The Stag Do Generation Game – Part One
Best man articles — By ollylucan on April 28, 2012 2:18 pmIn the first installment of The Stag Do Generation Game we explore that political hot potato – should the oldies get invited along?
The first obvious step is to discuss it with the groom. He’ll know who he definitely wants there and there’s your starting point but also where the problems can begin. To take a common example, as much as no one begrudges the groom’s dad the right to witness his son’s last night of freedom, is he going to want to get sprayed with paintballs by day and drink till he pukes by night. Furthermore, what’s he going to make of the inevitable pissed up stupidity as the night progresses. Then there’s the issue of strippers – and what they may do to the groom.
Paul, 33, explains what happened on a multi-generation stag do he went on.
He said: “We went to a strip club and a load of us put in some money and asked if the groom cold be taken on stage and embarrassed a bit.
“It was fine until one of the strippers pulled his pants down and started whipping his ass. Then his dad got up, ran on to the stage and pulled the stripper off him and shouted at her to leave him alone and that she should be ashamed of herself. We quickly left after that.”
This is a genuinely true story. To be fair to the old fella involved, who would want a dad that was perfectly comfortable watching his son’s naked bottom get whipped. But it does raise a couple of issues.
Firstly, it’s an idea – even for the evening’s entertainment– to have segments to the stag do. There’s plenty of time for debauchery so nothing wrong with the early part of the night, say till 10 or 11pm, being relatively civilised, A meal, pool bar or just even a pub to start getting drunk in can meet everyone’s requirements. Afterwards, the older generation, who may be ready to call it a night anyway, can go home feeling like they’ve been included and had a decent night out. Then everyone else can get well and truly slaughtered – or violently whipped if that’s your thing.
Secondly, dad won’t feel (or look) so out of place if there’s someone else from his generation there. The father-in-law to-be or favourite uncle is probably the best side kick. It just makes everyone feel more comfortable, dad because he has someone else to relate to, youngsters because there’s not quite so much pressure to always think ‘is Mr (insert surname) feeling included’.
The daytime also needs some thought depending on how active any older members of the party are. But there are ways and means. For example, if you’re having a football tournament dad (or dad-in-law) may not be able to strut around the pitch like he once could, but he could be able to play ref, which providing he’s not from the Graham Poll school of officiating is likely to include him in the good-natured banter. Not every activity has a similar option but, with a bit of consideration, many do.
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