Bachelorette Party Accessories & Decor: Ideas & Tips

When it comes to bachelorette party accessories, a few are genuine must-haves, plenty are nice extras and some you can happily leave out. So you don’t spend money on every bit of tat, we sort the most important items for you here: what’s worth it for the bride, the groom and the crew, what’s only there for a laugh and what each piece costs. For every topic we link to the detailed guide.

Roughly speaking, there are three groups: outfit accessories, which mark you out as a team and sometimes become a lasting keepsake, pure fun accessories for a single night, and decorations, which only really make sense at a fixed venue.

Typical accessories & outfits

Fancy dress accessories underline a theme or a role and round off the outfit, from sunglasses to the sash. Here are the most popular, for men and women alike.

Hen or stag do shirt

The group shirt marks you out as a team and is also a keepsake that tends to get dug out again for anniversaries. The shirts come in lots of colours with a print of your choice to match your theme. Budget from around €20 per shirt.

Costumes

A costume turns the night into a spectacle. Either just the guest of honour dresses up or the whole group does, ideally under a shared theme. Complete costumes and matching accessories are available online in every variation you can think of.

Vendor tray

The vendor tray, hung round the bride’s neck and filled with goodies to sell to strangers, is the traditional German hen party item. An empty one costs around €20 and you fill it yourself: miniature bottles of spirits and sweets go in, plus a few joke items. If you can’t face filling it, ready-stocked trays start at around €50.

Bags

Hen party bags replace the handbag for a night and can be colour-matched to everything else. Usually they’re drawstring bags worn on the back like a rucksack. Simple ones cost from €3 each, personalised ones from €5 to €10.

Sash

The sash is almost compulsory for the bride and often ends up framed. Paper sashes are cheap but don’t last. Polyester sashes with a reinforced edge are durable and cost from around €15 each.

Veil

For many brides the most important accessory of all: the veil. It should suit the bride’s taste and is fixed in place with clips or a built-in comb ring. Upmarket versions come with a crown or tiara. Simple veils start at €10.

Hair accessories & flower crown

Hair accessories are the alternative or add-on to the veil. With long hair they’re easy to pin in; with short hair they’re usually superfluous. Clips start at €2. More romantic is the flower crown: artificial versions from €5, fresh ones from €10 to €15 at the florist. With fresh flowers, ask for advice, because not every flower suits the occasion.

Hawaiian leis

Colourful flower garlands are a cheap classic, worn by women and men alike as decoration or costume jewellery. In packs of ten they cost from €2 per lei, personalised with a tag from €4.

Fun accessories for a bachelorette party

Fun accessories are meant for one night only. They mark out the crew, make the photos funnier and get a few extra laughs. They’re not a must, but they’re often what the best stories are made of later.

Party glasses

The choice of glasses is huge, with every shape and colour available. Prices start at €2. For a laugh and for photos you won’t forget, they’re hard to beat, and they suit any group.

Temporary tattoos

Ready-made tattoos saying “Team Bride” or “Bride to be” come in sets of four from €2.50. Personalised versions, including ones with your own photo, cost from about €8 each and take several weeks to arrive, so order in good time.

Ties

The counterpart for the stag party: ties show that Team Groom belongs together, and the groom often wears a version of his own. DIY ties start at €10, personalised from €15, and simple party ties in packs of ten from €20.

Badges & medals

Badges are cheap (packs of ten from €10) and quick to make yourself. Medals come in handy for drinking games: the winner collects one, and some people keep them as a souvenir. Medals cost from €12 for a pack of ten, personalised from €4 each.

Bracelets

Bracelets are the cheapest mark of recognition there is. Simple paper wristbands cost just a few euros, can be colour-matched and written on as you like. Nice if you want to mark yourselves out as a group without making a fuss.

Tutu

The tutu usually marks out Team Bride and is a lightweight alternative to a full costume: paired with leggings and a shirt, you’re ready to go. For a laugh it often ends up on the groom, which guarantees good photos. Simple tutus from €2, in a set with a headpiece from €10.

Odds and ends: ID lanyards, masks & clothes pegs

This is where it comes down to taste. ID passes on a lanyard help if you’re running a tab at a club, because the bartender recognises the group straight away (from €5 to €8). Masks are now only a fun accessory for photos. Clothes pegs mainly make sense for hanging up decorations or as a stand-in for place cards. All of this is a nice extra you can leave out without regret.

Decorations for a hen party

Decorations turn a room into a party, but they’re mainly worth it at a fixed venue. You can go for a theme, such as a Las Vegas or beach party, or simply match the colours. For more ideas for indoors and outdoors, see our guide to bachelorette party decorations.

Balloons

Balloons simply belong at a party and give you the most impact for your money. They come in every colour and to match any theme. Plain balloons cost around €4 for a pack of ten, themed balloons from €10. Order personalised ones from a party shop, ideally with a pump.

Glow sticks & lights

Glow sticks as bracelets or necklaces liven up the party and cost only around a euro each. For atmosphere at a fixed venue, hang up banners and fairy lights, which are easy to put up.

Garter

The blue garter has a long tradition: it’s given to the bride at the hen do but only worn on the wedding day. Polyester versions start at €5, and the sky’s the limit.

Sweet treats: cakes & cupcakes

A cake makes sense if you’re celebrating at a fixed venue; on a tour, you’re better off eating it beforehand. Themed cakes are available online from €25 or from your local bakery, and a homemade one only costs the ingredients. Cupcakes are the flexible alternative, because they come in lots of flavours, including vegan ones.

Tableware & confetti

Paper plates and cups save on washing up and work on the move too: a simple set from €10, hen party disposables a little pricier but prettier. Confetti is part of cheering on the bride (bags from €7), but it’s banned on trains and in some clubs, so find a spot in the park or on the street for it.

Fluffy handcuffs

Pink fluffy handcuffs are a tradition for some and pointless for others; it all depends on the bride. If she’s a party animal, they’re a must; if she prefers things low-key, leave them out. They cost around €10, key included.