4 minute read
Hen and Stag Trends for 2022
By Rob Crump at Printster
Hen and Stag dos are such an integral part of weddings but they have been one of the casualties of the last 18 months of the pandemic. The ritual of one last big blast as a singleton has been impossible in the current climate. Thankfully, as things start to open up, there is hope that we can once again celebrate with our buddies, the end of one part of life and the start of another.
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To say it’s been a difficult 18 months since the pandemic started would be an understatement. Many of us have been isolated from our friends and family and the wedding industry has been severely hit, with thousands of weddings postponed or cancelled since 2020. The first half of 2021 for the wedding industry was also tainted with uncertainty, as rules were constantly changing, and restrictions were still in place. Rob Crump from the personalised gift store Printster, 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.”
Below, Rob notes the top trends for hen and stag dos in 2022 and explains why the trend is set to be so popular in the new year.
Sten Do
A “sten” do is a joint stag and hen do, where the bride and groom decide to celebrate together before their wedding day. They have steadily been increasing in popularity, with searches for “sten do” seeing a massive 9900% uplift in the last month alone. The tradition of having the men and women celebrate separately is considered outdated, as many couples share a friendship group and also stag and hen dos don’t cater for same sex couples.
Another reason for the trend’s growing popularity comes from the budget, “Separate stag and hen dos can be costly, so by combining the two events into one big event can be significantly cheaper,” Rob explains.
At Home Parties
Instead of destination stag and hen dos, or even staycation events, many hen and stag dos are favouring home comforts and hosting their party at home. Rob explains that the reasoning for this trend comes from
an awareness of the pressures of being a guest at a hen and stag do. “The average cost of attending a hen or stag party in 2019, before the pandemic, was a massive £391. After the pandemic hit and many lost their jobs or had financial difficulties, many couples are mindful of asking too much of their guests and instead, are favouring a more low-key affair.”
Just because a hen or stag do is set at home doesn’t mean it needs to be less exciting than any other event. Rob advises on how to throw a hen or stag do at home:
• If the weather permits, throw a garden party equipped with BBQ and cocktails • Host an afternoon tea indoors, with sandwiches, finger food and prosecco • Hire entertainers to come to you. This will work out a lot cheaper than if you were going to venues
Micro do
215.2% uplift in searches
Despite COVID restrictions easing and looking positive for the year ahead, one lingering trend which is set to continue into 2022 is the micro hen/stag do. “Rather than inviting lots of people to their celebration, couples are now favouring smaller celebrations with their closest friends,” Rob explains. “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, but more about making up for lost time.”
The average hen size was 14 and the average stag size was 15 back in 2019 and many couples are looking to reduce this even further, with the estimated amount dropping to around 10 or 12. Despite groups getting smaller, many are not looking to reduce their budget, resulting in more luxurious celebrations.
Activity Based
194% uplift in Google searches “Activity Stag Do”
119% uplift in searches
Activity based hen and stag dos are set to be a massive trend for 2022, as these take pressure off the host and allow everyone to loosen up and do something they have never done before. A huge trend set to take off in 2022 is hosting a murder mystery party, with searches specifically for “hen murder mystery” seeing a 9700% uplift in searches in the past three months alone. “Pulling off a murder mystery is a lot easier than you might think,” Rob advises. “The appeal of a murder mystery night is that it can suit all budgets. You can buy cheaper kits which give you step by step instructions on how to successfully host, or those with bigger budgets can even make a whole weekend of it, with many venues across the UK offering immersive experiences.”
A murder mystery is particularly appealing to those with larger groups who perhaps have lots of friends and family who don’t perhaps know each other very well. “Activity based parties are excellent ice breakers, as it allows newly introduced guests to get to know each other.”
