21 ott 2022, 12:33:52
By Simon Nichols
1. Work out who you want to invite
OK, first job is work who are you going to invite. Will you be mixing family with friends? Long buddies with recent friendships? Will you be inviting the father of the future bride or her brothers? Consider how groups will get on and mingle.
2. Choose a location
Once you have an idea of who is coming, the next task is to consider a location. It could be somewhere local if planning just for an afternoon or evening, or perhaps further afield if you are looking for overnight, a weekend or even a week! Consider what is available at the location - can you book bubble football, laser tag or is there a good escape room for hire?
3. Select a duration
As well as location consider how long your stag party will last for? Many people have a weekend away, but is that suitable for you and your group? There’s no point travelling too far if you only plan on staying for one day or a few hours. Perhaps you could even split up the event, with some people being involved in the drinking, and others there for the full experience.
4. Consider transport
Look at the group and consider how they will all be arriving at the location. If going further afield are there good transport links for everyone? Can you get to the location via public transport? If you are all leaving from the same place, perhaps you can hire private transport? And why not hire a limo for the evening?
5. Think of activities to suit the group
If your stag party group is a real mix of people and ages; not every activity will be suitable. Look for an activity that will cover the majority or all the attendees. Snow boarding is great, but can everyone snowboard?
6. Keep the cost down
Generally, stag party will be a mix of family, friends, colleagues, and ex colleagues. This could mean a real mix of demographics and importantly individual budgets. Make sure you don’t book venues and activities that not everyone can get involved in or be embarrassed about the cost. Perhaps set a per person budget to cover all the activities, transport. food and accommodation.
7. Book activities in advance
You do not want your guys turning and not having anything to do or where to go, no one enjoys walking around in a big group looking for an activity or a bar. Book in advance, perhaps use a “book now, pay later” solution when booking paintball or go karting so you are not paying before the participants pay you, and if you book a bar or club, it could be worth informing them that you are a stag party, so you are not turned away.
8. Make sure everyone is well fed
If drinking is a big part of your event, make sure you provide times and options for eating. You could look at including a cookery course as part of the day – perhaps a pizza making class or BBQ workshop. There are many activities such as ten pin bowling or beer tasting where you can combine the activity with drinks and food.
9. Don’t start drinking too early!
You don’t want to go silly too soon and ruin the event, but at the same time you want to have the maximum fun! Why not start with a beer bike or brewery tour where you get to have a few drinks but with an interesting element to keep the revelry until later! If you are flying to a destination or getting a train, it's always nice to have a few drinks for the journey.
10. Make an agreement on social media
Now almost everyone has a mobile phone with access to social media, it may be worth agreeing the guidelines as to what participants are allowed to share in social media like twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. No one in the group will want their reputation ruined by having a drunken picture posted on social media, especially the groom!
Simon Nichols
Head of Partnerships at Evendo
About Simon, he has a background in the London events and hospitality market going back over 20 years. Simon has in an in-depth knowledge of the events market and currently heads up all supplier partnerships at Evendo.
