Hen Party Bingo Done Your Way

Hen parties are a last hoorah of single life for you or your soon-to-be betrothed galpal. These events can vary greatly, depending on the bride-to-be’s wishes and tastes, and how well her friends decide to respect them.

Often called a ‘hen do’ here in Blighty or a ‘bachelorette party’ by our American cousins, these parties are a tradition that dates back centuries. They have, however, changed a lot over time.

For example, until the second half of the 20th century, when a woman would traditionally give up work after tying the knot, hen parties were seen as a ceremony for a woman starting a new life.

The parties we know today began as friends meeting for afternoon tea and to play cards, something that many ladies would still consider today.

However, many more options have become common, too. Go to any sizable town or city in the UK at the weekend and you’ll find platoons of hens marching (or staggering) from venue to venue, including bars and online casinos, often with inflatable objects of varying degrees of decency, as they spend the night throwing shapes on various dancefloors.

Others prefer a more private affair, inviting some close friends to meet at home or in a rented lodge to engage in games, challenges, and chats. The list of games hen parties plays is long, with many creating special bride-themed versions of popular mainstream titles.

One of the most common of these is hen party bingo, a game that puts a unique and personal spin on the classic pastime.

What is hen party bingo?

Traditional bingo works with players buying cards with a unique combination of numbers. The bingo caller then announces numbers, and the players mark any that match what’s written on their cards. The first players to match a line and then the full ‘house’ win prizes.

Hen party bingo swaps out numbers like in 90 ball bingo for challenges and tasks to do during the party. All the hens receive the same card, and the aim is to complete all of the tasks first or have the hens complete them all as a group.

Depending on the challenges, the hen do bingo might need to be played whilst you’re out, perhaps in clubs or bars.

The idea is to add an additional layer of entertainment to the night, build stronger bonds between the hens, and to encourage people to stick together rather than wander off as they hop from place to place.

How to Play Hen Party Bingo

Playing bingo at a hen party is very different to playing hen party bingo, so if you’re someone who loves the traditional variant, you’ll want to be aware of what sets this special version apart.

Hen night bingo has no set rules, so whoever is organising the party has the freedom to design it however they like. If that’s you, you will know what the bride-to-be and her hens will find funny and entertaining.

You can either buy a pre-made hen party bingo card from a local party shop or sites like Amazon, Etsy, or eBay. You’ll find a range of different options, though most will feature a mix of traditional hen night bingo game challenges

Alternatively, you can make your own hen party bingo cards. This gives you a more personal and tailored game that is suited to your bride-to-be and her hens.

Hen Party Bingo Ideas

If you’re going to make your own hen party bingo cards, then you’ll need to give some thought to what you will include in the grid.

Remember that the hen party is supposed to be a night of enjoyment and laughter, so whilst some brides-to-be may revel in the challenge of completing a mildly humiliating task, others will not. So know your audience and design your card accordingly.

Some traditional hen party bingo ideas that can be used on a night out on the town include:

• Kiss a bald man’s head (with consent, of course)
• Get a conga going with strangers
• Get a selfie whilst wearing a police officer’s hat
• Hug a doorman
• Order a drink in a German accent
• Get a guy to agree to a makeover
• Take a selfie with a stag party
• Dance on a pole
• Get a photo with someone in fancy dress

Alternatively, an icebreaker hen party game might be a useful way to stimulate conversation when there are lots of hens who have never met before. In this variant, each player gets a card and they must walk around the room to talk to the other hens to try and find someone who matches one of the requirements. These might include:

• Has known the bride all their life
• Doesn’t eat meat
• Is married
• Doesn’t drink coffee
• Is a neat freak
• Kills house plants
• Speaks another language

This second option would require you to know these details about the hens so you can be sure the game can be completed. Whilst it’s not intended to be a game for wagering, you might choose to award a prize to the hen who clears their bingo card first.

Naughty Hen Do Bingo

If your bride-to-be and her hens are up for a naughtier night, you can make a more risque version of your hen party bingo game. Here are some ideas that you might want to include for this.

• Acquire a man’s boxer shorts
• Sneak into the men’s toilet and go there
• Stroke someone’s moustache
• Sign a guy’s six pack
• Get a guy’s number
• Do body shots (either with another hen or with a consenting stranger)
• Kiss a stranger (with consent)

Go To A Bingo Hall For Your Hen Do

Of course, instead of hen party bingo you can play bingo for your hen party. If you’d prefer to play the traditional version, why not organise a trip to your local bingo hall to form all or part of your hen party.

If you’re trying to cater to mix of people, perhaps the bride's elderly mother, grandmother, and aunts, as well as her friendship group, it can work well to organise the hen party in stages.

The older folks and those who don’t fancy an all-night dance-a-thon could spend the early part of the evening having a meal with the rest of the hens and then head to the local bingo hall for a few rounds of the traditional game before the hens who want to keep the party going head off for a night of merriment whilst the others go back home.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even combine both bingos and play hen party bingo at the bingo hall, just tailor your dares and challenges to ones that are appropriate.