Organising a hen do surprise for the bride can be a great way to make their day more memorable and exciting.
That is if you know what you’re doing!
As the UK’s leading hen party planners, we at GoHen.com know everything there is to know about throwing a successful bridal bash.
So, if you want to add an element of surprise to the bride-to-be’s party, our list of 10 surprise hen do ideas is the perfect place to start.
In this blog:
- Hen Do Surprises for The Bride
- Gift Ideas for The Bride
- Surprise Hen Do Ideas
- FAQs
Hen Do Surprises for The Bride
After a quick chat with our Head of Events, Ellie, we gathered the top ten most requested surprise activities for a hen do.
- Buff Butler – Inviting a Buff Butler to the hen party is even more hilarious when the bride doesn’t know about it. Imagine the look on their face when the hunky butler stops serving drinks and starts serving looks!
- Alcotraz Prison Cocktail Experience – You can tell the bride-to-be that you’ll be checking out a couple of bars, but they wouldn’t expect to be going behind bars… which is why Alcotraz is the perfect place to go on their last night of freedom!
- Mobile Spa Treatment – With all the wedding planning coming their way, the bride may struggle to find the time to relax, so why not help them with that? A pampering treatment, such as a massage or a facial, could be exactly what they need to unwind before jumping back into the wedding twisters.
- Escape Room – Once locked inside an escape room, you should expect the unexpected… which is why this party activity makes for such a good surprise. Whether the bride is a horror fan or a Potterhead, we have a choice of game scenarios so you can pick the one they will enjoy the most. There’s room for all!
- Dreamboys – If you know the bride loves to have a giggle, this jaw-dropping male strip show is sure to put a smile on their face.
- Karaoke – A karaoke night is not only easy to organise as a surprise but also a great way to break the ice between any hens who don’t know each other that well. You can also surprise the bride even more by dedicating certain songs to them and elevating the hilarity!
- Hen Workshop – Doing a crafty DIY class is the perfect way for the hens to create handmade keepsakes the bride-to-be will treasure forever. The most popular workshops include perfume-making, lingerie-making and jewellery-making but we’ve got many others so have a browse on our page!
- Life Drawing – We don’t mean to ruin the surprise, but what follows after the male model becomes a nude male model always comes as a surprise!
- Pimp That 🍆 – This hilarious activity never fails to impress! Packed with laughs and innuendos, this class could be a total hit for a bride who loves having a giggle.
Gift Ideas For the Bride
Giving the bride-to-be a thoughtful gift will really show them how much you care about your friendship.
Here are three gift ideas that will warm their heart and surprise them!
- Bride-to-be advice cards – Get each hen to write a helpful piece of advice to guide the bride in their upcoming nuptials. 💌
- Kisses for the Mrs – Share your wishes for the main hen and seal them with a kiss. 💋
- Wedding planner – This practical wedding planner is an excellent gift for a bride who loves journalling. 📔
Surprise Hen Do Ideas
Who doesn’t love a surprise party?
If you know that the bride-to-be certainly would, why not make it special for them by throwing them an entire secret bash?
Pulling off a great surprise depends on nailing the logistics down to the last detail.
From the initial stages to the surprise hen do reveal, here are five ideas that will make the secret party a success.
Disguise it as a different event
Tell the bride you want to meet over a drink to talk about their party plans, when in reality, you’ll be inviting them to the actual hen party. You can be as creative as you want, but it’s important that the script is believable!
Bring the groom-to-be into the secret circle
As a MOH you’ll be pulling the strings but having an inside agent who can supervise the mission from up-close could give you the upper hand. Involving the groom-to-be could help you create the perfect disguise for the actual surprise and ensure the bride doesn’t suspect a thing!
Organise a quiz night
The bride might already have a vision for their hen party that they’re waiting to share when the right moment comes. But if you’re planning a surprise hen do, you can’t just walk up to them and ask them directly as they might sense that you’re up to something. A fun game of This or That questions can get you all the clues you need without ruining the surprise!
Decorate the space
Going that extra mile and secretly decorating the hotel room or even just the tablescape with bunting, balloons, hen party table sets etc. will create that special party atmosphere which will work really well for the big reveal! You can visit TeamHen.co.uk for more accessories and decorations inspo and get 15% off when you book the surprise hen party with GoHen.com.
Have a surprise hen do reveal
When the time comes, make sure to have confetti, cameras, and champagne at the ready. Depending on the venue, you can have the bride walking into their surprise, or the rest of the hens doing a surprise appearance. Don’t forget to have someone capture their reaction to the reveal as this will be a priceless memory they’ll cherish forever.
Other things to keep in mind when planning a surprise hen do:
- Make sure that everyone involved (except the bride) knows that it’s a surprise.
- Choose the right date and time for the party. You wouldn’t want the main hen to have something else planned for that day that they can’t shuffle around.
- You can’t have the bride showing up underdressed for their own party (well, after the grand reveal at least)! From bridal sashes to L plates, stock up on essentials and don’t go shy on the glitter!
FAQs
Should the hen do be a surprise?
If you know that the bride-to-be loves surprises (you can tell by the way they react to plot twists in movies, for example), then go for it!
If they get anxious from the unexpected, it might be best to stick to something small like a gift, unless you’re planning something that they would absolutely love, or have told you they’d love!
Does the bride need to know you’re planning a surprise hen do?
This depends on the circumstances.
You can tell them you’ll be taking care of everything so they don’t have to worry about it, which, to be honest, will probably make them excited and pleased.
If they have a lot of input and ideas they want to share with you, you can plan something like a semi-surprise and give them clues to re-assure their expectations.
Or you can completely surprise them and watch as they give you a “Well played” applause. 👏
Are You Planning a Surprise Hen Party? 🤫
Surprise or not, if you’re planning a hen do, GoHen.com is here to help!
Organise the party with us and we can hide key details – such as secret activities or venue names – from the bride’s itinerary, so they won’t suspect a thing.
Or we can help you make it all one big surprise weekend!
Drop us a hen enquiry and let’s form a secret circle!
Happy [surprise] Hen Planning! 🐔
