It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but in recent years there has been a definite rise in ‘sten parties’, whether that’s in keeping with a new era of stag and hen dos, or following the trend of fashionable couples like Meghan and Harry. If you’re wondering what exactly a ‘sten party’ is, it’s when couples choose to combine their pre-wedding send-offs; a joint stag and hen celebration where the couple’s friends can gather together in one big place for the weekend getting to know each other.
In recent years this has been an enormously popular choice for engaged couples who tend now to be slightly older, enjoying the company of a joint set of friends (some of whom might already be married to each other). It’s also a fabulous opportunity for completely separate groups of friends to get to know each other.
With that in mind, we've put together some sten do party ideas to inspire a dazzling joint stag and hen party.
The active sten party
So, for those who get their jollies from the rush of adrenaline a thrilling activity brings, an outdoor adventure should fit the bill. From coasteering on the Cornish coast to white water rafting in Wales, there are a plethora of group hen and stag activities that can be arranged in the UK to tempt even the biggest homebody amongst your set of friends. You don’t even have to go that wild! Tamer options might include clay pigeon shooting, a tennis tournament, or a game of golf! Whatever interests you might have, this is an opportunity to share them with all your friends.
A sten party at Bodweni Hall | Bala, North Wales – Sleeps 27
This fabulous property in North Wales is on the edge of a lake in 74 acres of grounds close to the River Dee. What makes it the perfect sten party accommodation for thrill-seekers is that you can book water activities directly with the owner, which helps to make the organisation even smoother. That’s not all though, after all the excitement, you can kick back in the hot tub or relax in the cinema room and catch a movie together! You’re also on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, known as the adventure capital of Wales!
The ‘fun and games’ sten party
There’s no better way to bond than by engaging in a group activity in fun sten party games that either relies on you all working together or against each other for some competitive fun! Escape rooms are a new buzz trend within the corporate events community and have also become more of a favoured social experience for groups of friends wishing to try an out-of-the-box activity together. It’s a terrific way to explore each other’s strengths and can lead to some wildly comedic circumstances too, particularly if you enjoy taking on a character; flexing acting talents and exploring a degree of imaginative play. On a similar wavelength, murder mysteries have also become a popular party theme that you can easily set up yourselves.
A sten party at Castle on the Loch | Hunters Quay, Argyll and Bute – Sleeps 42
Not only will the hen and stag feel like a real king and queen, this ancient castle is guaranteed to provide the most compelling backdrop for a thrilling escape room or murder mystery activity! With accommodation to sleep 42 people, you really can bring ALL your friends together. As well as formal dining areas and social spaces perfect for holding events, your party can relax after the main sten activity and enjoy the swimming pool and snooker table! If you’d like to add a little extra entertainment, you can even arrange Scottish music evenings with the owner!
The explorers’ sten party
If they’re a well-travelled, worldly pair, it’s fair to assume the happy couple may have clocked up hundreds of thousands of air miles between them. With the couple perhaps having grown up in different regions, their friends are likely located in different parts of the country too. This situation might encourage any couple to create a celebration that doesn’t favour either of their 'homelands', offering the opportunity for everyone to explore somewhere new and exciting. For a truly authentic experience, why not book a 'home from home' and rent a large house somewhere completely new and exciting for your stag and hen party.
A sten party at The Temple | Matlock Bath, Peak District – sleeps 34
When we say home from home, we mean somewhere with a just a few extra luxuries to make sure you never forget your sten weekend away. This incredible property boasts two separate bar areas (yes, you can actually play pub landlord), games room, two hot tubs and easy access into the Peak District National Park, for the explorers among you. With a private pub and lounge bar to call your own, The Temple certainly caters well for big groups and special occasions – and it doesn’t get more special than combining a stag and hen party!
The foodie sten party
If the happy couple is a pair of foodies, then delectable delights must be a part of the menu. But it’s no fun doing your own cooking when hosting a milestone event, so we would recommend booking some catering or even organising a cookery course or demonstration as your sten activity. You may choose to embark on a tour of local restaurants and cafés, opt for a chef to demonstrate how to make one of your favourite dishes, or arrange for some haute cuisine to be created and served to you and your guests. Whatever you decide, be assured every member of your party will savour the experience.
A sten party at Torridge Country House | Bideford, Devon – sleeps 24
This impressive country manor sits high on a hill overlooking the pretty town of Bideford on the rugged North Devon Coast. Most importantly, it features a huge dining room and a well-equipped kitchen for cooking up all kinds of culinary delights! If no one wants to do the cooking, you can arrange catering and drop-off meals for your stay. The huge property also features a hot tub at an additional cost, bookable spa treatments and library with a pool table for some healthy competition.
The pamper and relax sten party
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love the opportunity to kick back at the side of a pool, pamper themselves with a treatment, soak in the hot tub or relax in the sauna? Your sten party activity doesn’t have to get the heart racing and the adrenaline pumping! The chance to switch off and relax with friends, old and new, might be just the hen and stag joint party idea that is needed, amidst the wedding planning and madness. Take the pamper sten do party idea as an excuse to push the wedding to the back of your mind for a few days, while it’s the best day of your life it can also bring about a lot of stress.
A sten party at Langman Manor | Bruton, Somerset – sleeps 49
This incredible property really is designed for big groups stags and hens, and if you’re bringing each of your closest friends together for a sten party, then you’ll need somewhere that has plenty of space and things to do! That’s not what makes Langman Manor perfect though - we’re more intrigued by the on-site hen and stag activities: golf course, tennis courts, fishing lake, casino, snooker table, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, gym and sauna. Do you think that will be enough activities to keep the gang occupied?
If you’re planning to follow the ‘sten party’ trend, then we hope these hen and stag joint party ideas have inspired you.
If you’re yet to be convinced though, we’ve got individual hen and stag activities covered too! These handy guides will help inspire your pre-wedding celebration, however you plan to spend them.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.