Friday, April 07, 2006

5 Tips For Arranging A Stag Weekend

The groom has chosen you as the best man. Congratulations! Now what do you do? Begin preparations for stag weekend and later, using the events of the stag weekend as inspiration, write the best man's speech. Below are three key points to you started for the stag weekend.

Who's coming
Sit down and talk to the groom. Find out who his best mates are, other than the close circle of mutual friends. Ask about his student days, work places old and new, long lost childhood buddies, sports clubs and any of his fiancée's male friends. Does he want his father and father-in-law to come? What about other male members of either side of the family?

Once you have collected all the names, count the number of people you have. You may think there are too many at the moment but remember that some will not be able to attend the stag weekend. Aim for about 10-15 people if you can. Any more and it'll become unmanageable or there will be too many people who do not know each other and getting into places may prove a problem.

Gather all the names and contact details into one place. Skobee is a fantastic web 2.0 tool for organising an event between people when the details are still a bit fuzzy. Give it a go and let us know how if it worked for you.

When and where to go
You'll need to give people as much notice as possible as to when the stag weekend is going to be held. Suggest a few dates over email, over a pint or using something like Skobee. If you're planning on inviting folk who are not amongst your close-knit bunch of mates then make sure you consult these guys if you can.

Likewise, choosing a city to host your wild weekend is an important one, best debated between friends over email so everyone has a chance to air their views. Remember though, that you, the best man, are ultimately responsible for making the final decisions and you can't please everyone, and don't forget the groom's wishes. Location plays an important factor because often people live all over the country or possibly abroad. Plan a location that is easy to get to for all party-goers.

Accommodation
If you're chosen location is in a city, a hotel or B&B is the best choice of accomodation. Some have policies against stag and hen parties so make sure to double check. Book the accommodation as early as possible as it'll be difficult to find somewhere closer to time that can cater for a large group of lads. Consider if the place has a bar too - this always goes down well with everyone. The location of the hotel is also a consideration. Generally you'll be paying more to be closer to the action so consider everyone's budget as people will already have forked out for travel, and after having paid for accommodation, might not have much left to spend on the weekend itself.

What to do
Once you have decided on who's coming and where you're all going, research what there is to do. Where are the best pubs, clubs, and bars where 10-15 people can get in at the same time? Can you get group discounts by phoning around? Is everyone in your group happy to go to lap-dancing joints? If you have a vicar with you, lose him quick, he'll thank you for not putting temptation in his way. Find restaurants that can cater for a large bunch of lads on a Friday and Saturday night.

Other than night time activities, the weekend can be broken up by finding an exciting activity to do on the Saturday. In and around every major town or city there's companies looking for your business. It's always worth negotiating on the price of these activities especially when you booking in a large group. If the event or activity you plan to do is situated away from the town, see if the company can organise a minibus to pick you up from your accomodation as taxis can be expensive for out of town journeys. If people within your group have cars it may be good idea to put the car keys behind the hotel reception so you're not tempted to drive in the morning as more often than not you'll be drunk still.

Budget
You and the stag might be able to afford the cost of your planned weekend but what about everyone else. Once you know where you're going, where you're staying and what you're doing, work out a rough cost for transport, accommodation, activities, eating and drinking. You may have to reconsider your plan if things are looking a little on the expensive side. Perhaps it may be cheaper to travel abroad where you can get more for your money or that people won't be put off so much by the expense because they are in a different country.

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