Everything, in one place
Hens party
questions
What a hens party actually is, who pays for it, how far ahead to book — and then all the practical questions about booking us.
The basics
What is a hens party?
A hens party is the celebration held for a bride before her wedding, with her friends and usually her family — the Australian and British equivalent of what Americans call a bachelorette party. "Hens night" tends to mean the evening version and "hens party" the whole event, but in practice the two are used interchangeably and nobody will correct you.
The name comes from the same place as "bucks party": hen for the bride, buck (or stag, in Britain) for the groom. What actually happens ranges from a long lunch to a full weekend away, and there is no rule saying it has to involve anything wild — roughly half the hens parties we work at are a cocktail class and a very good dinner.
Traditionally the maid of honour organises it, the guests split the cost, and the bride pays for nothing on the day. It usually happens between one and three months before the wedding, and almost never the week before, for reasons that become obvious the morning after.
Planning
Organising one
Who pays for the hens party?
The guests split the cost of the event and cover the bride's share between them; the bride pays for nothing on the day. The maid of honour usually fronts deposits and is reimbursed. The one thing worth doing before anything is booked is agreeing a per-head number in the group chat — that single message prevents nearly every awkward conversation that follows.
How far ahead should we book?
Three months for a Saturday, and more than that in spring. Brisbane and Gold Coast Saturdays between September and November go first; the Sunshine Coast holds on longer, except through school holidays. Monday to Thursday you can often book much closer to the date, and those hens nights get 20% off.
When in the wedding schedule should it happen?
One to three months before the wedding. Close enough that it feels connected to it, far enough that nobody is recovering during the final fittings. Avoid the week before entirely.
How long should it run?
Four hours for an afternoon, six for a day that turns into a night. Give it a start time and an end time in the invitation — open-ended hens parties are where the energy goes to die around hour seven.
What's a good hens party checklist?
In order: confirm the date with the bride, confirm the guest list with the bride, agree a per-head budget in the group chat, book the venue or the house, book anything with staff attached (that is us, and we go first because Saturdays run out), sort transport, then decorations and games last. Most hens parties that go wrong did the list backwards.
Do you have to have games?
No. Plenty of the hens parties we work at have none at all. If you do want them, five or six across the whole event is the right number and the full list is here.
Booking us
The Barmen X
Is The Barmen X strictly 18+?
Yes. The Barmen X is an adults-only service and every guest must be over 18. Our hosts are RSA trained, alcohol is never served to underage guests, and every game and add-on is opt-in. Nobody is forced, everyone is allowed.
What's the difference between The Barmen X and The Barmen?
Same company, same bartenders, same equipment. The Barmen is weddings, corporate events and private functions. The Barmen X is the adults-only side: hens parties, topless waiters and hosted games. We split them so that a wedding client and a hens party client each get a service that is actually built for them.
Where do you host hens parties?
Wherever the weekend is happening: your home, an Airbnb, a penthouse or a hired venue. Most of our hens parties are in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast and on the Sunshine Coast. We travel further across Queensland and interstate on request, and travel is always quoted up front.
How much does it cost?
It depends on staff numbers, hours, location and whether we supply the alcohol, so we quote each booking rather than publishing a per-head number that would be wrong for most groups. Send the date, the address and the headcount and the quote comes back itemised, line by line. Monday to Thursday hens nights receive 20% off.
Do we need to supply the alcohol?
Up to you. On BYO packages the group buys the alcohol with our shopping list, and we bring the bartenders, mixers, glassware, ice and equipment. If you would rather we supplied it, ask and we will talk through the options.
How long before the party do you arrive?
One to one and a half hours before service starts. Set-up and pack-down are both included, so you pay for serving time only. We finish with a last round of your cocktail options and leave the space clean.
Do the waiters have to be topless?
No. Shirts stay on unless the group asks otherwise. Topless waiters are an add-on you choose, not a default. If you want the cocktails and none of the cheek, book The Barmen Plus and the night runs like a very good cocktail bar.
Do you have topless waitresses?
No. We supply male topless waiters only. If you want an all-female bartending team, ask for The BarQueens — fully clothed, same training, same standard.
What if some of the group don't want to play the games?
Completely fine, and very normal. We read the room and pitch the games to the group's comfort level, from light-hearted to a little more wild. Anyone can sit a round out, and anyone can join back in.
Can we do a cocktail class instead of bar service?
Yes. The Professors is our hands-on cocktail making class, where the group learns our cocktails and drinks what they make. It works on its own, or as the first hour before The Barmen X takes over for the night.
What if a guest has had too much to drink?
Our bartenders are RSA trained and service stops when it should. That is not a technicality — it is the main practical reason to have staff running the bar rather than a friend, because a friend cannot easily say no to another friend at 11pm.
How do we secure the date?
Send us the date, the address and the size of the group. We confirm availability and send an itemised quote; a deposit then secures the date.
Still unsure
Ask us the thing you didn't want to ask
Nobody at this end of the phone is going to be surprised by the question. Send the date and whatever you are wondering about, and you will get a straight answer.