Hen Party

A hen party (or bachelorette party) is a party held for a woman who is about to be married. The term "hen party" is more common in the UK and Ireland, while the term "bachelorette party" is more common in the United States. Those attending the party are usually all female, although gay male friends of the bride-to-be may also be included. Events such as the The Girlie Show in the UK add comedy to the male strip club. If held at home, it may be an occasion to hold a pamper party or compare products like lingerie or women's sex toys or to play games like "Truth or Dare", "Pass the Balloon", or a risqué version of "Consequences".

Companies sell decorations and novelties for bachelorette parties including products like "pinatas", fur-lined handcuffs, "willy whistles" and adult toys.

Some bachelorette parties include a trip to Las Vegas or other party cities but many happen at local bars or in the home. It is estimated by Bachelorette.com that less than 20% of all bachelorette parties include a male stripper. Most party activities include adult games, drinks, and gossip.

In the United States, it has become a common practice for bachelorette parties to consist of a bar tour combined with a scavenger hunt, which usually has a risque or erotic theme. The bride-to-be is invariably dressed in some fashion so that everyone in the bar instantly recognizes her as being the subject of a bachelorette party. Usually, she will be wearing a wedding veil and a t-shirt, which is to be signed by guys she and her friends meet in the bars that night. The bachlorette is usually quite intoxicated by the end of the night, as both her friends and guys she meets in the bars will continuously buy her drinks.

In some American bars, it is not unusual to see several bachelorette parties a night on summer weekends.

Stag Party

A bachelor party (also called a stag party, stag night (UK, Ireland and Canada), or bucks party (Australia)) is a party held for a bachelor shortly before he is married, to make the most of his final opportunity to engage in activities a new wife might not approve of, or merely to spend time bonding with his male friends. A bachelor party may involve activities such as going to a strip club, hiring a female stripper or escort, drinking alcohol and gambling.

The task of organizing a bachelor party is often assigned to a male sibling of the bachelor. And in the absence of a male sibling, a male friend will organize it. The task often falls to the best man as well.

The tradition is thought to have originated with a bachelor dinner that was traditional in ancient Sparta.

Variations
In the United Kingdom it is now common for the party to last for more than one evening, hence the increasing prevalence of the phrase "stag weekend". A spin off has been the growth of the Stag Weekend Industry in the UK with various companies taking the "hassle" out of the weekend. It has also become increasingly common for a stag party to include some form of activity such as paintballing or motorsports rather than just drinking.

It has also become common for a similar party to be held for the bride-to-be. This is known as a bachelorette party or hen night.

A tame version is the so-called Stag and Doe party, in which both the bride and groom attend.

Bachelor parties have also been the subject of many movies, especially comedies.

UK
In the UK, stag weekend trips are becoming mini-holidays with the groups taking part in various day time activities as well as the expected night out on the town and the inevitable strippers. Popular UK destinations include Brighton, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Nottingham and Edinburgh. There is now a growing trend for stags to go abroad, with Dublin topping the list, followed by Prague, Amsterdam and Maastricht.

United States
In the United States, Las Vegas and Atlantic City are popular bachelor party destinations.

Canada
In Canada, Montreal is one of the most popular bachelor party destinations due to the city's large number of sultry and sumptuos strip clubs with dance "contact".