subject: 10 Steps To Planning A Stag Do [print this page] 10 Steps To Planning A Stag Do 10 Steps To Planning A Stag Do
Have you been given the honour of being the best man for your friend's wedding? If so, your first job may be to organise his stag do. Here are 10 steps to help you plan a memorable occasion.
1. Your first step should be to talk to the groom-to-be. You need to find out who he wants you to invite on the stag party, plus he may have a few rules that you should stick to. Don't let him take over, though - that's your job. Plus, it's important that there's an element of surprise involved. However, you don't want to cross a line he won't forgive you for especially if he has older relatives coming along.
2. Once you know the groom's golden rules and an idea of who you'll be inviting, you can start to think about some ideas. It's a good idea to consult with a couple of his other close friends to formulate a plan. It will also help to have some allies, should others want to break the golden rules!
3. Think about what dates you want to arrange it for. This may be dictated by the invitees, particularly the ones who definitely need to be there, or it could be determined by what you want to do. For instance, you may want to go to an event, like the races or a football match, in which case their schedule will have a bearing.
4. The next thing to think about is what parts of the evening will require a booking. If you're going to the races or a club at some point in the evening, you'll probably need tickets. If you're eating at a restaurant, then you may need to book a table. You won't want to confirm just yet, but find out how much things will cost and total it up.
5. Now you need to get in touch with everyone on the invite list. This should ideally be done by telephone, as emails and text messages can lead to a delay in getting a response. Tell them what the plan is for the evening, what you roughly expect it to cost, and confirm if they can make it. Some will give you an answer there and then, others will have to get back to you. With the need to book tickets/tables in mind, give them a deadline for providing a definite answer.
6. Once you have numbers confirmed, you'll want to book things up. Some things will require a deposit, others just a name to hold your reservation. If there are any that request the money in full, you have two options... either to cover this upfront payment yourself or to quickly chase the money from everyone else.
7. If you've paid for the tickets yourself, you'll still need to chase up the money from everyone. Keep a spreadsheet of who has paid and who hasn't. Try to get this sorted as soon as possible.
8. If you're going for a pub crawl and possibly ending the night at a club, it's a good idea to find out if the venues you're visiting are happy to let all-male groups in together. If you're desperate to go to a particular venue, but they won't let you all in together, consider staggering the group. However, it will be your responsibility to make sure everyone gets in.
9. Sorting transport will also be important. The group may make their own way to the location of the party individually, or you may need to book a mini-bus or taxis. Either way, make sure this is added to the amount of money you need from each of the party goers and get it booked as soon as possible.
10. Finally, think about the extra touches you want to include in the evening. This can range from surprises for your soon to be married friend to T-shirt printing, featuring funny slogans or your friend's image on them.
If you like the idea of using t-shirt printing, then you may want to start thinking about what you want on them. Many firms that offer promotional clothing will allow you to design your own, so find a good supplier that can provide everything you need.
