Wedding Planning|Wedding Planning & Wedding Advice

The Stag Night – A Night to Remember?

Heard the one about the stag night that ended with the groom and half his party in the county jail?  How about where the groom ended up on the other side of the country with no money or credit cards and minus his trousers with the wedding in 12 hours?  How about where the groom simply didn’t get to the wedding at all because he’s handcuffed to a lamp post outside his prospective in-laws home?

Sure it’s funny when it happens to someone else and there are numerous urban legends about what some poor schmuck had done to them by the friends on their last night of being “single” – but the reality is not funny if it messes up a huge financial and emotional investment!

Traditionally the stag night is the celebration of the last night of being single; after that the groom should only have married life in his sites.  The best man is also traditionally tasked with making the arrangements for the stag night and also serves as the grooms bodyguard; in the event that it is necessary, it is the best man’s job to make sure the groom makes it home and to the wedding safely!

It is also not advisable to get married with a hangover!

For this reason, you shouldn’t arrange a stag night on the evening before the wedding – give everyone plenty of time to recover and make good any damage from pranksters – if things do get out of hand, you won’t have the added time pressure of making it to the church on time when you’re trying to make bail!

Organizing a great stag night is not complicated; the groom should not pay for anything so take into account his costs when you are working out what it is going to cost everyone so everyone bears a burden of his share.  You also can exercise some imagination and innovation and make sure you have planned the affair well in advance; it is common for the father of the bride and of the groom to be invited and as these guys will be men of experience, don’t be afraid of asking them for help in arranging the night and the inevitable pranks to be played on the groom.  It is decorum for both fathers to leave the celebrations early though!

The bachelor in question should have a say in drawing up the guest list; once you have your guest list they all should be given plenty of time of the venue and what is going to be happening on the night – the best man really needs to be well organized to get this all put together.

We also should not forget the girls in all of this; many couples have already been working, living and romancing each other for some time before they decide to tie the knot and there is an increasing trend towards having a combined bachelor and bachelorette party.  Usually the best man will be orchestrating this with the maid of honor who is acting as his opposite number.

The best man is also responsible for arranging the transport and accommodations for guests at the end of the affair but his primary duty is to make sure the groom is delivered back home and in shape to get married!

Related articles

• Want to Get Married in Barbados? (relaxbarbados.com)
• Prince William may hit the G-spot on his stag night (telegraph.co.uk)
• Tips On Wedding Planning That Might Be Overlooked (frommyexperience.com)
• Home Sweet Home: An Engagement Party Homecoming (mybigfatengagement.com)

Getting Married Soon?

An Independence Day Bachelor Party

Why? Well, July 4th usually involves outdoor fun, barbecued food, and beer so it sounds like a perfect day to get the guys together and celebrate your groom-to-be’s independence one last time. Here are some ideas…

Patriotic Spots to Celebrate

If the groom is a history buff, this is the perfect opportunity to take him on a weekend that celebrates his heritage while you celebrate his impending wedding. Tripadvisor.com lists top 10 Patriotic Attractions, here are my picks:

Freedom Trail (Boston Massachusetts)

“Boston’s Freedom Trail is a two-and-a-half mile path through 16 significant U.S. historical sites where Revolutionary War heroes fought for U.S. independence, including the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old State House and Bunker Hill Monument, to name a few” (tripadvisor.com).

Mount Rushmore (Keystone, South Dakota)

“A famous 60-foot mountainside carving created by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and completed in 1941 pays homage to the most influential U.S. presidents in our country’s first 150 years: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt” (tripadvisor.com).

Revolutionary Refreshments

It doesn’t matter what you serve as long as you grill it and then stick it with a lot of American flag toothpicks!

Barbecuing is as American as, well… apple pie!

Patriot Games

Don’t forget to organize some games. This truly American football is available from carnivalimports.com (irony somewhat intended).

The baseball is from chinawholesalegift.com.

Clubplanet.com lists 5 different drinking games for the 4th of July.

All American Stories

End off the night (or the next morning) with an All-American movie perfect for some all-American guys: Saving Private Ryan, The Outsiders, American Pie, Dazed and Confused, Animal House… whatever suits your group of friends the best (any other suggestions?).

Don’t Forget Your Independ-pants

…and shirt, and shoes…

This cool shirt is from onlinesports.com.

You might also consider throwing your stagette or bachelorette (or Jack and Jill party) on Independence Day!

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Happy AND Healthy?

A health-conscious party can still be a lot of fun!

If you are organizing a pre-wedding  party for a bride who is either extremely health-consious, is dieting for her big day, or has eating restrictions due to an allergy or condition – you might consider catering your celebration to meet her needs so that she can enjoy herself.

Some of this is obvious: don’t throw a pig roast bachelor party for your friend if he’s a member of PETA or a vegetarian (or both). However, sometimes it’s not that clear. For most of us, fattening baked goods and fatty appetizers are so closely associated with parties that you wouldn’t even consider changing the menu for a friend. This won’t be appropriate for everyone, you will know if this is what your friend would prefer (and if you’re not sure, it is always wise to check). The last thing you want to do is offend the bride or groom.

Activities

Party activities should be exactly that: active. Include activities so that guests aren’t standing around eating the whole time and they are less likely to notice that the menu is a bit different. Make the stag party a hike instead of a pub crawl, if that’s what the guest of honor would prefer! Or, if the bride loves adventure – plan for a group of you to go skydiving.

Community Events

There are so many charity runs, walks, and cycling events out there you might consider honoring your guest of honor with an event that is appropriate to their achievements. Create a team and invite everyone to participate instead of the bridal shower, bachelor party, or bachelorette. Participants can donate money to the cause rather than purchasing a gift. Make t-shirts for everyone and have fun! Spread out a buffet at your house for after wards, or pack a picnic for everyone and meet at a nearby park. Family members who are unable to participate can cheer from the sidelines or might volunteer to help with the snacks after wards.

Fresh Ideas

If your party includes physical activity, make sure you provide lots of hydrating drinks. Water is always the best choice (but not that exciting). Glam it up by using fancy pitchers, like this one from thekitchenoutlet.com. You can make water more exciting by adding flavors.

Large fruit and vegetable platters are always a good idea. Salsas and hummus are healthier dip choices,  or look for healthy versions of your favorites such as this no mayo spinach dip posted at Recipezaar.com.