Stag and doe
Encyclopedia
A stag and doe party, stag and drag party, hen and stag party, buck and doe party, or a jack and jill party is a party and fundraiser for an engaged couple.
. The event is usually organized by the bridal party, but in some circumstances may also be held by the bride
and groom before they are married
, similar to a 'Jack & Jill.' It acts as a fundraiser
for the wedding
. Guests purchase entrance tickets and are entertained by draws, food and drink, music and fun and games. It is not a combined bachelor party
and bachelorette party, or engagement party
, as the primary focus is to raise money for the engaged couple, so their new life together is not started in debt. The intent of a stag and doe party is specifically to make a profit
. Often, people who may not be close enough to the engaged couple to warrant an invitation to the wedding
or reception (especially in the case of a small wedding), will attend the stag and doe so as to be part of the overall wedding celebration. Hosting a stag and doe party does not preclude the couple from participating in other wedding-related parties, such as a bridal shower
, bachelor party
, bachelorette party, and so on. In Manitoba, this is often called a "wedding social". In addition to purchasing entrance tickets, guests bid on silent auction prizes, participated in a 50-50 draw, and purchase liquor. Often the bridal or wedding shower is held the afternoon before the social.
and groom have one last night of partying as single people before the upcoming wedding
, in a similar way to bachelor and bachelorette parties in the United States. Popular UK stag and hen activities include meals out, pub crawls, visits to strip clubs, forfeits, party boats, karaoke and falling over in the street. It is traditional to dress up: the bride in a veil and L-plate
s and the groom and his friends in matching T shirts usually with the groom's name and a rude slogan on. There is no tradition of wedding fundraising nights out in the UK although traditionally brides-to-be would take a potty out on their hen night which people would put cash into.
, primarily in Erie, Pennsylvania
. These are similar to the Canadian stag and doe in that it is primarily held to raise money for the bride and groom and does not replace traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Canada
In Canada, a stag and doe, or buck and doe, is a wedding tradition popular in Southern OntarioSouthern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
. The event is usually organized by the bridal party, but in some circumstances may also be held by the bride
Bride
A bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.The word may come from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families...
and groom before they are married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, similar to a 'Jack & Jill.' It acts as a fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
for the wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
. Guests purchase entrance tickets and are entertained by draws, food and drink, music and fun and games. It is not a combined bachelor party
Bachelor party
A bachelor party , also known as a stag party, stag night or stag do , a bull's party , or a buck's party or buck's night , is a party held for a man shortly before he enters marriage, to celebrate his "last night of freedom" or merely to spend...
and bachelorette party, or engagement party
Engagement party
An engagement party is a party thrown to celebrate a couple's recent engagement and to help future wedding guests to get to know one another. Traditionally, the bride's parents host the engagement party, but many modern couples host their own celebration....
, as the primary focus is to raise money for the engaged couple, so their new life together is not started in debt. The intent of a stag and doe party is specifically to make a profit
Profit (accounting)
In accounting, profit can be considered to be the difference between the purchase price and the costs of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise in terms of the component costs of delivered goods and/or services and any operating or other expenses.-Definition:There are...
. Often, people who may not be close enough to the engaged couple to warrant an invitation to the wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
or reception (especially in the case of a small wedding), will attend the stag and doe so as to be part of the overall wedding celebration. Hosting a stag and doe party does not preclude the couple from participating in other wedding-related parties, such as a bridal shower
Bridal shower
A bridal shower is a gift-giving party held for a bride-to-be in anticipation of her wedding. The custom originated in the 1890s and is today most common in the United States, Canada, and by North American influence, in Australia....
, bachelor party
Bachelor party
A bachelor party , also known as a stag party, stag night or stag do , a bull's party , or a buck's party or buck's night , is a party held for a man shortly before he enters marriage, to celebrate his "last night of freedom" or merely to spend...
, bachelorette party, and so on. In Manitoba, this is often called a "wedding social". In addition to purchasing entrance tickets, guests bid on silent auction prizes, participated in a 50-50 draw, and purchase liquor. Often the bridal or wedding shower is held the afternoon before the social.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, stag and hen (not doe) nights are held separately as parties where the future brideBride
A bride is a woman about to be married or newlywed.The word may come from the Proto-Germanic verb root *brū-, meaning 'to cook, brew, or make a broth' which was the role of the daughter-in-law in primitive families...
and groom have one last night of partying as single people before the upcoming wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
, in a similar way to bachelor and bachelorette parties in the United States. Popular UK stag and hen activities include meals out, pub crawls, visits to strip clubs, forfeits, party boats, karaoke and falling over in the street. It is traditional to dress up: the bride in a veil and L-plate
L-plate
An L-plate is a square plate bearing a sans-serif letter L, for learner, which must be affixed to the front and back of a vehicle in many countries if its driver is a learner under instruction, or a motorcycle rider with provisional entitlement to ride restricted motorcycles.- Australia :In...
s and the groom and his friends in matching T shirts usually with the groom's name and a rude slogan on. There is no tradition of wedding fundraising nights out in the UK although traditionally brides-to-be would take a potty out on their hen night which people would put cash into.
United States
Though rare throughout most of the United States, stag and doe parties (typically called "stag and drag") are held sometimes in the Great Lakes regionGreat Lakes region (North America)
The Great Lakes region of North America, occasionally known as the Third Coast or the Fresh Coast , includes the eight U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as well as the Canadian province of Ontario...
, primarily in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
. These are similar to the Canadian stag and doe in that it is primarily held to raise money for the bride and groom and does not replace traditional bachelor and bachelorette parties.