The History of Hen Dos and Stag Dos

Q: Where does the term hen party come from?

Hen as slang for woman dates to the 1620s, and hen party meaning a gathering of women was first recorded in 1887.

The matching "Bride Tribe" t-shirt feels like a recent invention. The party it's printed for is nothing of the sort — versions of it have been marking the run-up to a wedding for well over two thousand years.

Ancient Beginnings

The bachelor party's roots stretch back to Sparta in the 5th century BC, where soldiers held a dinner to toast a groom on the eve of his wedding — a formal send-off from single life among close male companions. Ancient Greek bridal customs included the bride and her female relatives making offerings together before the wedding, an early parallel to the modern hen do.

Where the Words Actually Come From

"Hen" has been used as slang for "woman" since the 1620s, and "hen party", meaning a gathering of women, was first recorded in 1887 — well before it meant anything to do with weddings specifically. "Stag" as slang for an all-male gathering is American English slang dating to 1848. Neither term started out wedding-specific; they only attached to pre-wedding celebrations later.

The Modern Version Takes Shape

The stag and hen party as a distinct pre-wedding tradition really developed from the mid-19th century onward. Bachelorette-style parties for brides became more common in the 1960s, alongside women entering the workforce in large numbers — female colleagues marking a bride's last days as a single working woman. By the 1970s, these had grown from tame office gatherings into events that mirrored the format of men's nights out, and the modern hen and stag weekend, often involving travel, themed outfits and a full weekend rather than one evening, developed from there.

Matching Kit Is the Modern Signature

What's changed most in the last twenty years isn't the party, it's the printing. A matching hen or stag t-shirt used to mean a limited run from a specialist supplier, ordered weeks ahead. DTF printing removed that barrier: full colour, individual names or nicknames on every shirt, no minimum order, turned around in days rather than weeks.

Where This Shows Up in What We Print

Matching hen, stag and wedding party clothing, personalised with names, nicknames or roles, is exactly what our hen party, stag do & wedding printing page covers.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the tradition of a pre-wedding party for the groom?

It dates back to at least 5th-century BC Sparta, where soldiers held a farewell dinner for a groom the night before his wedding.

Where does the term "hen party" come from?

"Hen" as slang for woman dates to the 1620s, and "hen party" meaning a gathering of women was first recorded in 1887, predating its modern wedding-specific meaning.

When did the modern hen and stag weekend develop?

The tradition took its current shape from the mid-19th century onward, with bachelorette-style parties for brides becoming common from the 1960s and growing into full weekends by the following decades.

More Pieces of the Story, From Chaucer to a Famous New York Dinner

The history above leaves out some well documented details that explain how the pre-wedding party became a night, then a weekend.

"Bachelor" is older than the party. The word originally described a young knight in training, and by the 14th century it appeared in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to mean an unmarried man.
The Oxford English Dictionary traces Western stag nights to the 19th century. The phrase "bachelor party" turns up in print in 1922, in Chambers's Journal, as a "jolly old" gathering.
The Seeley dinner of 1896. Herbert Barnum Seeley, a grandson of P. T. Barnum, held a party for his brother at Sherry's in New York. A dancer nicknamed Little Egypt was said to have performed there, police ended the night in the early hours, and the Seeley family was later brought before a police board. Newspapers reported it so widely that it became the standard example of what happened at a bachelor dinner behind closed doors.
Pranks in the UK and Ireland. A 1964 citation in the Irish Examiner shows pranks on the groom were already an established part of the custom.

Hen Nights Have Their Own Roots

Hen nights were not simply a copy of the men's version. The researcher Sheila Young has argued that the British hen night grew out of older women's customs, with names such as "Ribbon Girl", "Pay Off", "Taking Out" and "Jumping the Chanty". Their origins are obscure, but they are described as having existed in UK factories and offices for at least a century. In these traditions, colleagues marked a woman's last days of work before marriage with a mixture of teasing, dressing up and a collection of money.

The American bridal shower has a separate story. The earliest accounts trace to Brussels around 1860, and showers spread through American cities in the 1890s. They centre on small gifts for the bride, whereas the British hen night centred on a night out. In the UK, the language still varies: hen party, hen night, hen do, with an optional "hen's" in the UK and Ireland.

From One Evening to a Weekend

Over time, the evening became a trip. Writers on the subject note that stag parties now often last more than one evening, which led to the terms "stag weekend" and "stag do" and to an industry around organising them. Trips have become small holidays, with daytime activities followed by a night out, either in the UK or abroad. Hen parties followed the same direction, with groups heading to cities, spas, cottages and seaside towns.

The more days a party lasts, the more helpful matching clothing becomes. A group of fourteen people moving between a restaurant, a bar and a taxi rank is easier to keep together, and easier to photograph, when everyone wears a common item.

What Actually Goes on Hen and Stag Shirts

These ideas come from how groups use the shirts, not from any rulebook.

The role system. Bride or groom in a standout colour, the rest of the group in a second colour with roles such as "Maid of Honour", "Best Man", "Bridesmaid" or "Usher".
Nicknames. A short nickname on the back is read faster than a full name.
The inside joke. A single phrase that the group repeats all weekend. Make sure everyone in the group is happy with it before you print.
The date or destination. A line on the sleeve or back with the city and year makes a keepsake for later.
Mixed parties. More couples now celebrate together. A single design for everyone works well, with different colours for the two sides.

A word on taste. A shirt will be seen in photographs, by relatives and in public places. If the party includes older family members, choose a design everyone can wear comfortably.

A Step-by-Step Planning Guide for the Organiser

1. Choose the lead person. One organiser collects names, sizes and wording.

2. Collect sizes early. Adults vary widely in fit preferences, so ask for the size they usually wear in a T-shirt and whether they want a relaxed or fitted look.

3. Pick a garment type. T-shirts suit a summer city weekend, while hoodies suit a cold-weather cottage stay.

4. Send the draft wording to the group once and fix it before approving a proof.

5. Share your deadline when you request a quote. Order early, particularly for peak wedding months.

6. Check the proof for every name, nickname and date.

Our group order guide explains how to collect everyone's details, and a discount applies on 5+ items.

Mistakes That Spoil Group Clothing

Choosing one colour for everyone, including the bride or groom, so that nobody stands out.
Ordering before the guest list is final. Add people to a draft list first and confirm numbers later.
Not allowing for different sizes. A group order is only as good as its sizes list.
Using lettering that is too small to read in a photograph.
Washing a new shirt carelessly before the party. Our washing guide lists the habits that protect a print.

Questions About Hen and Stag Clothing

Why is it called a stag do if the groom is not a stag?

The origin of "stag" in this sense is not well documented, so it is hard to say for certain. What can be said is that the word was attached to all-male gatherings before it was attached to weddings, and that "bachelor" is a far older word.