Staggering costs of last hurrah before the wedding

If you’re invited to a stag or hen night, you should expect a grand night out, but it really could cost a grand. A new poll shows people joining a last hurrah can expect to pay a total of £998 once all the costs are added up. Initially I was doubtful because this was one of those surveys commissioned by a private company (in this case hotels.com) to generate discussion and column inches.

But casual internet wanderings show, yes, there is truth in this survey of 2,000 adults in the UK.

First, it’s specifically for stag or hen dos held abroad, and the individual costs – like £125 for hotels and £101 for food – seem fair.

The only one I didn’t believe was a tame £119 for drinks but I suppose everyone isn’t Scottish.

Add travel and more, and you hit a K per person. A third of those polled had to cut back financially to join a stag or hen. Unless you’re treating this as your main holiday of the year, it seems… excessive.

My stag do, 17 years ago, was phenomenal. I’m still grateful to everyone who made it possible, especially those who celebrated with me and the smirking medical professionals who patched me up afterwards. (There was nothing broken but I did have one arm in a sling for a while).

The debauched weekend in Dundee and Glasgow resembled the final days of the Roman Empire. It wasn’t cheap, mainly due to the unhealthy volume of booze consumed, but it wasn’t close to £1,000 each. If it had been, I would have felt terrible. Weddings are expensive enough and planning for a future together is vital.

In tough times, with many people despairing of ever owning their own home, I’d suggest thinking carefully before spending big on a booze-up.

I’m not some killjoy advising against it – I’m saying money is a resource that should be used well, after careful thought.

What do you want it to do for you? I wish I’d thought that way earlier in life.

Phew, I got old. If you just ignore me and get wasted, I salute you. Just don’t do anything I would do.

It wasn’t cheap, mainly due to the unhealthy volume of booze consumed