Stag party planning
First off, get the groom to help you draw up a list of guests. Once you know who's coming, you can decide what sort of budget you should be aiming for. If all the guests are loaded, you can think about a Stag party in Vegas. If not, somewhere local might be more up your street.
Who to invite
Essential Stag party advice
- Choose the group carefully - this can be a tricky operation but this is probably the most important element of a good Stag party.
- Planning - start booking accommodation and travel etc as soon as you can. Remember, not everywhere accepts Stag parties so call ahead and make sure you're welcome wherever you plan to go.
- Practical jokes - what would a Stag party be without a couple of harmless pranks? Remember though to keep them just that - harmless. The Stag is there to have a good time and celebrate friendship.
- Break the ice - if the Stags don't know each other too well, try and use techniques to break the ice. For instance, Stag group t-shirts or fancy dress instantly give everyone something in common and can provide a bit of a talking point.
- Run a kitty - get everyone to contribute as this stops people getting into cliquey rounds. Get a fair whack off everyone up front so you don't have to keep asking. The Stag shouldn't really have to contribute to this.
- Look after the Stag - as Best Man, it's your job to make sure he's looked after and gets back in one piece.
Traditionally you should invite the following: ushers, close friends of the groom and the bride and groom's brothers. It's always a nice gesture to invite the bride and groom's fathers but you may live to regret this unless you can get rid of them early in the proceedings.
Try to keep the numbers sensible to avoid spending most of your time keeping the group together. Also, really large groups can become quite cliquey which doesn't help with Stag party bonding. Ideally you want everyone to develop friendships that carry over to the wedding day and maybe beyond. Make sure everyone can afford the weekend up front. There's nothing worse than someone holding the group back or being left out because they've run out of money.
Lastly, make sure the people you invite will make an effort to get on with the rest of the group. If you have a friend that's rude and obnoxious, you may want to think about leaving him behind.
Get busy
Stag parties typically take place somewhere between a week and a month before the wedding (make sure the groom has plenty of time for his eyebrows to grow back). However, you will need to start planning much earlier. One of the first things to do is to set the date so everyone gets a chance to get it into their diaries.
Remember this is the groom's Stag and a good party will leave the groom feeling like he's had a great time. Even if it takes him a couple of days to remember exactly what happened. As long as you focus on that, instead of embarrassing him, you can't really go wrong - although, it wouldn't be a kosher Stag party without a touch of embarrassment here and there.
This is one time you can feel free to talk or email behind the groom's back with the other guests. Making clandestine plans is all part of the fun.
Should it be one night or a whole Stag weekend? Chilled out or action packed? Successful Stag parties are often frenetic and have plenty of action and fun activities. However, you may want something more laid back. Ultimately though, the most important thing is, without doubt, who you do it with. Be sure to hand pick the group and don't be afraid to leave out those who won't get on.
Once you've decided, you can get down to being creative and sorting out the details. Should you go abroad? What about going to an event like the Pamplona Bull Run? For some great ideas, check out
Stag party ideas.
Strippers?
A minority of Stag parties involve
strippers. As the best man, you probably already know if he wants one or not. If not, do your best to find out. This decision should ultimately be the Stag's and not left up to the mob. Results from a recent StagsandHens.com survey show that 62% of visitors to the site would like a stripper at their party. If you do book a stripper, make sure you get permission from the venue. Lots of places will not allow strippers, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
DIY or get help?
One of the advantages of organising the Stag party yourself is that you have complete control over everything including accommodation, transport and activities. You can also tailor it just the way you like and indulge in whatever strange activities take your fancy.
Husky safari in Lapland anyone?
If all this is a bit much for you or you don't have the time, there are plenty of companies that can organise a package for you. A word of warning though - make sure they're up front about what's not included. We know of at least one company that doesn't include transfers. Not something you want to discover on the day when you've got 15 thirsty mates with you. Here are some of the organisers:
Redseven Leisure
www.redsevenleisure.co.uk
Freedom
www.freedomltd.com
Last Night of Freedom
www.lastnightoffreedom.co.uk
Stagweb
www.stagweb.co.uk
ChilliSauce
www.chillisauce.co.uk
Awesome Events
www.awesome-events.co.uk
Off Limits
www.stagweekends.co.uk
For a full listing, see
Stag and Hen Organisers in the Directory.
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