Planning a hen party is never easy

The timing of a hen night or bridal shower is just as important as who’s attending or where it’s happening. Too long before the big day and it may feel a bit disconnected from the main event. Too near the wedding itself and the party may not align with the bride's pre-wedding schedule and focus. 

Surprisingly, there’s an optimal time to have a hen party that fits ideally between too soon before and too near to the wedding day.

The right time to have a hen party

"It may surprise people to know that there’s a right time to have a hen night,” says wedding party expert Chris Bajda, from GroomsDay.

"Parties are recreational, whereas weddings are sacred. But the two events are connected emotionally, and you don’t want to leave too much time between them to break that connection. You shouldn’t have your bridal shower just before your wedding either. There’s an ideal amount of time between the two that many people aren’t aware of."

Chris explained: "I recommend that a hen night is best enjoyed 4–6 weeks before the wedding itself."

"Everyone coming to your hen party may have a say in when they want it to happen. As the bride, you have to give yourself a good amount of time for clear-headed focus on wedding preparations.

"I recommend having your hen party around a month or six weeks prior to your wedding so you can maintain the excitement and fun - but be practical.

"Careful planning is required to create great experiences for everyone involved in hen parties, especially when the bride, and those involved, are of a more adventurous nature. If it’s just a shindig at a local venue, that’s different, but these days, more people are taking their hen parties pretty seriously."

Chris said thoughtful scheduling and good timing are key when planning the perfect hen do.

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