Stag & Does

On Saturday night, I went to my first stag and doe and I have to say I had a pretty good time (and not just because Shawn and I won the 50/50 draw).

From my understanding, stag and does are really a rural Ontario thing and aren’t usually seen in Toronto. That being said, I have seen a few posts on wedding boards about where in Toronto one could hold a stag and doe and of course Toronto is filled with former residents of rural Ontario who head back to their hometowns to host their wedding fundraiser. So because of those reasons, below are a few tips for those of you out there who plan on hosting a stag and doe.

• Get help: A stag and doe can be a lot of work so make sure you have people who can help you out with setting it up, running it and taking it down. Ideally, these same helpers can sell tickets and assist with obtaining/purchasing prizes
• Consider a theme: Yeah, themes can be a hassle but they can also make planning things a bit easier and they give you another way to “sell” your event
• Keep the ticket price low: $10 is fair; maybe even $15 if you plan to get fancy about the food
• Provide plenty of food: The food we were given on Saturday was more than appropriate and it never ran out. Offerings included veggies, chips, squares and of course the must-have build-your-own bun platters
• Keep the games simple: Popular events at Saturday’s stag and doe included the twoonie toss, the raffles and the game where you buy glow sticks to give to the bride or groom and whoever ends up with the most has to do something embarrassing
• Have an MC: I don’t think you need to have a DJ at a stag and doe (though it’s certainly nice if you can) but you do need someone with a mic who can run the show and get people participating in the various events

As for the “ethics” behind throwing a event intended to raise money for your wedding: I think that if stag and does are the norm in your circle, it’s fine to have one. Just don’t be too greedy and make sure that everyone, including yourself, has a great time!