Being asked to fulfil best man duties is an honour, it’s a real privilege and can put a spring in the step of any individual. However, it can also be stressful and ensuring the groom has the best possible experience on their stag-do is absolutely key.
Source: StagWeb via Twitter
The first priority has to be deciding where to hold the event. A dedicated best man may opt to liaise with the groom’s parents or future partner to garner ideas relating to location or they may wish to keep it as a complete surprise.
European Cities have increased in popularity in recent years with the likes of Sofia, Riga and Krakow all becoming regular haunts for nearly-marrieds and their stag parties due to their low cost. They join Hamburg, Prague and Bratislava as prominent locations for a pre-wedding knees-up.
Once a destination has been pinned down and flights have been coordinated and booked, there’s the small matter of activities. Keeping the stag party entertained is essential but you cannot cater for everyone. Well-travelled Uncle’s in their mid-50s are likely to have vastly different interests to young 18-year-olds who are fresh out of college and have little experience of these kinds of events.
Drinking is the common denominator on stag dos! Even if the groom isn’t a regular pub-goer, it is a once-in-a-lifetime (hopefully!) event for him and there is always likely to be bar crawl involved. But what other activities can be included?
Casino visits are incredibly popular during stag-dos and most European cities will boast an impressive array of them. If you fancy organising something completely different you could visit the Basement Casino at North Cadbury Court in Yeovil which offers parties the chance to play a range of games in a Gatsby-esque environment or perhaps the groom would prefer an altogether more supernatural feel to proceedings at Bally’s of Las Vegas, these are just two of the world’s most unusual casinos as detailed by 32Red. These offer a completely authentic experience which should ensure a thoroughly memorable trip for the party and these visits can also be booked well in advance.
Regular casinos offer the chance for the entire party to a number of games and it caters for all ages (above 18!). Some of the party may already be familiar with many of the offerings here as online casinos such as Breakout Gaming or Juicy Stakes host regular poker tournaments and allow users to play variants of classic games such as Triple Bonus Spin Roulette from the comfort of their own home. The majority of land-based establishments, however, will offer classics such as blackjack, roulette and poker and they’ll only require each member to quickly register prior to entry and there is always a bar and restaurant within.
Source: Palms Casino Resort via Twitter
Another popular option is organizing a day at the races. There are over 50 UK racecourses which are ideal for stag parties although the likes of York, Newcastle and Aintree tend to both welcome and attract larger groups and offer regular meetings throughout the year. There is the distinct possibility that some of the groom’s party may leave the stag-do having made a profit. Drinks will be on them! Many websites such as 32Red offer daily blogs from top jockeys such as Jamie Spencer who offer their insight into various rides and these can very useful if you want to impress your mates!
Alternative activities include Go Karting which is usually universally popular with the group. This can be a lot of fun and often isn’t too expensive. Laser Quest is another relatively new phenomenon and will offer an opportunity to unleash all those frustrations out on one another! The same applies to paintballing. Those with a fondness for the outdoors may wish to opt for caving, clay pigeon shooting or canoeing.
You must be careful not to overplan this trip as the groom will not wish to be rushed or feel like they are operating to a strict timetable. One of two activities spread across the weekend or booked several hours apart should provide the ideal relaxed feel to the stag-do.
Many cities embrace stag dos but some venues have a strict policy of not allowing rowdy parties onto their premises. Don’t be surprised if you are refused entry to a particular establishment or kicked out of somewhere even if you are not causing any trouble. If you are adorned in costume you are immediately likely to catch their attention even if you’re dressed as priests.
As long as the groom feels comfortable with the activities and the surroundings, you are onto a winner! No stag-do can ever run entirely to plan and there are bound to be hiccups but successfully coordinating it and getting the seal of approval from the party is a very rewarding experience. Ensure that you always have a Plan B and never overload the weekend with events and activities and most importantly make sure you take time to relax and reward yourself with a beer or two!