Best hen party invitations, games, decorations and party favours

Hen parties have come a long, long way since the days of L-plates, fluffy angel wings and creatively shaped plastic straws.

These days, a bride’s pre-wedding bash is more likely to be a tasteful, rather than a tacky, affair.

Whether you’re the bride-to-be planning your own pre-wed party or have cleverly delegated the task to your chief bridesmaid, you may already have a few ideas in mind.

Perhaps you’ve decided on a long weekend in a picturesque country cottage, or maybe you’re having a blow-out brunch in the city, complete with bottomless Prosecco with your best pals. However you decide to celebrate, decorations and favours are essential.

Themed decorations will help set the mood and if you’re including favours, also gives you a chance to treat your friends to a fun memento.

Below you’ll find sections on invites, décor, planning, games and favours your squad will actually want.

Scroll on to find the best hen party essentials every bride needs for her pre-wedding bash

The Invites

Papier Flamingo Bay Party Invitation

From the Matthew Williamson collection, this fun flamingo-themed invite is as well designed as the fashion label's clothes.

Perfect for a tropical themed do, the pretty invites are printed on textured Mohawk paper and everything is customisable so you can give it a personal touch.

Comes with plain white envelopes, minimum order of ten invites.

From £22.87 for 10 | Papier | Buy it now

Etsy Personalised Hen Party Festival Ticket Invitations

If you're hosting a camping weekend these festival ticket-style invites make the ideal way to get the word out to your pals.

Make them yours by adding in your personal and venue details. The handmade cards are A6 size, designed to slot neatly into C6 envelopes (not included).

£4.49 for pack of 8 | Etsy | Buy it now

Zazzle Teal and Rose Gold Geode Hen Party with Itinerary Invitation

Bordered with an aqua and gold geode pattern, this invite is pretty enough to frame and hang on your wall.

As well as name and venue details on the front, this invite also has the option to list your itinerary on the reverse side, perfect for those planning a multi-day or multi-activity event.

£2.11 | Zazzle | Buy it now

Confetti Designs Pom Pom Hen Party Invitations

We know, those pom poms are the cutest. Perfectly illustrating that the smallest details can have the biggest impact, this invite is a balanced mix of fancy with rose gold glitter lining and elegant (the font selection is timeless).

£2.90 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now

Rodo Creative Hen Party Surprise Scratch Off Boarding Pass

For anyone given the responsibility of planning a surprise destination hen do, we present this boarding pass-style reveal all invite.

The kit comes with the card along with special scratch-off stickers - simply jot down the destination before applying the sticker over the top.

Map infills and personalisation are also available for an additional charge.

8.99 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now

The Little Fox Cows on Tour invite

If you’re hosting a countryside retreat hen, why not use it to inspire your invites?

This handmade ‘Cows on Tour’ invite features hilarious watercolour-style illustrations of a party herd that won't fail to raise a smile from your guests.

As these invites are bespoke, it can take up to two weeks for delivery but if you need them sooner than that, email the company who will do all they can to help. Comes with envelopes.

£3.31 | Etsy | Buy it now

The Décor

Bubblegum Balloons Hen Party Balloons

Brighten up your hen party venue with this pack of 14 balloons from Bubblegum Balloons. In a fun, eye-catching palette, the balloons come flat to inflate at the event and are finished with fun statements, like 'Bride Tribe'.

Helpfully there's even a reel of metallic ribbon to literally tie the look together. If you're after balloons that float, you can add disposable helium canisters and balloon weights to your order.

£15.70 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now

Party Pieces Gold Photo Boot Backdrop

This curtain of cascading gold petals makes the ultimate backdrop for a dessert table or makeshift photo booth.

Simply hang in your desired spot, add a few choice props and let Selfie Hour commence!

Measures 2 x 1.8m.

£14.99 | Party Pieces | Buy it now

Team Hen Miss to Mrs Banner

No hen party is complete without a themed banner to display across one wall of your venue.

Use as a backdrop for your photos or string it up with some fairy lights to create a different kind of bridal 'glow'.

£5.99 | Etsy | Buy it now

Dreamtop 20 pcs Hen Party Sashes

If you can't resist at least some bridal kitsch, choose this sash set instead of those dreaded L-plates.

This set includes 20 'bridal party' sashses and one 'bride to be' sash, all in white satin-like fabric and gold lettering.

£11.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Yiwant Balloon Arch & Garland Kit

The beauty with balloons is that, unlike flowers, they're easy to set up and you don't need expert skills to create something that looks super impressive.

This kit contains a mix of mini to jumbo size balloons along with glue dots and transparent balloon decorating tape.

£12.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Ginger Ray Large Gold Donut Wall

If you're over cupcakes but still want to enjoy sweet treats with your guests, try incorporating a doughnut wall into the mix instead.

This one from Ginger Ray can hold 42 treats, which should be enough for everyone - and then some.

Lean against a wall to keep the product stable.

£24.99 | Because I'm The Bride | Buy it now

The Games

Tandem Green Personalised Hen Party Gift Kiss Print

A fun and easy game to play, get your hens to apply their favourite lipstick before kissing an imprint on this 'Kiss the Miss Goodbye' card. All you need to add is a frame for a cute keepsake to look back on after you tie the knot.

£10.95 | Not On The High Street | Buy it now

Prosecco Pong

Not the classiest but certainly the glassiest game to play at your hen. Liven things up with a game of Prosecco Pong, a chic update from hops-heavy beer pong. This pack includes 12 wide Prosecco glasses along with three pink balls. Best of all, it’s on sale right now at an incredible 60 per cent off! Bargain.

£5.99 | Firebox | Buy it now *On sale from £14.99

Pack of 24 Funny Hen Party Dare Cards

The perfect ice-breaker for when you're bringing different groups of friends together, even your most extrovert hens will quake in their heels at the boldness of these dares. A guaranteed party starter.

£1.50 | Amazon | Buy it now

The Party Favours

Hen Party Survival Kit Bags

A chicer, grown-up version of children's party bags, this is the perfect favour for parties where quaffing copious amounts of alcohol is high on the agenda. The muslin bags, adorned with a glittery first aid cross, come empty, ready for you to fill with hangover saviours.

Different colours for the cross and personalisation is also available.

£1.43 | Etsy | Buy it now

Ginger Ray Hen Party Team Bride Temporary Tattoos

Brand your squad for life (the lifespan of your hen party, at least) with these temporary tattoos from decor emporium Ginger Ray.

The lettering works for any theme while the gold foil effect will look suitably celebratory.

£5 | John Lewis | Buy it now

Shein Gold Plated Arrow Wrap Bangle

It doesn’t have to say ‘hen party’ on the tin for something to make a great favour, as proven by this sweet gold-coloured arrow bracelet from Shein. At such a low price, you can afford to hand one out to all your hens. However be warned: shipping can take as long as three weeks for some items so order well in advance.

£1.99 | Shein | Buy it now

Sipsmith Gin & Light Tonic

Whether you hand them out on the way to your destination or offer them on a tray as a welcome drink, we're sure Sipsmith's gins in tins will go down well.

It doesn't hurt that they already come hen-ready in rose gold cans with pretty swan illustrations.

£2.75 each | Ocado | Buy it now

7 Pink and White Retro Pinhole Team Bride/Bride Sunglasses

A brilliant prop for hen party night photos, these sunglasses make the perfect fun favour. Each set includes one 'bride' pair and six 'Team Bride' shades.

£14.59 | Etsy | Buy it now

New Look 2 Pack Silver Diamanté Bride Tribe Hair Slides

90s-style hair slides are having a bit of a revival of late.

Make them hen do-ready with these Bride Tribe diamante slides from New Look.

£4.99 | New Look | Buy it now