First comes love, then comes the… strenuous and oftentimes selfless task of organising a chic hen do for the bride-to-be. Unlike other events in the wedding calendar, the hen do is the sole occasion where the bride is exclusively the centre of attention. The big day is shared with the person waiting at the altar, the rehearsal dinner is a pre-ceremony soirée celebrating everyone involved and the engagement party is a chance for the couple’s respective families to shine. As a result, this nuptial milestone has become a bit of a palaver in recent years, either expensive, entirely complex or stressful for the friend who stepped up (or was asked) to plan this unforgettable event. That’s where we come in.
“A hen party is the perfect chance to unwind from the stress of wedding planning,” explains Beth Derrick, head wedding planner at Daughter Bloom. As a luxury events organiser, Derrick has helped design, craft and execute magical and memorable weddings suited to every couple’s unique style. “For the bride-to-be, [it’s a moment] to let their hair down, have fun and relax before upcoming events around the wedding day. For close friends and family, it’s about coming together to celebrate the bride-to-be, share stories and reminisce about the years leading up to this stage of life.” Of course, a commitment of this magnitude demands to be feted with revelries of the same scale. But where to begin?
If you haven’t enlisted a detail-oriented maid of honour with the utmost determination to get the hen do out of the group chat and into reality, the planning stage can feel like an overwhelming battle to manage expectations, expenses and what each attendee envisions. Nevertheless, a spritely evening out, destination bash or extravagant themed party should be enjoyable. Thus, laying the groundwork for the hen do should be a fun endeavour, too. Thankfully, there are a few key commandments you can count on.
“As a close friend planning a hen do, always make sure to tailor [the event] to the bride’s personality to ensure she has an unforgettable send-off into married life,” Derrick advises. Exchanging “I do’s” looks different for each soon-to-be newlywed, though there are a few established bridal personalities that will help inform what style of hen. Knowing what the bride in your life has conceived of for her hen do—and keeping it a surprise!—is merely a matter of coupling their interests to a set of activities like a proverbial matchmaker. Is she the kind of person to indulge in a week-long trip abroad with custom T-shirts and plenty of tequila? Or would a more intimate candlelit dinner be more her vibe?
Still, the pressure to curate and fulfil what is arguably a once-in-a-lifetime occasion can lead to a lot of uncertainty. In 2025, the typical hen do is often “over a few days and often involves an activity [such as] cocktail making, life drawing and a meal with a night out to follow,” Derrick says. Whether you adhere to this convention is entirely your choice and dependent on the characteristics of the bride you’re toasting.
Nonetheless, these bridal archetypes can guide the contents of your chic hen do itinerary. Ahead, we unpack the essence of each kind of bride, along with the special details they’ll adore seeing at their hen party. Explore our definitive guide to the chicest hen do itineraries for each type of bride below.
Chic Hen Do Itineraries for Every Type of Bride
The Dreamer: A Wholesome Al Fresco Lunch
The Bride: This bride’s head is as high in the clouds as the Chateau Marmont is perched in the hills of Los Angeles—a fitting tribute for the girl who paints herself out as the main character of a Joan Didion or Eve Babitz novel. Her inspiration is Jane Birkin in a plunging lace dress and Solange Knowles dusted in a whisper of baby's breath.
The Itinerary: For this quintessential escapist, who will no doubt be dressed in some iteration of Chemena Kamali for Chloé, a bohemian hen do is in order. What better for a “dreamer” than a wholesome alfresco lunch or picnic? Her imagination materialised: lounging barefoot among the thistles in a Peter Pan–collar dress and knee-high boots, with a perfectly set table of peach candles resting on gilded candelabras atop a sun-warmed tablecloth.
Schedule this hen do to begin at the height of the afternoon so that you can gather during the solar moon period. This will prove important later. Start by pouring mimosas and Bellinis, garnished with frozen berries and pressed stone fruit. The dreamer doesn’t want to be confined to an assigned seat or a rigid lunchtime schedule, so make things easy for yourself by offering an array of graze-worthy snacks: crisp crudités, whipped butter and warm sourdough.
The day should be soundtracked to the likes of Sébastien Tellier and Mazzy Star—the latter being an essential nod to the pièce de résistance of the day: charting your future with an astrocartography lesson at twilight.
After mapping your birth chart to physical locations on the globe, you’ll discover which cities align with your ruling celestial bodies—and where your planetary lines might guide you. If the sky is a mirror, the bride will be besotted with what’s reflected: a wonderful life spent beside the person she loves.
What to Wear: Take cues from the cardinal rulers of boho-chic dressing (Sienna Miller, Zoë Kravitz, Suki Waterhouse) and the costuming of Jean-Luc Godard’s oeuvre. And always remember you can never go wrong with ruffles, crochet or sheer fabric.
What to Gift: An unfussy cord necklace finished with an organic-shaped trinket or amulet like Tiffany & Co’s Elsa Peretti Bean Necklace with silk netting tassel. A Pebble Necklace from Heaven Mayhem also works.
The Visionary: A Pampering Spa Day
The Bride: Like Courteney Cox’s Monica Geller in Friends, this bride knows exactly how her big day unfolds from the moment she understands what marriage is. Before she even had a partner, her ideal reception venue was on standby—just in case her dream summer wedding date might be available when the time came. Her fiancé loves this about her and enthusiastically supports her many Pinterest boards, each dedicated to a specific element of the wedding—from the perfect font for their invitations to the ideal band to perform the first dance song she’s had picked out since her adolescence. This is “the visionary.” She’s self-aware enough to admit her nuptials will be a full-scale production, but every friend in attendance will agree that it’s the best ceremony they’ve ever attended.
The Itinerary: For the woman who has made it her life mission to plan the service she knows she deserves, the only course of action is to spoil her with a spa day. “A great hen do is a balance of fun, relaxation and bonding,” affirms Derrick. An itinerary packed with lush treatments is the sort of indulgence a bride with her head buried in spreadsheets needs. Book this out a few weeks from her wedding date so it won't interfere with the bridal beauty timeline. She’ll hate nothing more than getting a facial from someone who isn’t her preferred aesthetician and risk messing with her specialised skincare routine, so keep the treatments less invasive.
A wellness mocktail—such as a vitamin-infused juice—should be on hand for her arrival to kick-start her day and unwind. Specialised therapies like lymphatic drainage (a massage which involves excreting excess liquid buildup in the body) and more holistic practices such as cold plunges and infrared saunas will help put everyone in a calm, centred state. Consider this as priming before the real pampering: group blow-dries and manicures. Chatting away amid the sound of hot tools and the smell of nail polish is a recipe that is always quite jovial and celebratory. Plus, this itinerary will leave the bride feeling as fresh as a daisy—an ideal mindset as the visionary counts down to tying the knot.
What to Wear: Comfort is queen, so don’t feel you’re underdressed in a pair of silk trousers and a cashmere sweater.
What to Gift: Certain spas, such as the Ritz-Carlton, offer their bodycare lines so the indulgence can continue at home. Alternatively, fragrances like Maison Margiela Replica’s Bubble Bath serve as a sweet reminder of the day spent together.
The Provider: An Elevated Country Escape
The Bride: The DIY bride, also known as “the provider,” is artistic at her core. At home, you’ll find her casually brewing obscure functional beverages as her after-work drink, before “Nara Smith–ing” her dinner (aka making everything from scratch) and spending her evening crafting vision boards for her next big project. As a host, she does the most, so don’t be surprised to learn she handmade every detail of her wedding herself—from the calligraphed place settings to the tiramisu she baked in the lead-up. She’s someone who believes that love is found in the details and stops at nothing to ensure her guests are cared for, so it’s only fair that the same level of thoughtfulness is returned to her.
The Itinerary: Take the provider away for the weekend by organising a country escape. In a rustic house with quilted bedding and the largest kitchen imaginable, dote on her with a mini break curated by all her favourite things. She won’t have to lift a finger, and, as this will be an overnight stay, you don’t need to be as rigid with the schedule. This is a reason this type of hen do has become one of the most popular itineraries of 2025. “We’re seeing more people opt for a countryside getaway with exclusive-use properties and mobile activities that come right to them,” explains bespoke hen do planner Kathryn Dunlop, founder of Flock Events.
Dunlop helms a personalised service that curates party packages across Bath, Cotswolds, Edinburgh, Highlands and the West Coast. “A UK-based weekend offers the perfect mix of convenience and excitement without the stress of international travel. It’s a brilliant way to make the most of your accommodation while minimising other ad hoc costs. No queues at bars or waiting for taxis,” she adds. “With time constraints, family commitments and budget considerations, staying local has never been more appealing. It’s convenient, stress-free and perfect for keeping all guests, no matter their age, included and happy.”
Best of all, because you’ll be in one place, the time can be used for genuine bonding, with thoughtful activities woven throughout. Rituals like starting the morning with a stretch, sound bath and slow Pilates class (any excuse to lie in Savasana!) offer moments of movement and connection without feeling too intense or prescriptive.
The provider will have food top of mind, so organise a family-style lunch with plenty of small plates—and let the homemade pasta be the star of the show. A printed menu, intentionally designed, is a must—you can be sure it will end up in the bride’s memory box for decades to come.
To close the night, matching pyjamas, silk sleeping masks and a romantic comedy movie marathon are nonnegotiable. Who knows? The bride might even be filming her wedding on a Super 8 camera to make one of her own.
What to Wear: Pack a small but mighty capsule wardrobe to serve the sorts of activities that might arise (including, but not limited to, a gorgeous scarf blouse, the perfect jeans and loungewear you can do more than sleep in).
What to Gift: Essentials for the home from aesthetic tableware brands like Gohar World and Maison Balzac.
The Romantic: A Chic City Escape
The Bride: As the name suggests, this bride loves love and will stop at nothing to ensure her wedding is the stuff of fairytales. Of course, being a bride means eventually trading that title for “wife” the moment after vows are exchanged. So, despite the fleeting nature of the role, “the romantic” is committed to making her time as a bride unforgettable. Think of a destination ceremony, a small modern jazz band serenading guests during welcome drinks, a showstopping wedding dress (with multiple outfit changes throughout the evening) and a fireworks finale to bring the magic to a close.
The Itinerary: For this bride, the only logical solution is to whisk her away to the City of Lights (often mistaken as the city of love)—Paris. The French capital glimmers from every angle, from the light reflecting off the greige Haussmann façades to the twinkling Eiffel Tower, which serves as a siren drawing people into the city’s heart, making it the ideal setting for a chic city escape.
And it’s not just the romantics who see it this way. “City breaks are becoming an increasingly popular choice for hen parties,” explains Derrick. “Many brides and their friends love the idea of exploring a vibrant city where they can enjoy trendy bars, top restaurants, cultural attractions and buzzing nightlife all in one place. There’s the perfect mix of something for everyone.”
There are countless ways to see Paris, but this is a hen do, after all. While the adage “the last hurrah” might be outdated, the sentiment still rings true. For the bride’s final trip to the city as a single person, a champagne-laden breakfast is essential to officially kick off the Parisian rendezvous.
Pain au chocolat and croissants will fuel the fiery havoc you’ll inevitably unleash on your savings as you browse the abundance of vintage boutiques nestled in Le Marais. On that note, be sure to bookmark Nuovo, an archival store adored by It girls like Bella Hadid, Iris Law and Lila Moss, offering pieces that Y2K Manhattanites (aka Carrie Bradshaw) would have worn. Don’t miss Predilection Vintage, either, where you can find one-of-a-kind treasures from Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Replenish your energy with a quick bite at a bistro along Rue de Buci (a bona fide IYKYK spot). Next, dart across the Seine to the Rive Droite for a drink at Harry’s New York Bar in the 1st arrondissement, before sitting down for classic French fare at L’Entrecôte. End the evening with a cabaret performance at Crazy Horse. Between the neon signs and the steak frites you’ll indulge in, this will be a trip you’ll never forget.
“The modern bride seeks authenticity and a more bespoke experience,” says Dunlop. “Finding the hidden gems of each city, steering away from generic chains towards unique, bespoke experiences crafted by small local businesses.” Oui!
What to Wear: From Josephine Baker to Brigitte Bardot to Charlotte Gainsbourg, there is no shortage of stylish Parisiennes or French fashion brands to reference in your packing list. For this kind of hen do itinerary, we’d administer a high dosage of glamour with chintzy sequins and statement feathers for evening. During the day, flats are a must, as your step count will be high. Think ballet slippers that work with cotton midi skirts or cropped jeans alike.
What to Gift: The essentials to emulate your favourite French style muse, from Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Texture Spray to matching sweaters from Sèzane.
The Renegade: A Festival-Style Hensapalooza
The Bride: This bride is, to quote Samantha Jones, perhaps someone you’d mentally filed away in the “never getting married” box. Proverbial paperwork aside, the moment you heard of her engagement, you knew the wedding would be anything but ordinary: a pit stop at the pub for a pint between the ceremony and the meal, her behind the DJ decks by the end of the night and custom-designed temporary tattoo flash sheets—each one sentimental to the happy couple—making their way around the room.
The Itinerary: For “the renegade,” someone wild at heart, channel her inner free spirit with a music festival thrown in her honour. “Adventurous brides enjoy thrill-seeking activities like a glamping weekend,” Derrick tells us. Find a pocket of greenery—whether it’s a friend’s garden, a hired park or a private estate, depending on your budget—and host your very own Hensapalooza, complete with canvas tents, decorative pillows and a margarita bar.
Draw inspiration from Glastonbury's of yore and build a custom playlist filled with your favourite mid-2000 bands like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and Vampire Weekend to play at your own Pyramid Stage. Even if it’s just coming out of a portable speaker, the renegade bride will revel in the indie sleaze vibes of the party. Face glitter, of course, is a must. As are disposable cameras and party outfits inspired by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s looks from the 2021 Met Gala. (Think Penny Lane coats with contrasting trim and Sgt. Pepper–inspired jackets with gilded thread and white lace.)
For activities, you could embrace your inner artist and organise a live drawing class (what's a hen do without a bit of nudity?) or tarot card reading. As they say, fortune favours the bold. Another element to consider is the food. Some simple grazing plates will suffice, as would something greasy and fried toward the end of the night. But if you’re averse to cooking, Dunlop also recommends organising a catered share-style meal. “The hottest trend in hen dos right now is parties curated by female chefs. The experience includes a tablescape, complete with themed menus and personalised name cards, all creating a stunning and intimate setting to enjoy with your favourite people,” she adds. “It’s the perfect mix of delicious food, great company and a memorable experience.”
What to Wear: Channel Kate Moss in a sparkling sheer dress, studded belt and mud-covered boots from 2005 or anything in Chloë Sevigny’s repertoire.
What to Gift: Vyrao’s talisman-infused incense sticks, crystal jewellery and rosewater-infused beauty products.
The Classicist: An Evening Soirée
The Bride: As the Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy of her friend group, this bride is decidedly timeless and a pursuit to her core. Rather than anything too traditional or trendy, “the classicist” perfectly balances choices she’ll know will endure while remaining modern. Her wedding, much like other areas of her life, will be refined, elegant and chic. She’ll no doubt be wearing a Danielle Frankel wedding dress with a bouquet made from calla lilies or peonies à la Charlotte York.
The Itinerary: Keep things simple yet refined with an elegant evening soirée. The bride will relish one of her final girls’ nights out before becoming a Mrs., marked by a candlelit dinner at her favourite upmarket restaurant. Venues like Marylebone’s new high-end neighbourhood eatery, Nina—an Italian concept spot serving three kinds of martinis and silky linguine topped with bluefin tuna tartare and bottarga—or a true institution like St. John will set the scene for a glamorous, unforgettable affair.
The festivities should begin with a custom cocktail served on arrival—think the Lover’s Spritz, an elevated twist on a sparkling Aperol or the Taken Cosmopolitan, a nod to this city slicker’s relationship status and lifestyle. Set the table with calligraphed name cards and bathe it in candlelight to create your own makeshift bistro ambience.
While no hen do is complete without a group activity, the classicist will want to ensure the night remains as polished as she is. In this case, book a private karaoke room where she can let her hair down and sing along to her favourite ’90s pop stars—without the fear of being watched. Before the night wraps up, make time for something heartfelt. “The sentimental bride values meaningful moments with her loved ones, so a private dinner and nostalgic trip down memory lane would be the perfect way to celebrate,” explains Derrick. “One event every bride should have on her hen do is a special moment dedicated to her—whether that be a scrapbook filled with personal notes and memories from each guest, or a fun Mr. and Mrs. game with questions about her partner,” she continues. “This adds a personal touch, making the celebration even more meaningful.” Just don’t forget the disposable cameras to capture the magic.
What to Wear: For this last hurrah, go all out by channelling the “night luxe” dress code in your finest cocktail attire, complete with sleek dresses and body-grazing cuts. A tailored suit also works.
What to Gift: A quintessential hen do gift, like a makeup pouch or classic lipstick.
