Hen Party Charades: 40 Prompts, Rules and Team Scoring
For hen party charades, one person mimes a prompt while their team guesses. Use the forty wedding and party-planning actions below, give both teams the same number of turns and keep the round short enough to leave people wanting another go.
These are action prompts rather than a film or song quiz. All props can be imaginary, and the first twenty prompts can be adapted for seated play.
A simple two-team round
You need paper slips, a bowl or envelope, a timer and one score sheet. Choose eight prompts from the first twenty for a gentler round, or use any eight that suit your group.
Put guests into Team A and Team B. Choose a host to time and score, then alternate A1, B1, A2, B2, A3, B3, A4, B4. Each team gets four turns. Rotate actors within each team where people want to take part; nobody has to perform.
For each turn:
- The actor takes one unseen prompt and reads it privately.
- Start a 60-second timer once they are ready.
- The actor uses gestures without speaking, mouthing words, spelling letters or writing.
- Their own team guesses aloud. A correct guess within the minute scores one point, then the turn ends.
- If the actor passes or time runs out, score zero and move to the other team. Do not draw replacement prompts within that turn.
Accept a clear description of the action rather than insisting on every printed word. For “wrapping a present with too little paper”, “trying to wrap a gift but the paper won't cover it” is enough. The host applies the same standard to both teams.
For a relaxed round, the other team can enjoy watching without stealing points. Keep the used slips out of the bowl so an answer does not come up twice.
Forty hen party charades prompts
Copy the prompts onto individual slips without their headings or numbers, fold them and keep the list away from the guessing teams. The actor should see only the slip they draw.
Getting ready
- Trying to fasten a necklace while your hair gets in the way
- Folding a place card that keeps springing open
- Putting a stamp neatly on an invitation envelope
- Checking a table plan with a magnifying glass
- Untangling fairy lights before decorating
- Arranging flowers that refuse to stand straight
- Wrapping a present with too little paper
- Tying a ribbon bow that keeps coming undone
- Choosing between two imaginary cake flavours
- Practising a wave for the wedding photographs
Plans and party paperwork
- Reading a map that is upside down
- Sending a group message, then spotting a typo
- Packing an overnight bag and finding it will not close
- Comparing two photographs on a phone
- Looking for a booking confirmation in a full inbox
- Counting place settings and realising one is missing
- Testing a microphone before a speech
- Turning pages in a photo album and recognising someone
- Checking a list, ticking every box and looking relieved
- Showing a friend how a camera timer works
Wedding-day moments
- Walking down an aisle at a very careful pace
- Catching a bouquet and celebrating quietly
- Carrying a pretend cake through a crowded room
- Rolling up a banner that keeps unrolling
- Holding an umbrella for two people in the wind
- Trying to pose while a photographer changes the arrangement
- Opening a door while carrying an armful of decorations
- Setting out chairs and checking they form a straight row
- Hanging a sign that keeps tilting sideways
- Searching for the end of a roll of sticky tape
Little planning mishaps
- Directing a group photograph while everyone faces a different way
- Realising the confetti has been left in the other bag
- Rehearsing a speech while the imaginary pages blow away
- Trying to carry a long dress up a staircase
- Discovering that two guests have the same name on the table plan
- Keeping a surprise hidden when the bride arrives early
- Following a dance routine one beat behind everyone else
- Trying to fit a large hat into a small suitcase
- Looking for your room key among several identical cards
- Celebrating after finally finishing the party setup
A suggested 15-minute plan
On a small screen, scroll across this table to read every column.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 0–2 minutes | Explain the rules, choose teams and agree how passes work |
| 2–12 minutes | Eight turns: up to 60 seconds each, with about 15 seconds between turns |
| 12–14 minutes | Add four scores per team and announce the result |
| 14–15 minutes | Buffer for a question, a pause or packing the slips away |
Eight one-minute turns plus eight 15-second changeovers use ten minutes. Early correct guesses may shorten the round. If the group needs longer to process or act, extend the plan rather than rushing them.
Copyable team score sheet
Team A: ____________________
Team B: ____________________
Host: ____________________
On a small screen, scroll across this table to read every column.
| Round | Team A prompt | A score, 0 or 1 | Team B prompt | B score, 0 or 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | __________ | ____ | __________ | ____ |
| 2 | __________ | ____ | __________ | ____ |
| 3 | __________ | ____ | __________ | ____ |
| 4 | __________ | ____ | __________ | ____ |
| Total | ____ / 4 | ____ / 4 |
For example, Team A scores 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 = 3, while Team B scores 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 2. Team A wins 3–2.
If the totals tie, share the win. For a longer event, you can agree one extra turn per team before starting; that adds up to two minutes of acting plus changeovers and sits outside the 15-minute example.
Seated play and other ways to join
Prompts 1–20 can be mimed from a seat with imaginary objects. Pick the ones that suit the people playing and let actors decline a prompt before a round starts if it is unsuitable. No one needs to climb stairs, carry a cake, catch an object or handle a real tool to act a later prompt.
A guest can time, score or read slips privately to actors. If the group would prefer drawing or describing, choose that format for a separate round and explain its rules to everyone. The charades scores above assume everyone is using the same mime format.
Ask the bride what she would enjoy. The prompts do not need private stories, relationship tests or a drinking forfeit to work.
Choose games around the rest of the party
Charades works best when people can see the actor and hear their own team. At a restaurant, check that a short group round will not interrupt service or neighbouring tables; a quiet written game may fit better.
Our hen party games guide covers other formats, and the small-group guide helps you plan an event with fewer guests.
Ready-printed games for another round
If you want printed activities alongside these DIY slips, the standard eight-game hen bundle and Rose Gold eight-game bundle include quizzes, drawing games and advice cards. Both have 10, 20, 30 or 40-guest options.
Neither pack includes charades. Check each product's game list before choosing; the prompts on this page are a separate round you prepare yourself.
Quick questions
Can four people play?
Yes. Make two pairs and take turns acting. The guessing partner can still score one point per successful turn. Shorten to two turns per team if you want a quick trial.
Does the bride have to act?
No. She can join a guessing team, host or watch, as she prefers.
Can we play without teams?
Yes. Treat it as a cooperative round: everyone guesses, actors take turns voluntarily and the group tries to solve eight prompts. Use a shared total out of eight rather than the two-team score sheet.
