Including Children in a Hen Party: Activities and Planning

Children can be included in a hen party when the bride wants them there and the plan is built around their ages, supervision and usual routines. Treat it as a shared wedding celebration with children attending, rather than an adult night out with a few last-minute adjustments.

Ask the bride first. She may prefer one family-friendly part of the day followed by an adults-only evening, or she may want children included throughout.

Decide who is responsible

• Every child should have a named parent or responsible adult who remains in charge of them.
• The hen organiser coordinates the event; they should not become the default childcare provider.
• Ask venues and activity providers for age limits, supervision ratios and access requirements before booking.
• Collect allergies, dietary needs and emergency contact details privately from the responsible adult.

Do not post children's names, photographs or location details publicly. Ask the child and their parent or carer before including them in photographs.

Choose the format by age

Babies and toddlers

Keep the celebration short and flexible. Check for buggy access, changing facilities, high chairs, safe floor space and somewhere quieter for feeds or rest. A meal at home or a private room is usually easier to adapt than several venues.

Primary-school children

Use clear, short activities with a practical role: decorating a card, choosing a song, solving a picture quiz or helping present a prize. Alternate seated tasks with breaks.

Teenagers

Ask whether they want to join the games, help organise music or photographs, or simply take part as a guest. Avoid treating a teenager as free childcare for younger children.

Eight child-inclusive hen party activities

1. Wedding picture quiz: use ten images of flowers, cakes, landmarks or film weddings. Play in mixed-age teams and accept written or spoken answers.
2. Design a celebration card: provide card, stickers and washable pens. Each guest creates a message for the bride.
3. Couple trivia: ask the bride to approve eight simple questions about favourite foods, music and shared memories.
4. Photo scavenger hunt: find a heart shape, something sparkling, a group in matching colours and a funny sign. Stay within the agreed venue and keep children with their adult.
5. Playlist picks: every guest suggests one clean, celebration-ready song; the organiser checks choices before playing them.
6. Decorate biscuits: use a provider or ingredients suitable for the group's allergies and ages. Keep food preparation supervised.
7. Wedding charades: act out “cutting the cake”, “first dance” or “throwing confetti”. Allow drawing or describing instead.
8. Advice for a happy day: guests write a kind idea for cheering someone up, enjoying a rainy afternoon or celebrating an anniversary.

A three-hour example schedule

• 2:00: arrivals, food and colouring or prompt cards.
• 2:30: picture quiz in family teams.
• 3:00: cake and free time.
• 3:30: craft, biscuit decorating or photo hunt.
• 4:15: messages for the bride and photographs.
• 5:00: planned finish or handover to the adults-only part.

Venue and food checks

Ask about stairs, toilets, changing facilities, outdoor boundaries, parking and whether children are permitted at the booked time. Confirm what the venue provides rather than assuming “family-friendly” covers the details you need.

Label alcoholic drinks and keep them separate from alcohol-free options. Avoid drinking games during the child-inclusive section. Provide water and food at predictable times, and follow the venue's allergen process.

Set the invitation clearly

State which part includes children, their names if invitations are personal, the finish time and which adult is attending with them. Example:

“We'd love Ava and Mia to join the afternoon celebration from 2–5 pm with their parent or carer. We'll have food, a quiz and a craft activity. The evening from 6 pm is adults only.”

For wider guest-list decisions, use our hen party guest-list guide.

Make participation comfortable

Explain activities before they start, avoid elimination and offer a quiet alternative. Do not use sexual questions, dares, alcohol penalties, body comments or jokes that place children or the bride in an awkward position.

Our hen party games guide includes formats you can adapt, while the hen party games collection offers ready-made choices. Check every card before using it with children.

Final organiser checklist

• The bride approved children attending and the adult-only boundary.
• Each child has a responsible adult.
• Age limits, food needs, access and venue rules are confirmed.
• The schedule includes food, toilets, rest and a clear finish.
• Games and photographs are optional.
• A backup activity and weather plan are ready.