- Aim for 3-5 games per party, one icebreaker, one structured game, one active or silly game, and an optional cheeky one if the group is up for it.
- The Mr & Mrs Quiz is the most-requested hens party game, we’ve included 30 ready-to-use questions you can print or read aloud.
- Mixed-age groups (grandmothers through to uni friends) need wholesome and social-mixer games first, hold anything cheeky until you read the room.
- Every drinking game here has a sober-friendly swap listed, no one should feel left out.
How to Pick the Right Hens Party Games (By Format and Tone)
Before you finalise the games list, answer three questions about your group:1. Who is actually coming?
A 22-year-old friend group is a very different audience from a mix of the bride’s mum, her future in-laws, her school friends, and her work colleagues. If there’s more than a 15-year age spread or you’re mixing people who’ve never met, start tame and escalate only once you read the room.2. What’s the format?
Seated games suit brunches and dinners. Active or movement-based games suit outdoor, pool, or backyard parties. Night-out games need to work in loud, public spaces (that rules out most quiz formats). Weekend-away games can spread across two days.3. How long is the event?
A two-hour high tea needs two, maybe three games max. A full-day party can hold four or five. A weekend away can string games across sessions rather than running them back to back. The sweet spot is 3-5 games total for a standard 4-6 hour event, enough variety without exhausting the group.Tone tiers at a glance
| Tier | Who it works for | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesome | Any age, any mix, brunch and high-tea formats | Memory lane, advice cards, flower crown craft |
| Social mixer | Groups where not everyone knows each other | Two truths one lie, bingo, human bingo cards |
| Classic bridal | Most groups, once warmed up | Mr & Mrs Quiz, How Well Do You Know the Bride |
| Cheeky | Close friend groups only, clearly flagged | Prosecco pong, dare cards, pin the veil |
Wholesome Hens Party Games (10 Ideas, All Ages)
These games land at every hens party, regardless of age range or group mix. They require little prep, no awkward moments, and everyone walks away feeling included.1. Memory Lane
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-30 min | Prep: Ask guests to bring one memory or anecdote involving the bride before the party. Each guest shares their favourite memory with the bride. Works brilliantly as an opener because it warms the group up, reminds everyone why they love the bride, and is genuinely moving. Have tissues on standby. Materials needed: None. Optional: index cards for guests to write the memory first so they don’t freeze on the spot.2. Advice Cards for the Bride
Players: Whole group | Time: 10-15 min | Prep: Pre-print or write prompt cards. Give each guest a card with prompts: “My best piece of marriage advice is…”, “Never go to bed without…”, “The secret to a happy marriage is…”. Guests fill them in, the bride reads them aloud. Bind them into a little book as a keepsake. Materials needed: Prompt cards, pens. Optional: a small notebook or binder ring to collect them.3. Bridal Pictionary
Players: Teams of 3-5 | Time: 20-25 min | Prep: Write 30-40 wedding-related words on slips of paper. Standard Pictionary rules but all words are wedding-themed: “honeymoon,” “bouquet toss,” “cold feet,” “veil,” “wedding registry.” Works at any table. The guesses are often funnier than the drawings. Materials needed: Large paper pad, markers, prepared word slips, timer.4. Guess the Photo
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-30 min | Prep: Collect childhood/throwback photos from the bride and guests beforehand. Print 10-15 childhood or throwback photos (of the bride, guests, even the groom). Guests guess who is in each photo. Works especially well for groups who have known the bride at different life stages. Materials needed: Printed photos, numbered list, paper for answers.5. Would She Rather (G-Rated Version)
Players: Whole group | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Prepare a list of dilemmas in advance. The host reads dilemmas, guests guess how the bride would answer, then the bride reveals the real answer. Keep it wholesome: “beach holiday or European city break?”, “big wedding or elopement?”, “cook at home or eat out every night?”, “cats or dogs?”. Simple, fast, always gets people laughing. Materials needed: Prepared question list, optional voting paddles or hands-up answers.6. Wedding Trivia
Players: Teams of 2-4 | Time: 25-35 min | Prep: Prepare trivia questions. Mix general wedding trivia (famous wedding scenes from films, royal wedding dates, celebrity divorce settlements) with personal trivia about the bride and couple. Split into teams, run three rounds of ten questions, tally scores. Works seated at a table, perfect for dinner-format hens. Materials needed: Prepared question sheet, answer sheets, pens, optional small prizes.7. Craft Corner: Decorate a Message Jar
Players: Whole group | Time: 30-45 min | Prep: Prepare craft supplies. Give each guest a small slip of paper and decorating supplies. Everyone writes a message, wish, or date idea to the couple and folds it into a jar. The couple opens one message per month for the first year of marriage. Less a competitive game, more a group activity, but guests who need a quieter moment love it. Materials needed: Large glass jar, paper slips, pens, ribbon, optional washi tape and stickers.8. Famous Couples Quiz
Players: Whole group or teams | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Prepare match cards or read-aloud list. Call out one half of a famous couple and guests shout (or write) the other half. Mix in historical figures, film characters, and pop culture: “Romeo and…?”, “Victoria and…?”, “Shrek and…?”. Expand or simplify based on age range. Materials needed: Prepared list. Optional: printed cards for a matching version.9. Recipe for a Happy Marriage
Players: Whole group | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Print recipe card templates. Give each guest a recipe card. They write a “recipe” for a happy marriage: ingredients (trust, humour, good coffee), method, baking time. Read aloud and present to the bride. Funny, sentimental, and always quotable. Materials needed: Printed recipe cards, pens.10. The Price Is Right: Wedding Edition
Players: Whole group | Time: 20 min | Prep: Compile average wedding costs. The host reads out real average Australian wedding costs (florist, photographer, venue, invitations, cake) and guests write down their guesses. Whoever is closest wins. Eye-opening and funny, everyone underestimates florals. Materials needed: Researched price list, paper for guesses, pens.Social Mixer Hens Party Games (Breaks the Ice for People Who Don’t Know Each Other)
These games are specifically designed for the awkward first 30 minutes when half the group doesn’t know the other half. Run one of these at the start, before any game that requires people to be comfortable with each other.11. Human Bingo
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-30 min | Prep: Print personalised bingo cards. Each card has a 5×5 grid of statements: “Has been to Bali,” “Has a pet dog,” “Is a Scorpio,” “Has met the bride through work,” “Can speak a second language.” Guests mingle and find one person who matches each square, writing their name in. First to fill a row shouts “Hens!” Great for mixing people from different friendship circles. Materials needed: Pre-printed bingo cards (one per guest), pens.12. Two Truths and a Lie
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-30 min | Prep: None. Each person shares three statements, two true, one false. The group votes on which is the lie. Runs best with 6-12 people. Works to surface surprising facts about guests and always generates conversation (“Wait, you really did that?”). Materials needed: None. Optional: pencil and paper for voting if group is large.13. What’s in Your Bag? (Bingo Version)
Players: Whole group | Time: 10-15 min | Prep: Print or hand-write bingo cards. The host reads items from a list (“lip balm,” “a loyalty card,” “a photo,” “painkillers,” “more than $50 cash”). Guests cross off what they have in their bag. First to five in a row wins. Fast and funny, reveals a lot about people’s bag chaos. Materials needed: Bingo cards, pens.14. The Celebrity Name Game
Players: Teams of 2, or whole group in a circle | Time: 20-25 min | Prep: None required. Round 1: Describe the celebrity without saying their name (like Taboo). Round 2: Only three words allowed. Round 3: No words, mime only. Use the same pool of names across all three rounds. Energy escalates round by round. Materials needed: Slips of paper, a container, pen for guests to write names.15. Find Your Match (Couples Card Game)
Players: Whole group | Time: 10-15 min | Prep: Prepare matched card pairs. Write famous couples on cards, one person per card. Each guest secretly draws a card and must find their match without saying the name, only actions or descriptions. Great for getting people moving and mixing at the start of a night. Materials needed: Prepared card pairs.16. Guess the Bride’s Signature
Players: Whole group | Time: 15 min | Prep: Collect a sample signature from the bride beforehand. Show guests five different handwriting/signature samples. Only one is the bride’s real signature. Guests vote on which one. Sounds trivial but people who have known someone for years still get it wrong, always gets people talking. Materials needed: Printed samples, hands-up or paper voting.17. Who Said It?
Players: Whole group | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Collect quotes from guests in advance. Before the party, ask every guest to submit an embarrassing, funny, or heartfelt quote. The host reads them aloud one by one. The group guesses who said it. Mix serious quotes with ridiculous ones for best effect. Materials needed: Collected quotes (gathered via group chat or email before the event).18. Hens Party Bingo (Event Version)
Players: Whole group | Time: Runs across the whole event | Prep: Print cards before the party. Each bingo card has squares for things that might happen during the event: “Someone cries during a toast,” “The bride spills a drink,” “Someone loses their phone,” “A stranger proposes to the bride,” “Someone takes a selfie with a stranger.” Guests play throughout the evening, not just during one sitting. Keeps energy up without requiring everyone to stop. Materials needed: Pre-printed bingo cards, pens.Classic Bridal Hens Games (Mr & Mrs Quiz, How Well Do You Know the Bride, Date Auction)
These are the hens night games that have stood the test of time because they actually work. Run them once the group is warmed up.19. Mr & Mrs Quiz
Players: Whole group, bride plays | Time: 25-35 min | Prep: Interview the groom before the party (via video or written answers). The host asks the groom the same questions before the party, records his answers, and plays or reads them aloud at the party. The bride answers the same questions and guests see how well they match. Scoring: one point for each answer that matches the groom’s. See the full 30-question list in the section below. Materials needed: Groom’s answers recorded (voice note or written), printed question list.20. How Well Do You Know the Bride?
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-25 min | Prep: Prepare a question list based on the bride. Guests answer questions about the bride: favourite movie, how she met her partner, her go-to takeaway order, her biggest fear, her dream destination. The bride reveals the real answers. The guest who scores highest wins. A good test of which friendship circle actually knows her best. Materials needed: Printed question sheets, pens, answer reveal sheet.21. The Dress the Bride Game
Players: Teams of 3-5 | Time: 25-30 min | Prep: Gather craft supplies. Split into teams. Give each team a roll of toilet paper (and optionally ribbon, tape, safety pins, and tissue paper). Teams have 15 minutes to make a “wedding dress” on one of their members. The bride judges the results. Great for group photos. Materials needed: Toilet paper rolls (one per team), optional craft extras.22. Wedding Word Scramble
Players: Whole group | Time: 10-15 min | Prep: Print scrambled word sheets. Print a sheet of 20-30 scrambled wedding words. Guests race to unscramble as many as possible in five minutes. Simple filler game that works well between bigger structured games. Materials needed: Printed word sheets, pens, timer.23. The Newlywed Game (Group Version)
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-25 min | Prep: Prepare question cards. Like the Mr & Mrs Quiz but with a twist: guests predict the bride and groom’s answers before the bride reveals them. Adds a layer of competition among guests. Best run as a quick-fire format with 15-20 questions. Materials needed: Printed question cards for the host, small whiteboards or answer paddles for guests (optional).24. Finish the Love Story
Players: Whole group | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Write the first half of sentences about the couple’s story. The host reads out sentences that describe the couple’s relationship, stopping mid-way. Guests finish the sentence. Uses real details from the couple’s history, how they met, first date location, who said “I love you” first. Doubles as a beautiful retelling of the love story. Materials needed: Prepared sentence prompts, paper for answers.25. He Said She Said
Players: Whole group | Time: 15-20 min | Prep: Collect real quotes from the couple before the party. Before the party, ask both the bride and groom for quotes, opinions, and one-liners about each other and about the relationship. At the party, the host reads quotes and guests guess who said it. Works best with 20+ collected quotes so there’s genuine variety. Materials needed: Collected quotes (gathered before the event).26. Ring Hunt
Players: Whole group | Time: Runs across the event | Prep: Hide plastic rings around the venue before guests arrive. Hide 20-30 small plastic or craft rings around the venue. Guests find them throughout the party. The person who finds the most wins a prize. Works at home venues and backyard parties, not suited to hired venues or restaurants. Materials needed: Craft ring pack (available from party supply shops).Cheeky Hens Games (For Friend Groups Only, Clearly Flagged)
The games in this section are only for close-knit friend groups where everyone has agreed in advance to a cheeky tone. Do not run these at mixed-age events, events with the bride’s mum or future in-laws present, or anywhere you haven’t confirmed the group is on board.27. Prosecco Pong (or Non-Alcoholic Pong)
Players: Teams of 2-4 | Time: 20-30 min | Prep: Set up a table with glasses. Beer pong but with prosecco glasses. Two teams, ten glasses each arranged in a triangle. Take turns throwing ping pong balls across the table. If a ball lands in a glass, the other team drinks. Whoever clears all ten glasses first wins. For a sober-friendly version, use sparkling water or juice. Materials needed: Plastic prosecco glasses or cups, ping pong balls, table.28. Dare Cards
Players: Whole group | Time: Runs throughout event | Prep: Write or purchase dare cards in advance. Prepare a deck of dare cards, mix easy dares (sing a chorus of a song, call someone and say “I love you”) with sillier ones (speak in an accent for ten minutes, tell the group your most embarrassing moment). Guests draw one per hour. Keep dares achievable and never humiliating, the goal is laughs, not regret. Materials needed: Pre-written dare cards or purchased game pack.29. Never Have I Ever (Bride Edition)
Players: Whole group | Time: 20-25 min | Prep: Prepare a tailored question list. Classic never-have-I-ever but all questions are written specifically about the bride and the group’s shared experiences. Keeps it personal rather than generic. Everyone holds up five fingers (or ten). Each time something applies, they put a finger down. Whoever runs out first has clearly lived the fullest life. Materials needed: Prepared question list. Drinks optional.30. The Banned Word Game
Players: Whole group | Time: Runs across the whole event | Prep: Decide on banned words before the event starts. At the start of the party, announce three to five banned words (e.g. “wedding,” “bride,” “ring,” “married,” the groom’s name). Anyone caught saying a banned word gives a forfeit, a sip, a dare, or a penalty point. Runs in the background across the whole party. Simple but surprisingly effective. Materials needed: Nothing, just agree on the words and announce them clearly.Mr & Mrs Quiz: 30 Sample Questions (Free to Use)
Most guides mention the Mr & Mrs Quiz but never actually give you the questions. Here are 30 you can use exactly as written. Ask the groom these in advance (voice note works perfectly) and play or read his answers at the party.| # | Question | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who is the better cook? | Household |
| 2 | Who takes longer to get ready? | Household |
| 3 | Who said “I love you” first? | Relationship |
| 4 | Where was your first date? | Relationship |
| 5 | What is the bride’s go-to takeaway order? | Lifestyle |
| 6 | What is the bride’s biggest pet peeve? | Personality |
| 7 | What is the bride most afraid of? | Personality |
| 8 | What is the bride’s favourite movie? | Lifestyle |
| 9 | What would the bride spend a surprise $1,000 on? | Lifestyle |
| 10 | Which one of you is more likely to get lost? | Household |
| 11 | What was the bride wearing on your first date? | Relationship |
| 12 | What is the bride’s dream holiday destination? | Lifestyle |
| 13 | Who controls the TV remote? | Household |
| 14 | What is the bride’s most-used phrase? | Personality |
| 15 | Who apologises first after an argument? | Relationship |
| 16 | What is the bride’s worst habit? | Personality |
| 17 | If the bride could only eat one food for a year, what would it be? | Lifestyle |
| 18 | What is the bride’s greatest achievement? | Personality |
| 19 | Who is tidier? | Household |
| 20 | What would the groom say is the bride’s most attractive quality? | Relationship |
| 21 | Where does the bride want to go on the honeymoon? | Lifestyle |
| 22 | What is the bride’s idea of a perfect Saturday? | Lifestyle |
| 23 | What does the bride always say when she’s stressed? | Personality |
| 24 | Which of you is more likely to cry at a movie? | Personality |
| 25 | Who made the first move? | Relationship |
| 26 | What song would the bride say is “their song”? | Relationship |
| 27 | Who spends more money on clothes? | Lifestyle |
| 28 | If the bride were a reality TV show, which one would she be? | Personality |
| 29 | What was the groom’s first impression of the bride? | Relationship |
| 30 | What would the bride say is the most important thing in a marriage? | Relationship |
Hens Party Games for Different Formats: Day Brunch, Sit-Down Dinner, Weekend Away, Pre-Going-Out
Not all games suit all formats. Use this as a quick reference guide.| Format | Best games | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Day brunch / high tea | Memory Lane, Advice Cards, Price Is Right Wedding Edition, Wedding Trivia, Bridal Pictionary | Anything requiring standing, moving around, or a large table setup |
| Sit-down dinner | Mr & Mrs Quiz, How Well Do You Know the Bride, Human Bingo (pre-dinner), He Said She Said | Prosecco pong, Ring Hunt, anything requiring guests to leave the table |
| Weekend away | Spread games across sessions: morning game (Two Truths), afternoon activity (Dress the Bride), evening game (Mr & Mrs), ongoing Banned Word Game and Bingo across both days | Trying to do everything in one sitting |
| Pre-going-out (at home or hotel) | Dare Cards, Hens Bingo (carry into the night), Banned Word Game, Celebrity Name Game, Prosecco Pong | Long quiz formats, games requiring a seated table |
Hens Games for Mixed-Age Groups (Grandma-Friendly)
When the guest list spans four decades, picking the right games is the difference between an event everyone remembers fondly and one the bride’s aunt quietly mentions at Christmas.Start with connection, not competition
Memory Lane and Advice Cards both work across all ages because they are personal and sentimental rather than competitive. Older guests often have the best stories and end up being the most engaging contributors.Avoid time pressure in the first game
Fast buzzers, countdowns, and rapid-fire quiz rounds create anxiety for guests who are less familiar with game formats. Start with a slow-burn activity (craft, advice cards, or a gentle quiz) and build pace from there.The intergenerational sweet spot
Games that work brilliantly across all ages:- Guess the Photo, everyone loves a throwback photo, regardless of how old the throwback is.
- Wedding Trivia, mix questions across eras so older guests have an advantage on historical questions.
- Famous Couples Quiz, include both classic and contemporary couples so no generation is left out.
- Memory Lane, the whole premise depends on guests who have known the bride the longest, which often means older relatives thrive.
- Recipe for a Happy Marriage, guests who have been married for decades have genuinely good (and often very funny) advice.
Seat mixed groups deliberately
Place younger guests next to older guests during games rather than letting peer groups self-segregate. The cross-generational conversations during Memory Lane and Advice Cards are often the most memorable moments of the whole event.Have a quiet option available
Always have one activity, a photo album, a message jar, a craft station, that a guest can drift to if they find a competitive game overwhelming. No one should feel like they have to perform.Sober-Friendly Versions of Drinking Games
Every drinking game on this list has a sober-friendly version. Make this clear before any drinking game starts so guests who are pregnant, not drinking for any reason, or simply choosing not to drink don’t feel singled out.| Drinking game | Sober swap |
|---|---|
| Prosecco Pong | Sparkling water, juice, or non-alcoholic sparkling wine in the glasses |
| Never Have I Ever | Replace sips with a token system, collect or lose tokens for each answer |
| Dare Cards with drink forfeits | Replace drink forfeits with point penalties or a silly task (five jumping jacks, a dramatic monologue) |
| Banned Word Game with drink forfeits | Replace drink forfeits with chocolate, lollies, or a penalty coin |
| Ring Hunt with shots at the end | Win a gift or prize voucher instead |
Common Hens Party Game Mistakes
Running too many games back to back
Three games with breathing room beats six games rushed. Guests need time to chat between structured activities, that unstructured conversation is often the most memorable part of the day.Starting with a high-energy game before the group is warmed up
Running Prosecco Pong or a fast-fire quiz as the first game of the night kills momentum. Start slow (Memory Lane, Advice Cards, Human Bingo), build to structured (Mr & Mrs Quiz), and finish with the highest-energy option.Picking games based on Pinterest without checking the guest list
A game that looks hilarious on a Pinterest graphic often falls flat when the actual group is a mix of people who have never met. Always filter every game through the question “does this work for this specific group?”Not confirming tone with the host of honour first
Some brides genuinely do not want any cheeky games, full stop, not even hinted at. Others actively want them. Check in advance. Do not assume.Over-explaining the rules
Keep game explanations to 90 seconds or less. If you need longer, the game is too complicated. Practise the explanation once before the party so it’s crisp and clear.Forgetting prizes
Games without prizes still work, but a small gift for the winner, a candle, a bath bomb, a fancy chocolate, lifts the energy noticeably. Prizes do not need to be expensive. Ready to set the tone before the games even start? The invitation does a lot of heavy lifting. Shop hens night invitations at Paperlust, foil, letterpress, and digital styles available, and let guests know exactly what kind of party they’re walking into. For the full planning picture, check out our guide to hens party ideas in Australia.Frequently Asked Questions About Hens Party Games
How many games should you play at a hens party?
Aim for 3-5 games for a standard 4-6 hour event. One icebreaker at the start, one or two structured games in the middle (Mr & Mrs Quiz, How Well Do You Know the Bride), and one active or sillier game to close. Running more than five games back to back exhausts the group, leave space for unstructured conversation between activities.
What is the most popular hens party game in Australia?
The Mr & Mrs Quiz is consistently the most requested hens party game across all formats and age groups. It works because it centres the bride, creates genuine surprise moments, and involves everyone without requiring prep from guests. The 30 sample questions above are free to use.
Are hens party games necessary?
They’re not mandatory, but one or two structured games help groups who don’t all know each other. Without any structured activity, mixed-familiarity groups tend to splinter into their own circles and the event feels disconnected. Even a short icebreaker (Human Bingo, Two Truths and a Lie) helps guests cross-pollinate.
What is a wholesome hens party game for older guests?
Memory Lane, Advice Cards for the Bride, Famous Couples Quiz, and Recipe for a Happy Marriage all work brilliantly across all ages. Memory Lane in particular tends to surface the best stories from guests who have known the bride the longest, which is often older relatives and family friends.
Can you play hens party games at a brunch hens?
Yes, and brunch is actually an ideal format for certain games. Seated games like Mr & Mrs Quiz, Wedding Trivia, Advice Cards, and Guess the Photo all suit a brunch or high tea perfectly. Avoid games that require guests to stand, move around, or make a lot of noise in a shared restaurant space.
Where can you buy hens party game cards?
Party supply stores like Kmart, Big W, and specialist hens party suppliers carry pre-printed game packs. Alternatively, you can print your own at home using the question lists and card formats described in this guide. The Mr & Mrs Quiz questions above are ready to paste into a document and print.
What hens party games work for a weekend away?
Spread games across two days rather than running them all at once. Good options: the Banned Word Game and Hens Bingo run across both days as background games; Memory Lane and Advice Cards on the first evening; Mr & Mrs Quiz and the Dress the Bride game on the second day. Prosecco Pong or Dare Cards suit the pre-going-out window on night one.
How do you make hens games sober-friendly?
Replace all drink forfeits before the game starts rather than mid-game. Sparkling water or non-alcoholic sparkling wine work in any drinking game. For token-based games (Never Have I Ever), swap sips for lollies, chocolates, or penalty coins. Set the expectation at the start that all games have drink and no-drink options, and never draw attention to who is choosing which option.
What games work for a hens party where not everyone knows each other?
Start with social-mixer games: Human Bingo, Two Truths and a Lie, or Who Said It? (collecting quotes in advance from guests). These are specifically designed to surface interesting facts about people and create conversation between strangers. Run at least one mixer game before any game that requires guests to be comfortable with each other.
What is a good hens party game for a group of 20 or more guests?
Larger groups suit team formats: split into groups of 4-6 for Wedding Trivia, Bridal Pictionary, or the Celebrity Name Game. Human Bingo also works well with large groups because it gets people moving and mixing. The Mr & Mrs Quiz works for any group size as long as the host’s voice carries, use a small microphone or speaker if you’re in a large room.
Ready to Set the Tone?
The invitation tells guests everything they need to know about the vibe before they arrive. Shop hens night invitations at Paperlust, foil, letterpress, and digital styles, all fully customisable.