How to Plan a Hens Party: The Complete MOH Checklist (2026)
You've been handed the title of Maid of Honour. Congratulations.
Now everyone's looking at you expecting a hens party that the bride will talk about for the next ten years.
No pressure.
This guide is built for the organiser - not the bride.
It's the checklist we wish existed: what to do, when to do it, and how to keep twelve women with different budgets and opinions moving in the same direction.
Step 1: Nail the Basics Before You Tell Anyone (8–12 Weeks Out)
Before you send a single group chat message, get these three things settled privately with the bride.
Date
Pick two options and confirm with the bride before you float them to the group. Nothing kills momentum like a three-week "what date works?" thread.
Budget
This is the conversation nobody wants to have, but it saves every headache that follows. Get a rough per-head number from the bride — or at least a vibe. "Champagne and strippers" and "low-key dinner" are very different budgets.
Guest list
Confirm who's invited before the invites go out. Awkward additions mid-planning are a nightmare.
Once you have those three locked, everything else flows from them.
Step 2: Build the Group, Set the Expectations (6–8 Weeks Out)
Create a group chat - but control it. You're the host. Your job is to make decisions, not crowdsource them.
What To Communicate Upfront:
Date and Location
Rough per-head cost (better to over-estimate and refund than under-estimate and chase)
Deposit deadline (give one, stick to it)
Dress code or theme if there is one
Hot Tidbit: Create a separate planning chat with your two or three most reliable people. Keep the main group chat for updates only. Decision-by-committee is how hens parties fall apart.
Step 3: Book Entertainment First (6–8 Weeks Out)
This is the most important scheduling rule most MOHs get wrong. Book entertainment before venues, before restaurants, before anything else.
Why? Because your entertainer's availability sets the anchor for the whole itinerary.
If you book dinner at 7pm and then find out your act can only do 9pm, you've got a dead hour to fill or a table booking to change.
At 1-800 HOT COPS, we recommend locking in your booking 6–8 weeks out for weekend dates - especially during peak season (October through February).
A $100 deposit holds your date, and the balance is paid directly to your performer on the day.
Popular Options To Consider:
Male Strippers
Our Signature HotCop Show from $350. One performer, comedy-first, 45 minutes of absolute chaos. Works in hotel suites, Airbnbs, private homes.
Topless Waiters
From $250 for 2 hours. Pants-on or apron-only. Keeps the energy up across the whole night without a set-piece moment.
Life Drawing
From $350 for 60 minutes. Hilarious, interactive, works for mixed groups or anyone who wants something a little different.
Step 4: Sort the Venue and Logistics (4–6 Weeks Out)
Once entertainment is locked, build the rest of the day around it.
If You're Doing a Private Home or Airbnb:
Confirm the property allows functions or extra guests
Check parking, access, and noise restrictions
Clear a 2.5m x 2.5m floor space for any live entertainment
Assign someone as the "door person" for arrivals
If You're Doing a Venue:
Book early - hens-friendly function spaces fill fast on Fridays and Saturdays
Confirm minimum spend requirements upfront
Check if external entertainment is permitted before booking both
Transport: If your group is scattered across suburbs, a party bus or designated driver system removes the biggest logistical headache of the night. Decide early.
Step 5: Plan the Run Sheet (2–4 Weeks Out)
A run sheet sounds formal. It's not. It's just a rough timeline that means you're not making decisions on the night.
Here's a Bulletproof Hens Night Itinerary:
2:00 pm - Guests arrive, pre-drinks
3:00 pm - Activity / entertainment
4:30 pm - Wind-down, photos, get ready
6:30 pm - Dinner reservation
9:00 pm - Nightlife / late-night venue
Build buffer into every transition. Groups of 10+ always run 20–30 minutes behind.
That's not a problem if you've planned for it.
Assign roles. You can't do everything.
Pick someone to manage the music, someone to manage the photos, and someone to wrangle late arrivals.
Tell them before the day.
Step 6: Confirm Everything (1 Week Out)
The week before is confirmation week. Touch base with:
Your entertainer (confirm time, address, access instructions, any surprises planned)
The restaurant (confirm numbers, dietary requirements, any pre-orders)
The venue (confirm arrival time and any last-minute details)
Your group (send a final summary: time, address, what to wear, what to bring)
Send the group a message two days out. Keep it short. Date, time, address, what to bring. That's it.
Step 7: On the Day - Your Only Job Is to Not Stress
Everything you can control, you've controlled. On the day, your job is to be present and let it run.
A few things that always help:
Have cash on hand for tips or unexpected costs
Keep a backup playlist downloaded offline
Eat before guests arrive — you won't get a chance later
Put your phone on Do Not Disturb during the main moment so you're actually in it
The hens party that people remember isn't the most expensive one.
It's the one where the organiser was relaxed enough to enjoy it too.
The Full MOH Checklist
8–12 Weeks Out
Confirm date with bride (two options, then decide)
Agree on budget per head
Lock in guest list
6–8 Weeks Out
Create group chat, communicate date and cost upfront
Book entertainment (this sets the anchor for everything else)
Start researching venues or Airbnb
4–6 Weeks Out
Book venue / restaurant / Airbnb
Confirm transport plan
Collect deposits from guests
2–4 Weeks Out
Build the run sheet
Assign roles to your two or three most reliable people
Order decorations, sashes, games if needed
1 Week Out
Confirm all bookings
Send final summary to the group
Confirm dietary requirements with restaurant
Day Before
Prep the welcome space if hosting at home
Charge all devices, download offline playlist
Brief your two helpers on the run sheet
On The Day
Eat something
Have cash on hand
Breathe. You've got this.
Ready To Lock In Your Hens Night Entertainment?
