Invitations for stag party

The stag do is the groom's send-off, organised by the best man with his closest mates, and a long-standing part of the British wedding tradition. It can be anything from a few pints and a curry to a weekend away with go-karting, paintballing and a big night out. Whatever the shape, the organising involves the same headaches — settling a date that suits everyone, agreeing what people are happy to spend, and keeping track of who is actually coming. An online invitation takes the first hurdle off your plate.

The format follows the group. A local night out — drinks, a meal, maybe a comedy club or the football — for an easy option; an activity day with karting, clay shooting or an escape room; or a full weekend in Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol or further afield. Numbers usually land between eight and twenty. In our experience money is the thing to nail down first: lads need to know the total damage, what it covers and when to pay, because nothing sours a stag do faster than a surprise bill at the end. Spell it out clearly in the invitation.

A good invitation carries the groom's name, the date or weekend, the meeting point and time, the plan of action, the cost and what is included, any dress code or theme, and an RSVP with a reply-by date. For a weekend, add where you are staying and how to get there. A bold, fun template fits the occasion; if part of the plan is a surprise for the groom, keep a separate set of details for the rest of the group.

The digital format suits a stag perfectly. The link goes out on the group chat, replies count themselves, and you can tweak the plan on the fly as things come together. A Google map drops everyone at the right pub or activity centre, and the whole thing costs nothing to send round — which leaves more in the kitty for the day itself.