In this article, I share my top tips on how to plan awesome stag weekends that the whole party will love with less planning and more excitement for the event ahead.
Table of Contents
Last-Minute Planning Essentials
From sorting the guest list to considering stag weekend activities, you need to have all the who, what, when and hows in front of you to help you plan the ultimate stag night.
Determining the budget
You need to know how much everyone is willing to spend before you start booking. Once you know you can start looking at suitably priced City centre Hotels, club activities etc.
Guest list creation and communication
You need to discuss with the groom exactly who they want to come to the stag do and how you can communicate with them.
Delegating tasks to save time
You don’t have to do everything for the stag; do ask other friends and family to help and the groom may even contribute too.
Ask Help from a Stag Do Company
It’s a good idea to look into asking for help from reputable stag do companies. They can help you with stag weekend ideas.
Accommodation Hacks
When it comes to where you are going for the stag, you need to think about accommodation options. Whether you are thinking of looking for basic hotels or 3-Star Hotels, you need to book somewhere for everyone to stay with easy access to the activities.
Booking last-minute hotels and motels
You can find some hotels and motels at a good value online. Look on sites that offer cheap hotels at the last minute to find a bargain.
Using apps for last-minute Airbnb deals
Look for Airbnb deals on apps to snap up a great accommodation option for the stag. If it’s last minute and the place hasn’t been filled, you are looking at a cheaper rate.
Staying with friends or family
Why not go local for the stag and then everyone can stay around one person’s place? You could choose a destination where one of the stag members lives.
Last-Minute-Themed Stag Do Ideas
When you are looking for good last-minute ideas, you should consider going for themed stag party ideas. These are always fun ways to celebrate a stag and everyone loves getting involved.
DIY home party ideas
Host a poker night with a table, chips and cards and give guests drinks and snacks.
Plan a movie marathon with your favourite films, popcorn, and drinks; you can even set a theme.
A video game tournament is a great idea. Pick out some of your favourite games and a range of consoles, and have some banter and competition.
Instant costume themes
All dressing up as a favourite superhero or Marvel character is a fun costume theme. Dressing up in 80s wear is a popular on-trend character theme popular with stags. Cowboys and Indians is another great theme that the stag party members will enjoy.
Transforming local venues into themed experiences
Hire a village hall or community centre and create a casino stag night. Lay out a few tables with games and you could even hire a dealer to play blackjack, roulette and poker.
Rent out a hall and turn it into a retro gaming hub. Hire out some old-school games and let the competitiveness flow.
Look at hiring out a sports hall and then fill it with your own sports games including uniforms and equipment.
Action-Packed Activities on Short Notice
Everyone loves a good stag do full of outdoor activities which gets everyone having a fun, lively time. The more action the better and these will satisfy your group on short notice.
Walk-in activity venues
Go Karting would be a fun activity and the tracks often offer walk-ins and will certainly be a crowd-pleasing outdoor stag idea.
Paintballing is a classic stag do idea that all the group will love. They offer group packages and it’s a great last-minute, thrilling stag do idea.
Escape rooms have been growing in popularity with stags opting for the fun, challenging activity.
Park and outdoor games
Bubble Football is a fun way to play the sport but with a quirky, unique twist. Lots of laughs are to be had as well as some fun competitions.
Shooting activities are a popular activity including clay pigeon shooting which is often a go-to choice for stags.
Set up some giant outdoor games at your local park which you can hire from companies. From Giant Jenga to Connect-4, it’s great fun for everyone.
Last-minute sports events and tournaments
A five-a-side football tournament at a local football centre is a great stag do activity.
A tennis tournament at your local tennis ground is another fun and challenging event.
A stadium tour and game is a great idea if the groom is a fan of a particular sport and team.
Nightlife and Entertainment
A lot of stags involve some nightlife and entertainment as part of the stag day or weekend. It’s worth considering some type of beer garden crawl or club entry for the stag do.
Bar crawls
Research the local area and see what types of bars and pubs are around where you might want to drop in on the stag do.
A local bar crawl is always a good idea so you can get to the accommodation easily or further afield can be interesting if there is a particular place the groom likes.
Pop-up events and festivals
A food festival is a great idea if there are any that the group can travel to at short notice. They often have drink vendors and live music too.
Check out if any beer festivals are on as these are great to try different beers and ciders and enjoy live music too.
If the groom is a music fan, why not book last-minute tickets to a music festival where you can all camp after?
Fast and Fun Games and Pranks
Games are always a good way to get everyone in the party spirit and help them to get to know each other. It can ease any awkwardness and can make some fun memories everyone will talk about for ages.
Quick-prep stag do games
Beer pong is a fun game that everyone will love to get involved in. All you need is a table, some cups and your alcohol choice.
A quiz on who knows the groom best is always good fun. It always brings out some fun facts about the groom that nobody knew before.
Never have I ever is also a fun game, especially if you make the party drink every time they have done one of the questions.
On-the-spot pranks and surprises
Why not bring out a costume the groom has to wear as soon as you get to the chosen venue- the sillier the better!
A surprise of a call out to the groom to do some comedy, sing a song, or just get on stage is always a funny surprise that the party will enjoy.
A speech is always fun but moving surprise for the groom. You could even get each member of the party to say a few words.
Conclusion
If you have left the stag do arranging until the last minute, there are still lots of activities you can do so that everyone will have a great time. From do-it-yourselves options to last-minute fun and games, we hope you have some exciting ideas that the groom-to-be will enjoy for their last night of freedom with family and friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I plan a memorable stag do at the last minute?
You need to first invite everybody that the groom would be there to celebrate the day then arrange a few activities and work out where everyone will stay. With at least one activity, a few games and a fun bar crawl, everyone will have a great time.
What are the best last-minute stag do activities?
Arrange a fun activity that everyone can enjoy for a last-minute stag. Whether you go for something outdoors like clay pigeon shooting or book a beer-tasting activity for everyone, it’s bound to be a great day followed by a meal or a club.
How can I find last-minute deals and offers for a stag do?
You can look on websites that offer last-minute deals at a reasonable price or ring the venue and they might give you a reasonable group rate for the stag. Social media is also a good option to find some deals in the local area and beyond.
Can I still have a themed stag do if I’m short on time?
As we have discussed above, it’s easy to do a DIY-themed stag do at the last minute. You just need to find a venue and then you can make that easily into a themed stag such as a casino night, a gaming tournament or a 80s/90s-themed night out. Add some costumes and it will be perfect.
What are some quick food and drink options for a last-minute stag?
You can easily grab some pub food while you are out on a bar crawl. You can get the all-important beers and then some food at the same time. Otherwise, pizzas are always a hit or you could even arrange a BBQ at the park or beach after your chosen activity.
