Home and garden hen parties need the right glassware, tables, and outdoor furniture to work well. This guide covers what to hire and how much of each for groups of 10 to 40.
Home and garden hen parties need the right glassware, tables, and outdoor furniture to work well. This guide covers what to hire and how much of each for groups of 10 to 40.
Home and garden hen parties have become a popular alternative to going out, giving organisers more control over the setting, budget, and atmosphere. The hire equipment side is more involved than most people expect. This guide covers what to order for groups of 10 to 40.
\n\nThe location shapes every hire decision. A living room hen party for 12 needs different furniture to a garden setup for 30. Garden parties are more equipment-intensive because you are creating the setting from scratch, whereas an indoor venue provides some structure already.
\n\nBefore ordering anything, measure the space available. Outdoor tables and chairs take up more room than people expect, particularly if you are adding gazebo cover. A 3m x 3m space comfortably holds a 6ft rectangular table with chairs on one side, but not much else.
\n\nFor a seated garden lunch or dinner, rectangular trestle tables are the practical choice. A 6ft trestle seats 6 to 8 and can be extended end-to-end for longer group tables. For a group of 20 eating together, three 6ft trestle tables in a row gives a good communal dining feel.
\n\nFor a drinks and grazing setup rather than a full meal, poseur tables work well. Guests stand and move around, which suits the more social, informal pace of a hen gathering. Position a few poseur tables around the space so guests always have somewhere to set down a glass.
\n\nFor seated meals, order one chair per guest. Folding chairs are a sensible choice for garden hen parties because they are easy to move around and do not take up much storage space before the guests arrive. For a more decorative look, Chiavari chairs photograph well and give the table a polished finish without requiring a venue-level setup.
\n\nFor standing receptions with poseur tables, chairs are not essential, but having 5 to 6 folding chairs available as an option means older guests or anyone who wants a rest has somewhere to sit.
\n\nHen parties typically run on prosecco, cocktails, or both. Champagne flutes are the standard choice for prosecco. For cocktails and mixed drinks, highball glasses handle most recipes. For a group of 20 running a two-hour drinks session, order 60 champagne flutes and 40 highball glasses to account for guests cycling through glasses.
\n\nIf the plan includes a gin bar or a cocktail-making activity, add a selection of tumblers and coupes to the order. The full glassware range covers all standard shapes; minimum order quantities vary by glass type.
\n\nFor garden hen parties, weather cover is the main practical concern from May to September. A gazebo provides protection from sun and light rain without the commitment of a marquee. The gazebo range includes 3m x 3m units; for a group of 20 to 30 eating outside, two gazebos side by side gives a reasonable covered area for dining and a drinks station.
\n\nThe outdoor furniture range also includes garden chairs and folding tables suited to casual settings. If the garden already has furniture, confirm what is available before hiring duplicates.
\n\nMost home hen parties involve a caterer, a food delivery, or a DIY grazing table rather than full hot food service. For a grazing table, rectangular trestle tables with linen cloths are all you need. For hot food, chafing dishes keep dishes warm through a buffet without needing a power source. Two full-size chafing dishes handle a hot buffet for 20 guests comfortably.
\n\nFor outdoor cooking, a BBQ hire works well for garden hen parties in warm weather. Expo Hire stocks gas BBQs suited to groups of 20 to 40. Gas BBQs are more consistent than charcoal for event use, where guests arrive at different times and food needs to stay available over a couple of hours.
\n\nFor seated tables at a garden hen party, tablecloths add a finished look to otherwise plain trestle tables. White or ivory linen cloths on 6ft rectangular tables photograph well. If the colour scheme of the hen party involves a specific colour, napkins in that shade add detail without the cost of coloured tablecloths. Order one napkin per guest.
\n\nGarden hen parties that run into the evening need heat. Patio heaters are available for hire and provide enough warmth for guests sitting outdoors in spring or early autumn temperatures. For a group of 20 outdoors in the evening, two patio heaters positioned at either end of the dining area is a reasonable starting point.
\n\nSeated garden hen lunch, 20 guests: 20 chairs, 3 x 6ft trestle tables, 3 tablecloths, 20 napkins, 50 champagne flutes, 40 highball glasses, 2 gazebos.
\n\nStanding drinks and grazing, 30 guests: 8 poseur tables, 8 poseur cloths, 90 champagne flutes, 60 highball glasses, 6 folding chairs (optional seating), 1 to 2 patio heaters if evening.
See also: barn wedding hire guide and summer garden party hire guide.
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