Huzzah! You are getting married and we suspect every last one of you fancies a single life send off! The thing is, Hen’s Parties don’t have to involve phallic straws and dingy clubs (unless you want it to, of course). There are so many delightful options on offer at the moment that we thought we ought to collect them all up and put them in one handy post. It is the perfect excuse to grab your besties and celebrate in style.
Whether you fancy celebrating your upcoming nuptials with an afternoon clay workshop (NSW folk simply must check out Clay Sydney) or a spot of Axe throwing (for reals guys, it’s legit so much fun) we’re sure you’ll find something on this list. Pottering about and wielding an axe not quite your thing? Why don’t you round up for girlfriends for a weekend at cult favourite The Calile (with a cocktail filled lunch booked at Hellenika, of course!) or if you’re lucky enough to be Adelaide based or bound, book yourselves in for a botanical dying or floral painting workshop with those clever cats from Huntermade.
Scroll down for our 10 fave Hens Party ideas and the vendors who can make it all happen and then be sure to send this story to your mates so they can vote on which of the below good times they’d like to partake in.
CLAY SYDNEY
Sign yourself and your mates up for one of Clay Sydney’s Wine & Clays sessions or live to regret it. Located in Marrickville you’re perfectly situated to head out to dinner in Newtown after a two hour Clay building session where you’ll spend your afternoon focusing on form and texture and of course creating the vessel of your choice; be it a vase, a planter, a mug, or something all you, baby! You can BYO nibbles and drinks – which always sounds like a great idea to us. Book here.
Location: Sydney, NSW
THE CALILE HOTEL
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ll be well aware of the iconic The Calile Hotel based in Brisbane’s trendy Fortitude Valley. Whether you’re a Queensland local or looking for a destination getaway with your closest mates, a cocktail fuelled long lunch at Hellenika is a must. Sure they don’t technically do hen’s parties – but a civilised get together complete with Lychee Martini’s and a feast of grilled octopus, Yellow Fin Tuna Sashimi and Oysters surrounded by your favourite people? That is one classy AF non-hens, hens do, if you ask us.
Location: Brisbane, QLD
HUNTERMADE
Run by Adelaide based artist and all round creative genius Phoebe Hunter, Huntermade’s sustainable workshops and events are a must check out for South Australian brides-to-be. This is your opportunity to lean into circular making principals, avoiding single use, synthetic dyes and instead make alongside the natural world. Maybe you’ll sign your crew up for a three hour botanical dying workshop where you will learn how to create your own sustainable dyes using a variety of sources from vegetables to botanicals or perhaps you want to spend your time making dried floral wreaths – either way you’re bound to have a blast. Scroll to the bottom of this page to get a quote for your Hens do.
Location: Adelaide, SA
URTH CLAY STUDIOAdelaide coming up with the good again for Hens party activities that don’t involve phallic straws and awkward strip teases. At Urth, each session focuses on either hand-building techniques or wheel throwing (where each participant will work on his or her own wheel). You can bring your own drinks and nibbles or they can cater for your party with a stunning grazing platter – its totally up to you. But our fave bit? They will process your creation for you so you can pick it up 10 days later and add it to your ever growing collection of ceramic goodies (everyone has a ceramics collection, right?!)
Location: Adelaide, SA
Hens Byron Bay
Hens Byron Bay has you covered for an afternoon, a day or a whole flippin’ weekend if you fancy making the most of your special status. The friendly folk behind the scenes know all the ins and outs of this beloved coastal town and can help you hire hinterland properties to host your day as well as organising bars, accommodation and activities. They will work with your budget and ideas to create a completely custom experience, with a whole heap of activities on offer from postcard tarot, yoga, henna and surfing through to brewery tours and long lunches. There is also a selection of set packages for you busy gals!
Location: Byron Bay, NSW
SHANNON HAWKES
This talented Queensland based floral stylist might be famous for her fabulous wedding work (which you can check out here) but she’s also renowned for her fun filled workshops. We recommend Shannon’s DIY Dried Flower Crown Parties. Tropical North Queensland based folk can have them attend in person to set up a gorgeous, fresh and seasonal flower bar for your guests to choose from (and of course teach you how to put it all together). Not based in Queensland but hell bent on a fun filled floral crafternoon with your besties? You can opt for their new DIY Dried Flower Crown Parties where they post everything to you that you’ll need before the event.
Location: Yeppoon & Rockhampton, QLD
MANIAX
Axe throwing? Are you series, we hear you ask. Hell yes we are! Whether you’re Vikings obsessed like us (quite possibly our fave show on Netflix) or just want to let off some wedding planning steam with your crew, we highly recommend an axe throwing party. With locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide these guys can put together Axe throwing packages starting from just $60pp. Go on, do something totally unexpected and outside of your comfort zone, we dare ya!
Location: Venues located Australia wide
POPPY & FERN
Who doesn’t love a girls weekend in Byron Bay? Our mate Jess from Poppy & Ferm is one of the areas most in demand florists (check out some of her wedding work here) but she also is a total bad ass who runs her very own flower farm and holds workshops using the fruits of her labours. She runs vase arranging and floral wreath workshops as well as Out in The Field classes that allow you to get down and dirty with your blooms. You can check them all out here.
Location: Byron Bay, NSW
CORK & CHROMA
Whether you’re based in Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney there is a bound to be a Cork and Chroma near you where you can sip on a delicious red wine and paint till your hearts content. They run weekly classes but also offer private events for Hens Parties. Classes typically run for three hours, and you can customise your start time to time it so you can have lunch before hand or dinner afterwards.
Location: Brisbane, QLD, Sydney, NSW and Melbourne, VIC
HOUSE OF HOBBY
Perth Hens looking for a fun filled afternoon with their nearest and dearest need to check out House of Hobby stat. These guys live for helping you creative a private bridal party event that you and your mates will bloody love. Cookie decorating, Kokedama and Terrarium classes, Macrame, Soy Candle Making, Drink & Draw classes… you name it, these guys have you covered. Added bonus? They are fully mobile and can travel to your location, or provide a fully inclusive experience at their West Perth location.
Location: Perth, WA
CREDITS Photos (main image) The Amber Light for Shannon Hawkes Flowers.