These are the top hen and stag do trends for 2022 for a celebration you and your mates will be talking about for years to come.
Top Hen and Stag Do Trends for 2022
After the pesky pandemic delayed more than a few festivities, we’re already looking forward to an abundance of hen and stag dos in 2022. So, whether you’re maid of honour and looking to plan the perfect hen – or want to take the reins and book your own – our guide to the top hen and stag do trends for 2022 will help you plan the perfect celebration.
We spoke to Rob Crump, from personalised gift store Printster, who explains “a huge trend set for weddings in 2022 is making up for lost time. This mindset is not just reserved for the wedding itself, but also for the hen and stag dos.”
Sten Dos
A ‘sten do’ does exactly what it says on the tin – you guessed it, a joint stag and hen do. Brides and grooms celebrating together before their wedding day is set to become more popular than ever in 2022, with searches for ‘sten do’ seeing a massive 9900% uplift in October alone, according to research by Printster.
“Separate stag and hen dos can be costly, so combining the two into one big event can be significantly cheaper,” Rob explains. He also suggests that the tradition of men and women celebrating separately is somewhat outdated, as many couples share a friendship group – plus, hen and stag dos don’t cater for same-sex couples.
At-home Parties
Feeling the pressure of yet another hen do abroad?! With searches for ‘at home hen/stag do’ seeing a huge 9600% increase over the past year, staying put in the comfort of your own home is set to be more popular than ever for hen and stag dos in 2022.
“After the pandemic hit and many lost their jobs or had financial difficulties, couples are mindful of asking too much of their guests and instead are favouring a more low-key affair,” explains Rob, after it was revealed that attending a hen or stag party in 2019 was estimated to cost £391. Budgeting is therefore likely to be more important for couples in 2022 than ever before – think barbecues, afternoon tea and at-home entertainment, from make-your-own cocktail bars to mobile spas.
Micro Dos
We’ve all heard of micro weddings – a trend that saw a stratospheric rise in popularity thanks to the pandemic. Unsurprisingly, this is now translating into micro hen and stag dos, a trend that’s set to be big for 2022.
Searches for ‘small hen do’ saw an increase of 215% over the past year and are, more than ever, about making up for lost time. “After 18 months of being separated from so many close friends and family, events such as hen and stag dos are no longer about big blowouts,” says Rob.
Delayed Celebrations
With many celebrations going ahead with far fewer guests than planned and some couples opting for ‘sequel weddings’ – a big bash a few months after the legal ceremony – one of the most searched for terms in 2021 was ‘can you have a hen do after wedding‘. Many couples will look to challenge the tradition and celebrate after their weddings in 2022, predicts Rob.
“Hen and stag dos are no longer seen as being the ‘last night of freedom’ before entering married life and are instead just a way to celebrate the couple,” he explains. “With this in mind, it’s no wonder many couples are opting to host their hen and stags much later on.”
Activity-based Hen and Stag Dos
With the emphasis on spending quality time with friends and family more important than ever post-pandemic, hen and stag dos in 2022 are likely to see activities incorporated far more frequently.
Classic murder mystery parties have, in particular, seen a huge boom, with searches for ‘hen murder mystery’ seeing a whopping 9700% uplift in the past three months alone according to Printster. “Activity-based parties like a murder mystery are excellent ice breakers, as it allows newly introduced guests to get to know each other,” explains Rob.
Read More:
Want more wedding information and inspiration? Just hit ‘Like’ on our Wedding Ideas Facebook page, and ‘Follow’ on our @weddingideas Instagram and @wimagazine Twitter accounts to join in the conversation.