Stag and Hen Nights
Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
The stag night - also known as the bachelor party - has a long tradition and has been the source of many laughs in movies and TV shows. In recent decades the ladies have increasingly been demanding their share of the fun with hen nights (bachelorette parties).
These nights are rather unkindly referred to as the "last night of freedom" for the bride
and groom to be. The idea is that it is a final chance to go out "on the town" with one's
favourite friends of the same gender before taking the wedding vows and settling down to a
sedate family life. The custom is thought to have orginated centuries ago however the
exact origin is uncertain.
Traditions
There are as many different stag and hen nights as there are brides and grooms, however many follow certain general principles. These have changed considerably over the last few generations however they still usually involve fun, games and gifts.
It used to be considered standard for the stag and hen parties to take place as close to
the wedding as possible - possibly even the night before. This obviously presents all sorts
of dangers, especially if the party becomes especially raucous. We've all heard tales
of the groom waking up naked and handcuffed to a lamp post in a
strange town on the morning of the wedding day. Not all such stories are apocryphal.
Hopefully such incidents can be avoided with a well planned modern stag/hen do.