Stag do planning
Stag Do Planning Checklist: Outfits, Activities and Essential Accessories
Somewhere between the engagement news and the second pint, someone said “you’ll sort the stag, yeah?” and now it is your problem. This checklist walks best men and stag organisers through the lot: budget, guest list, destination, travel, beds, activities, the group chat, the Saturday night plan and the matching T-shirts, in the order you actually need to do them.
In this guide
- When should you start planning a stag do?
- Who should you invite to a stag do?
- How do you set a stag do budget everyone can afford?
- Home or away: where should the stag do be?
- Shirts for the groom and the whole crew
- How do you plan stag do activities and the evening itinerary?
- How do you organise group T-shirts for a stag do?
- What should go in the group chat and the best man’s kit bag?
- Stag do planning FAQs
Kitting out the stag group?
Groom shirts and crew shirts, all printed to order in the UK. Shipping normally takes 3-5 days.
5% off your first order with code GO5
Being asked to organise a stag do is a compliment with a spreadsheet attached. The groom gets a brilliant weekend; you get forty unanswered messages and one mate who still has not said if he is coming.
Stag dos tend to go wrong in the same few places: the budget was never agreed, numbers were never confirmed, or nobody planned where everyone would be at 11pm on Saturday. Sort those three and the rest is detail. The checklists below print cleanly, so tick them off as you go.
A quick note: we are a T-shirt shop, not a stag organiser, so we will not pretend to book your go-karting. We can help with the outfits, and there is a full section on group T-shirts below.
Quick answer
To organise a stag do, start three to six months out: agree a date and rough plan with the groom, build the guest list, set a per-head budget and collect deposits before booking anything. Then book travel and accommodation, plan one or two main activities plus a loose evening itinerary, and order group T-shirts early enough to leave a buffer for checking sizes.
When should you start planning a stag do?
Ideally three to six months before, and earlier if you are going abroad or aiming for a busy summer or bank holiday weekend. Big groups need time to book leave, save up and reply.
Many stag dos happen somewhere between a few weeks and a couple of months before the wedding. Avoid the weekend right before it. Nobody wants a groom with a voice like a gravel lorry saying his vows. Here is the whole job as a timeline.
3 to 6 months before
- Ask the groom what he does and does not want
- Agree a date, with one backup weekend
- Draft the guest list and check it with the groom
- Set a per-head budget and decide home or away
- Start the group chat and send a save-the-date
2 to 3 months before
- Collect deposits and confirm final numbers
- Book accommodation and travel
- Book the main activity and a restaurant big enough for the group
4 to 6 weeks before
- Collect the balance from everyone
- Pick a group T-shirt design and collect sizes
- Rough out the itinerary, including meals
- Remind everyone to check passports if you are flying
2 to 3 weeks before
- Order the group T-shirts
- Confirm every booking in writing
The week of the stag
- Check the T-shirts have arrived and fit
- Pack the best man’s kit bag (see the list below)
- Share emergency contacts
A shirt for the organiser
Plan Ahead has its last letter dropping off the end of the line, which is exactly how it feels when you leave stag planning too late. It doubles as a gentle hint to the lads who still have not paid their deposit.
Who should you invite to a stag do?
The groom decides. Your job is to turn his wish list into a group that works. Ask him directly: the guest list is the one thing that causes real fallout if it goes wrong.
- Start with his list, not yours. Brothers, close mates, the best man and ushers are the usual core. Dads, future brothers-in-law and work friends are his call.
- Think about the mix. School friends, university mates and the five-a-side lot may never have met. Plan a meal or daytime activity early on so they get talking before the drinking starts.
- Keep booking in mind. The bigger the group, the harder restaurants, minibuses and accommodation are to book as one, so you may need to split.
- Offer a part-time option. Not everyone can do a full weekend away. A Saturday-only option keeps numbers up without pushing anyone into a cost they cannot manage.
Tip: no surprise guests. Run the final list past the groom before any invites go out. A stag do is not the place to discover he fell out with his cousin three years ago.
How do you set a stag do budget everyone can afford?
Set the budget before you pick the destination, not after. Ask the group privately what they can realistically spend and plan around the lower end, not the loudest voice in the chat.
Then a few money rules that save a lot of grief:
- Collect deposits before you book anything. Never put a group booking on your own card and hope. A deposit is the only RSVP that counts.
- Agree the refund rule up front. Say in the first message that once something is booked for someone, their deposit covers it if they drop out.
- Share a cost breakdown. List what is covered (accommodation, activity, a group meal) and what is not (flights, drinks, taxis).
- Split the groom’s share. It is common for the group to cover the groom’s costs between them. Decide at the start and build it into the per-head figure.
- Run a kitty, with limits. Agree how much goes in and who holds it, ideally not the lad most likely to lose his wallet.
- Keep a simple tracker. Names, amounts and dates in one place, with names as payment references.
| Cost | Who usually pays | When to collect |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Split across the group | Deposit at booking, balance before the trip |
| Main activity | Split across the group | Once numbers are confirmed |
| Flights or trains | Each person, or the organiser books and collects | Up front, before anything is booked |
| Group meal | Split, often covering the groom’s share | In the balance or on the night |
| Drinks kitty | An agreed amount from everyone | At the start of the night |
| Group T-shirts | Each person, or one person orders and collects | When sizes are collected |
Budget for the costs people forget: airport parking, luggage fees, food on the Sunday and the taxi home from wherever the night ends. Whoever ends up holding the kitty has earned They Say Money Talks, Mine Just Says Goodbye, and if the group has gone for the budget option, Due To Budget Cuts owns it with a tunnel whose light has been switched off.
Home or away: where should the stag do be?
The right destination is the one that fits the group’s budget, the groom’s taste and how much time people can take off. A well-planned night in your own town can be every bit as good as a weekend away, and nobody has to explain the bank statement.
| Option | Works well for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| A big night out at home | Tight budgets, mixed ages, dads with young kids | It can feel like any other Saturday unless you add an activity and a proper plan |
| A UK or Irish city weekend | Most groups: easy travel and plenty of choice | Hotels and group tables fill up on busy weekends, so book early |
| A weekend abroad | Groups with the budget and time for a proper trip | Passports, flight times, luggage fees, local rules and door policies |
| A countryside lodge or cottage | Activities by day and a big meal together at night | Transport, food shopping and getting everyone there and back |
Travel
- Book flights or trains together, or agree one meeting point and time
- Plan how you get from the airport or station to the accommodation
- Book the journey home too, with a generous allowance for Sunday morning
Accommodation
- Check the place accepts stag groups before you book
- Read the cancellation terms and the damage deposit terms
- Count beds, not bedrooms, and agree who shares
- Share the full address with the group
Tip: book the beds first. Activities can usually move. A place big enough for the whole group on your date often cannot.
Ready to order
Shirts for the groom and the whole crew
Two groom shirts from our Stag Do collection, plus slogans for the rest of the crew. Every shirt is printed to order in the UK.
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It’s My Stag Do Buy Me A Pint – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Price range: £21.98 through £31.03Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Under New Management – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Price range: £21.98 through £31.03Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Your Da Sells Avon – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Price range: £21.98 through £31.03Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Walking HR Violation – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt
Price range: £17.02 through £26.07Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Expert Advice – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt
Price range: £17.02 through £26.07Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
I Have Neither The Time Or The Crayons To Explain This To You – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt
Price range: £17.02 through £26.07Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Intelligence – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt
Price range: £17.02 through £26.07Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
What the duck – Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
Price range: £21.98 through £31.03Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Got a group slogan in mind?
Send us your custom design idea for the stag group. We usually reply within one working day.
Printed to order in the UK
How do you plan stag do activities and the evening itinerary?
Pick one or two main activities and build the weekend around them, rather than cramming something into every hour. Overfill it and you spend the weekend herding people between bookings.
Choosing activities
- Match the groom, not the internet. If he loves golf, a round of golf beats any trendy idea. If he hates attention, skip anything that puts him on a stage.
- Think about everyone. Mixed fitness, lads who do not drink, a dodgy knee. A daytime activity everyone can do, like a sports match, a guided tour, a cookery class or crazy golf, keeps the whole group together.
- Leave gaps. Build in time to eat, travel and recover.
Planning the evening
The night is where plans fall apart, so give it more structure than you think: book the meal, plan the first few stops, then let it breathe.
Need games for the night itself? Our list of 15 stag do games and challenges has rules, kit lists and group sizes.
Saturday evening plan
- Book a table for the full group and confirm numbers the day before
- Plan the first two or three bars, within walking distance of each other
- Check door policies, as some bars and clubs are wary of big stag groups or fancy dress
- Agree a fallback meeting point and time
- Keep money aside for taxis and plan how everyone gets home
- Put one sensible person in charge of the groom
Know who needs watching
Every group has one lad who needs minding more than the groom. Hand him Walking HR Violation and everyone knows who to keep an eye on.
Tip: respect the groom’s limits. A few harmless pranks are part of the deal. Anything that could hurt him, embarrass him at work or end up in front of the in-laws is not, so agree the red lines with the group before you go.
How do you organise group T-shirts for a stag do?
Decide the style, collect sizes in one go, order early and check everything on arrival.
Choose a style for the group
- Groom stands out, crew matches. The groom gets his own shirt, such as It’s My Stag Do Buy Me A Pint or Under New Management, and everyone else wears the same design. He is easy to find in a crowd.
- Mix and match. Everyone picks a slogan that suits them, like Alpha Male (a cute pastel unicorn and rainbow under the macho title) for whoever thinks he is in charge, or Expert Advice for the lad who talks to himself. Agree one colour so the group still looks coordinated.
- A custom group design. Names, dates or an in-joke on every shirt. There is no online personalisation tool on our site, but you can send us your idea and we usually reply within one working day.
For slogan inspiration, our list of 25 funny stag do T-shirt ideas has plenty of slogans, and our guide to what to wear on a stag do covers outfits by activity and weather. For names on the back, see our guide to funny personalised T-shirts.
Sizes and colours
Most of our tees are classic unisex jersey T-shirts, true to size, with sizes running from XS to 4XL (check each product page for the sizes on that design). Go a size up for a looser fit. Send the group our size guide and get every size in writing. Colours vary by design and size, so check each product page or our colours page before promising anyone a colour.
When to order
Every shirt is printed to order in the UK, and shipping normally takes 3-5 days depending on manufacturing time. We suggest organisers order about two to three weeks before the stag do. That is a planning buffer, not a delivery promise. Printed-to-order shirts cannot be returned for a change of mind, so double-check sizes. Anything damaged, faulty, wrong or not matching the size chart should be reported within 14 days with a photo (see our refunds and returns policy).
Group T-shirt order checklist
- Agree the style: groom plus matching crew, mix and match, or a custom design
- Share the size guide and collect every size in writing
- Decide who orders: one person for everyone, or each person orders their own
- Order early, leaving a buffer before the stag do
- Check every shirt on arrival and report any problem within 14 days
Tip: use code GO5. It takes 5% off a first order and never expires, so whoever places the group order should pop it in at checkout.
What should go in the group chat and the best man's kit bag?
Keep the group chat for logistics and give the banter its own home. Once a chat is two hundred memes deep, nobody can find the train time. Pin the essentials so you are not answering the same question twelve times.
Pin this in the group chat
- Dates, meeting point and departure times
- The accommodation address and check-in time
- What is paid for and payment deadlines
- The itinerary, with any dress codes
- The best man’s number and a second organiser’s number
The best man’s kit bag
- Booking confirmations, saved offline
- Phone charger and a portable power bank
- Some cash for taxis and anywhere that does not take cards
- Paracetamol, plasters, rehydration sachets, and suncream if you are heading somewhere sunny
- A plain backup top for strict door policies
- Bin bags for the Sunday tidy-up (the damage deposit will thank you)
When it is all over, and the last straggler has been poured onto the train home, the best man has earned a shirt of his own. After a month of train-time questions, I Have Neither The Time Nor The Crayons To Explain This To You says it for him.
Stag do planning FAQs
How much does a stag do usually cost?
There is no fixed figure. It depends on where you go, how long for and what you do. Ask the group privately what they can afford, plan to the lower end, and share a breakdown of what the per-head cost covers. Add a small buffer for forgotten extras like taxis and Sunday food, and collect deposits before booking so you are never out of pocket.
Does the groom pay for his stag do?
Usually not. It is common for the group to split the groom’s share of the accommodation, activities and main meal between them, so he can enjoy the weekend without a bill. Decide this at the very start and build it into the per-head figure, so nobody feels ambushed when the balance is due. He can always buy a round to say thanks.
What happens if someone drops out after paying?
That is why you agree the rule before anyone pays. Make it clear that once something has been booked on someone’s behalf, their deposit covers their share if they cannot come. Check the cancellation terms of each booking too, as some let you swap names. If a replacement can take their place and pay, refund the original person once the money is in.
When should we order stag do T-shirts?
Every shirt is printed to order in the UK and shipping normally takes 3-5 days depending on manufacturing time. Leave a buffer on top so you can check every shirt fits. Collect everyone’s size in writing first, using our size guide, because printed-to-order items cannot be returned for a change of mind.
Keep reading
More ideas from the FunnyTshirt blog.
Stag Do Ideas25 Funny Stag Do T-Shirt Ideas That Will Get Everyone LaughingStuck for stag do T-shirt ideas? Here are 25 funny designs for the groom, the best man and…Read the guide
Stag Do IdeasWhat to Wear on a Stag Do: Funny Outfits and Group T-Shirt IdeasPlanning what the stag group should wear? A practical guide to funny outfits, matching T-shirts and sensible layers…Read the guide
Funny Gift GuidesFunny Personalised T-Shirt Ideas for Birthdays, Parties and GroupsFunny personalised T-shirt ideas for birthdays, stag and hen dos, holidays and work events, with slogan examples and…Read the guideReady to kit out the stag group?
Tick the T-shirts off early: every shirt is printed to order in the UK and shipping normally takes 3-5 days. Use code GO5 at checkout for 5% off your first order.
