There comes a point in planning any stag-dowhen someone mentions stag fancy dress. We all know that blokes are terrible at this sort of thing (that’s what the women are there for). So here are a few stag night fancy dress ideas to get you started. And we’re talking more than a feeble pair of antlers.
Little Britain
Daffyd, Emily Howard, Vicky Pollard, Lou and Andy, Marjorie Dawes or even Bubbles Devere. For extra tension put all the names in a hat and let your stags pick a character at random. But don’t forget to keep the most embarrassing out of the draw, especially for the groom – especially if he’s carrying a few extra lbs like Daffyd.
Get the look
Charity shops are an ideal place to start for many of the characters. Except maybe for Daffyd where you may need to go somewhere a little more specialist.
Nuns on the run
As the perfect antidote to a sinful stag celebration, why not don a habit and make like a pack of nuns. But beware of this theme when travelling to more religious nations. Some cultures may not take kindly to the blasphemous irony of your costumes. As one group of stags found out when they ended up in a Greek court, explaining themselves soberly to a judge still in full nun attire.
Get the look
An easy one to find in most fancy dress stores and very possible to create Blue Peter style if you want to save your pennies for the beer kitty.
Smurfs
Get out the body and face paint and Smurf yourself up. Although this will involve you and the guys getting a little hands-on and personal with each other to ensure no tell-tale human flesh peeks through the blue. And prepare for some unhappy grumbles from your hotel manager when you drunkenly forget to clean off the blueness before snuggling down in their crisp white sheets – you need to suffer for your stag night fancy dress sometimes…
Get the look
If bodypaint seems a bit too much hassle, as an alternative you could always hire a Smurf and handcuff him to the groom as this group of stags did.
Borat
The lime green mankini is becoming a classic in the stag fancy dresswardrobe. The skimpy lycra puts the groom under pressure to show he is man enough to wear it, whilst at the same time risking a charge of indecent exposure. Yes, it ticks all the stag humiliation criteria. But consider the activities you have planned before handing over the thong. Paintballing in a mankini in winter maybe a joke too far.
Get the look
It’s almost impossible to create a homemade replica but mankinis are widely available online. Accessorise with a curly brown wig and bushy moustache to amplify the Borat effect. We’ve all heard the “funnier with Viagra” line but don’t forget that people have and do die of these things, so best to leave the blue pills to Pele.
Ninjas
Why not create your own elite army of ninjas to mark your mate’s last night of freedom? It could be a fitting accompaniment to a weekend of militant activites – paintballing, assault courses or maybe even a Swedish style covert kidnapping. But beware, the ninja persona could bring out the fighting spirit in the more hot-headed members of your crew, attracting unwanted aggression from fellow revellers or attention from over vigilant police.
Queen
Transform yourselves into a bunch of queens. For an amusing twist, the main crowd can dress up Freddie Mercury style, whilst the groom will assume a position of true royalty and for his stag night fancy dress will adopt Her Majesty’s more mature, regal style.
Get the look
White vests, bushy moustaches and maybe the iconic yellow jacket for the Freddies. This can be bought or maybe make it yourself. And raid your granny’s wardrobe or a local charity shop for the groom’s outfit. With maybe a cheap crown to top off the look.
Masks
It’s all about the groom. So why not honour him by wearing life size masks of his face. Of course the more embarrassing the photo the better. For a large group this can be a cost-effective and simple solution to the stag fancy dress conundrum. And the bigger the group the better it looks. But remember, as one stag group I know learnt the hard way, the masks are flammable. So, it’s best to take them off before lighting up a cigarette.
Get the look
For the more creative group a scanner, some cardboard and a pair of scissors maybe all you need. But the lazier amongst you can order personalised masks in bulk online.
Mummy
Who’s the… mummy? So nothing has been planned in advance. For a spontaneous, on-the-night fancy dress solution drag the groom to a toilet, remove his clothes and wrap him in toilet roll to create the mummy look. But remember safety first. Unfortunately caution wasn’t a top priority for one mummified groom who ended up with 40 per cent burns.
Get the look
All you need is a roll of toilet tissue or bandages from the First Aid Kit and a delicate hand.
Grow your own
This requires a bit of preparation (more for some than others). But it’s a really cheap option. Take all the different styles of moustaches – handlebar, Hitler, Poirot, Walrus etc – and put them into a lucky dip.
Whatever style you pick, you have to grow in time for the stag celebration. Those who manage only a few whiskers should of course get forfeits and no, “I’m a lawyer I can’t go to work with a handlebar,” shouldn’t be accepted as a valid excuse.
Get the look
Lock away your razor… and try to keep your new facial hair clear of crumbs.
Birthday suit
It’s predictable and a little passé but the groom handcuffed, inebriated and naked to a lamppost is the iconic stag image. But beware if the groom is the first of your group to tie the knot, his revenge will be vicious and bitter when your turn comes around.
Get the look
A spray tan, some strategic waxing and a few intensive gym sessions may be advisable for the blushing groom.
Babies
Swap your beer bottles for baby bottles, and have an excuse for your immature antics by dressing up as babies. For an extra twist, why not dress up as famous babies? Sounds weird but there are actually a lot of them: the Rugrats gang, Maggie from the Simpsons, or Stewie from family guy.
Get the look
What do you dare to bare? Get creative with a towel wrapped around the waist and fastened like a nappy, grab some bonnets from Mother Care and get some novelty candy-dummies (or spike your baby bottles with whisky!).
Superheroes
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s the groom dressed as Wonderowman (hopefully)! This tried and tested fancy dress idea is a classic for a reason. There are millions of costume ideas to choose from whether you go for a classic like Spiderman, or go for a group costume like the Avengers. You might even get to answer the age-old dilemma of who would win in a fight: Superman or Batman?
Get the look
You can go as big or as small as you like with this one. Coloured tights with pants worn on the outside and a homemade cape, or check out any number of fancy dress stores and online sites for the real deal.
Where’s Wally?
Whilst the resounding response to this question might be to point at the groom, let your Wally off the hook by donning this easy fancy dress. Couple your fancy dress with a game of hide-and-seek, or try to capture each of your Wally’s in crazy compromising positions as the night goes on…
Get the look
This is an easy fancy dress to pull of. Just don your favourite jeans, buy a red and white striped t-shirt from H&M or Topman and for maximum effect add a red and white striped bobble hat.
Men in Drag
Unleash your feminine side, bat your eyelashes and put on your prettiest party dresses- the man in drag is a fancy dress that never goes out of style. Whether you go for glamour, or a Mrs. Doubtfire flower-dress flare this one is sure to get a few laughs. For extra hilarity, do the girlie thing and get ready together beforehand. Doing each other’s make-up will only get more hilarious the more you drink. And, from experience, the hairier the man the better woman he makes…
Get the look
If your girlfriends and fiancés (or mums, no judgment) are unwilling to let you stretch out and stain their favourite frocks, then you can pick them up at any number of charity shops, or Primark. Glam it up with a matching handbag, pretty pearls and top the look off with a flowing wig.
Ghostbusters
Tell the groom the theme is ‘ghosts’ and then spend the night busting him for his drunken behavior. This one also works for other combinations like prisoner and policemen, or foxes and hunters. You get to pull one over on the groom, and he’ll have to do as the group says: shots, dancing on the tables, buying everyone chips on the way home…
Get the look
Get matching outfits for the rest of the group and make the groom the odd one out. For Ghostbusters all you need are brown shirts and trousers, with fake guns (parts of vacuum cleaners make great Ghostbusting equipment).
Something Different:
What did you want to be when you grew up?
Before making the next leap into adulthood, take yourself back to what you always dreamed of being as a kid. Astronaut? Cowboy? Professional footballer? To the guy who ‘always wanted’ to be an investment banker…you’re ruining it for everyone. Stop.
Get the look
Use your imagination! Astronauts will need a fishbowl to tuck under their arms as a helmet, and the investment banker’s punishment will be that their real childhood dream was to grow up and be The Little Mermaid.
You in 20 years time
On the other end of the scale to what you thought you’d be as a kid, is what you think you’ll be like as an older guy. Use your imagination: will you be a suave bachelor with scotch and cigars? A spinster-man with cats and a smelly cardigan? Or will you have given up on society, run away to Bermuda and turn up at the stag with a rugged beard, and a bottle of rum?
Get the look
Get into character and project yourself into your future. For an extra twist, why not draw names out of a hat and decide what each other will be in 20 years?
Favourite Decade
Fancy yourself a 20s dandy? Always wanted to see what you’d look like as a 70s disco-king in the style of John Travolta? Or have you always wanted to be a 50s housewife? Tonight’s the night to bring back your favourite look from your favourite decade!
Get the look
Pick the style that epitomized the decade- white spandex suits for the 70s, round sunglasses, long hair and beads for the 60s, and relive your secret love of NSYNC for the ultimate 90s vibe.
Rock legends
For a legendary stag party, remember the glory of legends past. Be prepared to be treated like rock royalty, surrounded by hoards of screaming fans all dying to see your next epic dance move. Be careful: stags have been slapped in the past for overenthusiastically showing off their Gene Simmons worthy tongue.
Get the look
For the proper rock look paint your faces Kiss-style, but be warned as the night goes on you might look less ‘rock legend’ and more ‘melting scream mask’.
Classic Duos
Light your competitive fire and split into teams to compete for the best fancy dress duet. Batman and Robin? Calvin and Hobbes? Bacon and Eggs? The possibilities are endless! Although be warned; if you choose to go as Siamese twins you will be full of regrets when you are collapsed on the curb next to your weaker half’s vomit.
Get the look
Easy to find on most online fancy dress stores, and depending on your idea you might be able to raid your wardrobe for ideas!