLASS:
Dinner and a show, anyone? Take this opportunity to see the professionals in action! From musical theatre and circus acts to male revue shows and stand-up comedians, there are so many fun, unique, awe-inspiring and amazing ways to appreciate the art of performance. Rather have the show come to you? Why not hire yourself a comedy hypnotist? Not only a hilarious performance by a professional, but also a way for your guests to show off their skills once under the spell of hypnosis!

Games best suited to this class:

• Capture This: Capture hilarious poses and moments on camera with this fun game. Click here for instructions.
  
  
• Charades: one person acts out a phrase/object to their group. If the group guesses what it is within a certain time-frame, they get one point. The group with the most points at the end of the game wins. Think of back to school party related game cards to tie in with the theme (e.g. teacher's pet, detention, etc.). 
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• Nailed it: Experts show off their hidden talents and then groups have to try and replicate it. Click here fore full game instructions.​ ​

ART CLASS:
It’s time to get those creative juices flowing! From paint and sip classes (where you can create beautiful masterpieces, wine in hand) or creative workshops (such as terrarium making and terracotta pot decorating), to nude drawing lessons (hello, naked friend!) and body painting workshops, there are back to school crafts for adults to suit all types of personalities.

If your group would prefer to sit this class out (literally), you could bring in the creative instead! Hire a caricature artist who can draw each of your girls in the most unique and memorable way. This will not only be heaps of fun (imagine watching the caricature of your friend take form, right in front of your eyes), but a cartoon portrait will also make for a memorable favour that each of your guests will treasure forever.

Games best suited to this class:

• Dirty Pictionary (or bridal Pictionary if you’re after a cleaner option!): Come up with a list of words related to weddings/hen parties (these can be dirty or clean). Individuals then take it in turns to draw a chosen word/phrase, whilst their team members try and guess what it is. Click here for full game instructions.
  
  
• Designer Gown: On a computer, paste an image of your hen’s face at the top of a blank A4 page and print off enough for each guest. Party-goers then design bridal gowns by drawing a dress, veil, shoes, etc. onto the page with your hen’s face at the top (this means they have to draw arms, legs, bodies, etc.). Best dress wins!
  
  
• DIY Gown: Teams create designer wedding dresses (within a 10 minute time-frame) using ONLY toilet paper (you can find bamboo and recycled toilet paper here). This is achieved by dressing one of the team members by wrapping, throwing, twisting, etc. toilet paper all over their body. Bride-to-be chooses the winning team once they've all shown off their designs.
  
  
• Tracing Truths: Place a piece of paper on the ground and, one at a time, ask the girls to trace around their hands WITHOUT bending their knees! Write down all of the funny things they say whilst drawing (e.g. 'This is SO hard!'). Prepare for giggles as you announce that, thanks to them, you now know what your bride-to-be will be saying to her husband on their wedding night (i.e. 'This is SO hard!'). Click here for full game instructions.
  
  
• ​Snap That​: ​Before the celebration, type up a checklist that includes different types of group and portrait shots. 'Funny faces', ‘laughter’, ‘dancing’, 'the hen and her family', and ‘a selfie’, are all great options.Hand each guest a checklist and ask that they capture (photograph) as many items from the list as possible. The person who ticks off the most is the winner! Click here for full game instructions.

HEALTH & PHYSICAL EDUCATION:
Physical Education is all about, well, getting physical! If you’re hosting an event at home, why not hire a dance instructor to get those bodies moving? From vintage to pop, twerking to lap dancing, it’s going to be a good time. And if you’re out and about? Dance classes are still an option, as are other physical activities such as canoeing, bike riding, zip-lining, stand up paddling, surfing, rock climbing, bubble soccer, laser tag, and more.

For those after a cheeky twist for their PE class, this subject also happens to be where you learn all about the human body. Well, ladies, there’s no better way to gain an understanding of the male form than with a stripper and/or topless waiter! The perfect surprise for that naughty student of yours.

Games best suited to this class:

• Pin the Junk on the Hunk (or Pin the Bouquet on the Bride): Print off a LARGE photo or poster of your hen’s crush (for example) + enough cartoon peckers for each guest. Guests can then take it in turns to be blindfolded and spun before tying to ‘pin’ the junk in the correct position. Write guests’ name's on their particular penis so that you can keep track of who is winning! This game also works using a picture of your beautiful bride-to-be and printed off bouquets (guests can then try to pin the bouquet in the correct spot).
  
  
• Playdough Peckers: ​Each team/individual is given some playdough and asked to mould a penis within a certain time-frame. The bride-to-be then gives prizes out to one or more of the following categories: best shaped pecker, biggest pecker, funniest pecker, etc.! Don't want to mould a penis? Teams could mould a man, mould parts of a man, or mould the bride instead!
  
  
• Pump the Pecker: Ask guests to get into pairs and give each team one balloon pump and one LONG balloon. One person from each pair then sits on a seat, balloon pump held tightly between their thighs; hands behind their back. On 'GO!' the other person in each pair must place the balloon over the top of the pump, kneel down and pump it up as fast as they can! First team to inflate or pop their balloon wins! Click here for full game instructions.
  
  
• This or That?: Pick a particular category (for example, 'porn or singing', 'boobs or butt', etc.), search for some hilarious images and create game cards from your stash of piccies (click here for example layouts). Guests must then guess if it's one or the other. The person with the most right at the end wins!
  
  
• Who’s Your Man?: Ask the groom and each of his groomsmen to take pictures of body parts: nose, eye, foot, hair, hand, chin, bicep, etc. Print each of these photos off big enough that everyone can see them (or load them onto a slideshow and use a TV for viewing). On the day, make your way through the body parts; asking the bride-to-be to pick her husband’s photo from the rest (i.e. if the groom has three groomsmen, hold up four images of feet and ask her to point to her groom’s. Do the same for the rest of your pictures). Every wrong answer? Your lovely hen must drink!

HISTORY CLASS:
Step back in time and celebrate Vintage style with this fun and unique History class! From swing dancing and burlesque to Vintage hair/makeup and pin-up photoshoots, there are countless ways to engage students. If you're after a more settled session, there are also the options of drive in movies, seeing a favourite flick at a vintage theatre, or watching the best movies from the 70s and 80s in the comfort of your lounge/on a projector screen in the yard (wine, chocolate and popcorn mandatory)!

Games best suited to this class:

• Embarrassing Stories: This is where you really need to dig up those hilarious stories that are, well, history! Have each guest anonymously write down an embarrassing/funny experience they’ve had. Collect the stories and place them in a bowl. One by one, your hen can read them aloud to the group; attempting to guess who each story belongs to as she goes!
  
  
• Trivia: Create your own trivia night! Simply search the internet for some hilarious questions (these can be naughty or nice depending on the type of party you're hosting). Write your favourites onto a question sheet. At the party, separate guests into teams and slowly make your way through each of your questions. Team with the most right answers at the end wins. Handy tip: use questions about your bride-to-be's life instead (e.g. how old was she when she first kissed a boy? Who was her first crush? etc.)!
  
  
• What Age was the Bride?: Print off at least 5 fun photos of your hen from different points in her life and record her age in the photo somewhere safe. Display the pictures as you wish (bluetack to the wall, pinned to a board, etc.). Guests can then guess what age they think the hen was in each photograph by writing their answers on paper. The person who gets the most right wins! Click to view 'what age was the bride' game card printable.
  
  
• ​A Walk Down Memory Lane: Guests writes down a special memory they have with the bride-to-be and place them into a bowl. One by one, your hen reads them aloud to the group; trying to guess who each memory belongs to as she goes. Make the game a little more crazy by having your hen have drink or do a pre-prepared dare for every wrong guess she makes!

MATHS CLASS:
Maths is all about problem solving. And what better way to get your mind's ticking than with an escape room experience? Whether you take part in this activity at a venue dedicated to Escape Rooms, or create a DIY version for your home, this exercise will have you cracking codes and piecing together puzzles as a team in no time! Like the idea of problem solving with a time limit? You may also enjoy 'minute to win it' style puzzles. Not only will they be fun and tie in perfectly with this lesson, but they are also a great ice-breaker (the laughter will be real!). Some examples include:

Actual Maths Facts: print off some simple equations and see who gets the most right within one minute.
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Cheeky Puzzles: print off some hilarious photos of your bride to be (or, if it's a cheekier soiree, male body parts!). One by one, cut the photos up into small, puzzle style pieces and place them into bags (one photo - or all the little pieces of the photo - per bag). See who can put together their photo within one minute.

Dirty Riddles: print off some riddles that sound dirty but actually have a very clean answer (click here for ideas). See who can get the most right within one minute. If you want to keep this game clean, use G/PG rated riddles instead!

MUSIC CLASS:
There are SO many fun ways to bring the music to your day, it’s hard to know where to begin! For starters, you could set up a karaoke machine and let your gals go crazy singing their favourite old-school songs, group ballads and more. Interactive African Drumming is also a great way to bring rhythm to your day, as is a dance class (that could be filmed and turned into your very own music video clip!).

If you’re heading out for your celebration, a mobile silent disco is an amazing way to party. As you shimmy through the streets and sing at the top of your lungs, you will not only feel free as a bird, but you will also put on the most hilarious show for those passing by! Then there is also the option of attending a live gig if one of her favourite artists are in town, or simply taking in some tunes at the local pub.

Games best suited to this class:

• Let’s Dance: Guests stand in a circle and wait for your bride-to-be to get the dancing started. How? By making up one simple dance move (e.g. twerking)! Starting with the person to her left, each guest then takes it in turns to repeat the bride’s dance move (that is, they twerk). Once the entire circle has had a turn, the next player (person to the left of your bride) twerks before adding in their own move (e.g. a star jump). Each guest then has to twerk and do a star jump. Keep playing until everyone has added one move. The game finishes with the group performing their entire routine together!

RECESS/LUNCH TIME:
Recess and lunch means three main things. Eating all the food, drinking all the drink, and letting loose with your friends! Make this easy for your guests by setting up all-you-can-eat food tables (where they could stock up their ‘lunch boxes’ or ‘food trays’), a drink bar (complete with water, punch and a mix of alcoholic beverages/mixers for those DIY cocktail enthusiasts), and a lunch area (somewhere guests can chill out, eat, drink and chat for a while in-between classes).

If you feel like splurging, there is also the option of hiring a food truck or a private chef.
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Want to make lunch/recess an activity in itself? Why not try out some cocktail making classes, a cheeky baking class (learn how to create some 18+ biscuits or cakes!), chocolate making lessons, a high tea, wine tasting (that includes a luncheon as well) or even a surprise picnic in a stunning location?

SCHOOLIES/SCHOOL'S OUT:
​Woohoo! You DID it! You passed the final exam and the school day/year is over! Now it’s time to celebrate all that HARD work and PARTAY! Do this by hitting the town (or your lounge, music blaring!), downing some of your favourite bevs, and dancing the night away!

Handy hint: actually organise a 'final exam' before guests can officially attend 'schoolies'! Make it a simple yet fun task that everyone can complete together (e.g. take a shot, pose for a class photo, sing a group song, etc.).

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FUN EXTRAS YOU CAN ALSO ADD TO YOUR 'CLASS SCHEDULE'

​SCHOOL RULES:
Create a sheet of strict ‘school rules’ that are to be followed throughout the celebration. These could be anything from ‘Don’t say the word wedding’ to ‘Don’t drink on campus’ (meaning every guest must take a swig of their drink when they think no-one else is looking! Those who get caught get a warning – 3 warnings and it’s off to detention!).

Whether or not you decide to follow these rules to a tee doesn’t matter, it’s a great way to get everyone laughing and in the mood for a ‘school yard party’ as they walk through the door!

Fun Tip: Nominate a school principal and teacher at the beginning of the party (these roles can change throughout the day). They can be in charge of enforcing the rules and giving out warnings/hilarious punishments when required!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PHOTOS
★Click here to view a selection of fun & reusable ‘Back to School’ boards★
You know those ‘first day of school’ boards that the preppies hold, stating their age, what they want to be when they’re older, their favourite colour, etc. (click here to view some examples)? They (or a DIY version) would be perfect for this! Snap a pic of each guest as they arrive for a great memento (if you can, use a polaroid camera to take these pictures and stick them under a ‘[insert bride-to-be’s name]’s class of 2020!’ sign on the wall!).

CLASS PHOTOS:
Photo day is a big deal. Hair sleeked back, outfit on point, beautiful smile (or, if you’re THAT guy, the random crazy face). With everyone looking their best, make time in the day to get a ‘class photo’. Following the party, whip up a template on your computer that includes this pic, a heading (such as “school” name or ‘[name]’s hen’s party 2020’) and a list of everyone’s name’s in the “class” (in other words, make it look ​like an actual school photo). Print it off at your local photo printing store, frame and gift to your bride-to-be!

DETENTION:
Guys, it’s not ok to be breaking the school rules, ok?! For those pesky gals who just won’t listen, make sure there are some cheeky games, 'punishments' and other shenanigans in the ‘detention hall’ ready when they are! 

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BACK TO SCHOOL THEME PARTY COSTUME – A MUST HAVE ACCESSORY!

If you’re hosting a back to school party for adults, there 100% should be a ‘school dress code’ as well! Your back to school party outfits could be anything from specific (such as white blazers, long socks, tartan skirts) to a little less strict (i.e. you must wear the colour ‘pink’). The other option is to give guests the freedom to interpret the theme as they wish (just ask that they dress appropriately for a ‘back to school theme party’!). This could result in anything from sexy schoolgirl outfits and giant pencils to stern principals – the surprise will be priceless on the day!

This begs the question, how should you ask your hen to dress?
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If you want to keep the whole theme a secret, you could ask her to arrive decked out in white (she won’t have a clue with this colour palette, as white is traditional bride-to-be). On the day, you can then add some fun school-themed accessories to her outfit (e.g. a ‘teacher’s pet’ badge, fake glasses, a tartan tie, etc.).  Alternatively, let your beautiful bride-to-be in on the theme (but not the happenings of the day!) and help her find a back to school theme party costume that will tie in with how the rest of her guests are dressing.

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BRING IT ALL TO LIFE: BACK TO SCHOOL PARTY DECORATIONS INSPIRATION

And finally, it's time to decorate! If you're hosting the event at home or at a hired venue, you can easily bring this theme to life using the following ideas.

Blackboards (a.k.a. your new best friend): Great for labelling different areas/tables (such as favours, food - or school canteen - table, teacher's lounge, detention hall, etc.) whilst simultaneously bringing back ALL those classroom feels. If you have a board that's big enough, you could even write your 'class schedule' up for everyone to see!

Learning charts: Timestables, ABCs, handwriting, you get the idea! Pop them on the walls and your guests will be transported back to those primary school days. Ah the memories!

Photobooth: If you're the crafty type (or someone on the guest list is), consider creating a 2D School bus (with the windows cut out). Then your guests can hold the 'bus' up in front of them, appearing as though they're taking a ride to school! Other fun photobooth ideas include 'Student of the Week' signs (make and print certificates from your computer, with different reasons for winning - e.g. 'Best table dancing the school has ever seen', 'Class clown' etc.).

Previous school photos: Unearth those hilarious, cute, hideous school photos of the guest of honour (and, if your guests are willing to get involved, have them send their funniest snaps in too!). Create a class wall of fame and stick them there to be viewed throughout the party.

Teacher's Desk: This doesn't have to be an actual desk, any table and chair will do! Decorate appropriately (pens, pencils, paper, little sign saying 'Soon-to-be Mrs [insert name], etc.) to tie in with the overall theme. Once ready, this can be where your bride-to-be sits for any games that require her judgement (there's nothing like a teacher watching over you to make you work harder!).

And apples. Not quite sure why everyone associates them with teachers, but there you go!

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HAVE AN AMAZING TIME!

I hope this back to school theme party for adults article has given you ALL the inspiration you need to host a wicked celebration! From costumes to class schedules, this theme has SO much going for it, you're bound to have an incredible time! If you decide to go ahead with the schoolyard theme, let us know in the comments (or via our socials: Facebook Group | Pinterest) - we'd love to hear ALL about it! 

Cheers to an AMAZING party where the students run wild, and detention is the best place to be!

Much love, keep smiling - Bec x