Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations

Gone are the days when stag and hens revolved around a simple send-off - with costs spiralling out of control, Brits are calling for an end to ‘rowdy’ stag and hen celebrations.

The study by the UK’s most-trusted discount site, VoucherCodes.co.uk, reveals Brits are forking out £1,000 more than they’d like to celebrate their friends' and families’ upcoming nuptials, with the average person willing to spend just £214.

With many celebrations now lasting several days and requiring trips abroad, the average stag and hen now costs an eye-watering £1,208. It’s therefore no surprise that a whopping 71% of people say costs have gotten out of control. 

Whilst many Brits are having to fork out for lavish celebrations, 69% of people would rather attend a quieter, wholesome stag or hen than a stereotypical raucous one, with only 17% of Brits happy to part with cash for a ‘party’ event. A further 72% are yearning for a more low-key affair saying we should bring back a simple dinner or pub trip.

With costs spiralling, over one-third of people have declined a stag or hen celebration because of the price, and another 8% have even fallen out with a friend over the extortionate amount expected to be paid. 

There’s also controversy about who should foot the bill for stag and hen dos, with 45% believing the bride or groom should have to pay for their own celebration. More surprisingly, over one-third believe that stag and hen costs should be split amongst the group based on income, with the higher earners taking on a larger share of the cost (35%).

Anita Naik, Savings Expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, comments: “It’s almost a given nowadays that a stag or hen do invite comes with a hefty price tag attached. Whilst three-quarters of Brits are happy to spend money to celebrate their friends and families’ last unmarried days in style (74%), there’s clearly a limit to how much they’re happy to splurge and finding this balance can be tough. 

“For those tasked with the gruelling job of planning a stag or hen party, there’s a few things you can do to minimise the financial stress for the group:

• Find out how much the group is willing and able to spend right from the start. Nobody wants their closest friends to go into debt for their hen or stag celebrations. When discussing costs, consider factors such as whether the celebration is abroad, how many days it lasts, and even the mix of people in the group, as our research shows all of these things have an impact on how much money people are happy to part with.

• Plan well in advance. The more time you can give guests, the better. This will allow the group to save up and even pay for things in instalments, helping to reduce the financial burden.

• Consider making some expenses optional. Whilst this might add an extra layer of complication to the event planning, for fun extras such as costumes, decorations, matching pyjamas and more, ask members of the group if this is something they would like to contribute towards.”