The best hen party games are the ones that make the bride laugh the loudest without making her cringe. At home, a quiz about the groom, charades or a toilet-paper wedding dress work brilliantly; outdoors, try city challenges and a bubble football match. Below you’ll find 20 games – 12 for home or a rented apartment and 8 for outdoors – each with short rules.
We’ve run Bumper Ball games in Krakow for years, hen dos included, so we know the last two ideas inside out. The rest are classics any maid of honour can prepare with paper, pens and a bit of imagination.
How to choose hen party games
For a few hours together, 3–5 games are enough – better to leave them wanting more than drag out a game that’s stopped being fun. Alternate calm games at the table with ones that get people off the sofa. Prepare the props the day before, and check the quiz questions with someone who knows the couple well.
The golden rule: funny hen party games must never humiliate anyone. Instead of drinking forfeits, use silly tasks – so the hens who don’t drink can join in too. If you’re only starting to plan the party, begin with our checklist for the maid of honour.
Hen party games at home
1. Mr & Mrs quiz – how well do you know your fiancé?
A few days before, film the groom – or ask the best man to – answering 10–15 questions: where their first date was, what he orders in restaurants, what he finds most endearing about her. At the party the bride guesses his answers, then you watch the video. Every wrong answer earns her a funny forfeit, like a sticker on her forehead or three squats.
2. Toilet-paper wedding dress
Split into teams – each picks a model and has 10 minutes to design a dress from toilet paper, tape and paper clips. Finish with a fashion show; the bride picks the winner. Have several rolls per team – the veil and train use more than you’d think.
3. Hen party bingo
Make bingo cards with things that might happen: “the bride gets emotional”, “someone mentions the mother-in-law”, “someone loses an earring”. The hens cross off squares all night, and the first to complete a line wins a small prize. It runs in the background without interrupting anything.
4. Wedding charades
Write wedding and couple-themed prompts on slips of paper: “first dance”, “bouquet toss”, “mother-in-law”, “honeymoon”, “the morning after the wedding”. Teams take turns acting them out without words, against the clock. For a harder version, draw them instead.
5. Who’s in the photo?
Collect the hens’ childhood photos and show them on TV or print them. Whoever recognises the most people wins, and the bride gets bonus points for every friend she spots. Along the way, stories come out that nobody would otherwise tell.
6. Two truths and a lie
Each hen prepares three statements about the bride or their adventures together: two true and one made up. The others guess the lie. It’s a good opener when not everyone knows each other.
7. Who said it?
Collect quotes in advance: the bride’s best lines, her life advice and her gaffes, plus what the groom says about her. Read out a quote and the group guesses who said it. The more surprising, the better – just no secrets the bride would rather keep.
8. Name that tune
Make a playlist of wedding-party hits, songs from the bride’s school days and the couple’s own “our song”. Play a few seconds and the teams guess the title and artist. Bonus points for singing the chorus – though the neighbours may disagree.
9. Blindfolded portrait of the bride
Everyone gets paper and a marker, puts on a blindfold and has one minute to draw the bride. The finished gallery guarantees howls of laughter. The bride picks the winner and keeps the portraits as souvenirs.
10. Honeymoon suitcase relay
Two teams each get a suitcase of clothes and accessories: a hat, sunglasses, a scarf, flippers and an oversized shirt. On the signal, the first person puts everything on, runs round the table, takes it all off and hands it to the next. The first team to finish “packing” wins.
11. Marriage advice jar
Each hen writes down a tip for a happy marriage or a favourite memory with the bride. The notes go into a decorated jar the bride can open on bad days or anniversaries. It’s a calm game for the end of the night, when emotions are running higher than energy levels.
12. Predictions for the 10th anniversary
The hens write down predictions: where the couple will live, what dog they’ll get and who’ll be first to fall asleep on the sofa during a film. Seal them in an envelope to be opened in 10 years. The maid of honour keeps the envelope – and makes sure nobody peeks early.
Fancy a game away from home? Try bubble football
A match in giant inflatable balls is one game you can’t play in the living room – we’ll bring the balls and run the game. We reply within 24 hours.
Check availabilityPrefer to call? +48 509 196 229 – Sylwester. We reply within 24 hours.
Outdoor hen party games and activities
13. City challenge list
List tasks for a walk around town: a photo with someone wearing shoes the same colour as hers, three pieces of marriage advice from couples you meet, “I love you” written by tourists in three languages. The bride scores a point for each task and wins a prize for the full set. Keep the challenges funny, not humiliating – and alcohol-free.
14. Photo scavenger hunt
Teams get a list of shots to take within an hour: a “wedding” photo under a pretty gateway, a group jump, a photo with a dog (with the owner’s permission), the veil somewhere unexpected. In Krakow, Kazimierz and the Vistula Boulevards (Bulwary Wiślane) are perfect for this. The team with the most shots ticked off – or the funniest photo – wins.
15. City trail with a surprise at the finish
The maid of honour plans a route with riddles – each answer leads to the next stop, and a surprise waits at the end: a dinner, a photo shoot or guests the bride isn’t expecting. The riddles can be about the couple’s story, such as their first date or engagement spot. It takes an evening to prepare, but it’s worth every minute.
16. School sports day in the park
Tug of war, a sack race, an egg-and-spoon race and skipping – all you need is a park and a bag of props. Split into two teams in different-coloured T-shirts and keep a scoreboard. It’s a cheap way to fill the afternoon before dinner.
17. Flower crown making
Buy flowers and greenery from a florist, plus ribbons and florist’s wire, then spread blankets on the grass. Everyone weaves her own crown, and the bride gets the most spectacular one. Then wear them for an outdoor photo shoot.
18. A wedding dance routine
Pick the bride’s favourite song and learn a simple routine – led by your best dancer or an online video. Film the finished dance outdoors, then surprise the guests with it at the wedding. The bride can dance with you or be your first audience.
19. Bubble football – Team Bride vs Team Maid of Honour
Bumper Ball, or bubble football, is played in large inflatable balls worn like a rucksack – the ball covers you from head to knees, and your legs stay outside. The bride captains one team, the maid of honour the other, and the losers buy the winners dessert at dinner. There are 10–12 players on the pitch at once; bigger groups play a mini tournament.
The package with a hall costs €22 per person for 1 hour (about 45 minutes of actual play). We can also bring the balls to an Orlik – one of the free public all-weather pitches built across Poland – or a large, flat lawn; then the package without a hall costs €17 per person, with free delivery within 15 km of Krakow city centre. To be honest, a back garden won’t do: 10–12 people running around need a flat, soft surface and plenty of space. Details are on our page about bubble football for hen parties in Krakow.
20. Bubble Sumo, Bubble Bowling and Last Man Standing
If you’d rather have short contests than a match, book a game host and referee – included in the VIP package (€28 per person) or €34 per hour as an add-on. In Bubble Sumo, two players try to push each other out of a circle; in Bubble Bowling, one takes a run-up and knocks down the “pins” at the other end of the pitch; and in Last Man Standing, the winner is the last one left on her feet. More games are described in our article on bubble football games.
Turn it into a tournament for the bride’s crown, with a points table. Remember that bubble football is played sober, so schedule it before dinner and the toasts. Put all jewellery away before you play, engagement ring included.
Looking for ideas for the rest of the day? See our 15 hen party ideas in Krakow – including workshops, a spa, a boat on the Vistula and a party tram.
A bubble football tournament for your hen do
A match, Bubble Sumo or Last Man Standing – we’ll pick the games for your group while you plan the rest of the night. Tell us how many of you there’ll be.
Ask about datesPrefer to call? +48 509 196 229 – Sylwester. We reply within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
What are good hen party games without alcohol?
Almost every game here works without a drop of alcohol, especially quizzes, charades, the city trail and active games – from sports day in the park to bubble football.
What hen party games work for a small group?
With 4–6 people, go for the Mr & Mrs quiz, Two truths and a lie, blindfolded portraits and a city trail as one team. Team games work better in a bigger group.
What do you need for a hen party at home apart from games?
A playlist, snacks, a few decorations in your theme and a spot for group photos, e.g. a balloon wall. A small gift for the bride helps too – a sash, a veil or a slogan T-shirt.
Will hens who don’t like sport enjoy bubble football?
Yes – it’s about fun, not technique, so nobody needs to know how to play football. Before the game we show you how to put the ball on safely, and there’s time for breaks and water during the hour.
