Wedding guests pay £300. Plus £170 for the stag/hen do!

By the time he walks his little girl down the aisle, the average father of the bride will have come to terms with the £17,000 he has had to fork out for the wedding - he had, after all, been expecting it for years.

But for the assembled guests looking on from the pews, the personal cost of attending may not be something they had bargained for.

It costs each guest £300 on average to attend a wedding, a study has found. Added together, an average 100 guests spend £30,000 on the special day - far more than the father of the bride.

That is £90 on travel and accommodation, more than £30 each on alcohol, and £50-plus on a gift for the happy couple.

Then of course, there is a new outfit to think about. On average, guests spend £84.70 on this, with £9.20 on a hat to top it off, the survey for the debit card Maestro showed.

Factor in an extra £170 for attending the stag or hen night, and it all starts to seem a bit much.

"We'd love to attend," reply the wedding-goers with sometimes forced glee, as their wallets and holiday allowances take the strain in peak wedding season.

But how many of them would go so far as re-wrapping a gift that had been given to them? Ten per cent, the research shows.

The most sought after gift remains traditional cutlery or crockery. But the best gift is not necessarily the most expensive one, said Nigel Turner, the marketing director of Maestro UK.

"Weddings have always been a time to splash out, but we believe that it is important to budget sensibly while still joining in the celebration and merriment.

"Low cost gifts can often mean as much to the happy couple as an expensive one. For example, filming the ceremony and turning it into an everlasting gift will not only save you money but will also ensure that the bride and groom do not forget your contribution as soon as the honeymoon is over," he said.

Those in the North-East are the most wedding fashion-conscious, spending £40 more than the national average on their outfits. Londoners, it seems, are the most generous guests to invite, spending an average £10 more on wedding gifts.

Men are more generous than women when buying wedding gifts. They spend on average £65, while women spend less than £50, the research showed.

Women are twice as likely to scour the wedding list for the cheapest item, and are three times more likely than men to find their gift on the internet auction site eBay.

Men also spend more than women on the married-to-be's send-off - with the average stag night costing each person £185, £30 more than the average hen night.

But it is not all bad news for wedding-goers.

While love is in the air, guests could be buying in to romance for themselves, as well as the bride and groom, the survey of 1,200 people by Experian showed.

Researchers calculated that 1.4 million Britons had met their partner at a wedding, a romantic potential helping to offset the costs.

So £300 each - the price of a weekend away, a must-have hat, and celebrating and finding love.

A bargain, really.

Scot in coma after tram accident in Poland

A SCOTS man is in a coma after he was hit by a tram during a stag party in Poland.

Michael Forrester, 32, was celebrating with pals in the city of Krakow when the accident happened last weekend.

Yesterday his fiancee, who is pregnant with his second child, was at his bedside in a specialist brain trauma unit.

Michael lives in Haddington, East Lothian. His parents William and Heather now live in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

They flew to Krakow with his sister Nicola, 33, this week as surgeons prepared for a life-or-death op. Michael's uncle Iain said: "We don't know much at this stage

Motorist who killed stag reveller LIED

A driver who failed to stop after hitting a man walking home after running out of cash on a stag night, has been given an 18-month driving ban.
David Davies, 58, from Merthyr, said he was unaware he hit Mark Flanagan, 31, who was subsequently hit by three other cars on the A465. None of them stopped.

District Judge John Charles at Merthyr Magistrates Court told Davies: "You lied to police and you lied in court."

A coroner described Mr Flanagan's death in June 2004 as a "tale of inhumanity".

Taxi fare

Davies, a shopkeeper, was also given a £2,000 fine after being found guilty of failing to stop and failing to report an accident.

Mark Flanagan died in June 2004 after he was hit by four cars as he walked home from a stag party on 27 June, last year.

The 31-year-old from the Rhymney Valley, had been out with his brother and a group of friends in Swansea and became separated from them and tried to get a taxi back to his home in Fochrhiw.

But he did not have enough to cover the £60 taxi fare and the driver agreed to take him as far as his £33 would allow - the A465 Head of the Valleys Road near Glynneath Bank.


The court heard that witnesses saw Davies - also returning from a night out - hit Mr Flanagan and drove on.

Davies said he heard a loud bang moments after overtaking a car. "I thought something had been thrown at the vehicle," he added.

"But I couldn't see anyone there. Initially, I thought something had been thrown, but then dismissed it.

"There couldn't be anyone out there miles from anywhere in the dark."

He told the court he would have stopped if he had known he had hit someone.

After driving home, Davies said he saw his side mirror was missing and his headlamp was damaged.

He then drove the 10 miles back to the accident scene in a different car and saw the emergency services before he returned home.

The following day, he checked the news and later discovered someone had died.

He said he intended going to police the following morning, but police officers visited him at home that night.

In a statement Sean Williams, the driver of the car directly behind Davies', described how he had chased after Davies..

Passenger David Kelly, said they continuously flashed headlights at Davies' Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin before their car broke down.

Police and forensic statements said fabric from Mr Flanagan's shirt was found on Davies' 4x4.

Pc Daniel Minto told the hearing that initially all four drivers who hit Mr Flanagan faced being charged with death by dangerous driving but after investigation, Davies was the only to face lesser charges.

Reaching guilty verdict on the two charges, the judge said: "You didn't stop and you knew full well that you had hit a person - of that I have no doubt.

"It is impossible to know if that person's life would have been saved if you had done what any decent person would have done.

"You have shown no remorse and a callous disregard for that person's life."

After the hearing, Davies said: "I'm very sorry about what happened."

Lap dancer injures footballer on stag night

A YOUNG footballer is on the treatment table - after being crocked by a stripper's stiletto heel.

Gary Kelly was ruled out of his team's pre-season friendlies after suffering a burst mouth. The Muirkirk Juniors star was caught by a stripper's sharp heel after sitting too close to the stage at a lapdancing club.

The blonde dancer in the Newcastle club For Your Eyes Only caught him as she swung round in a pole dance.

Gary, 20, of Cumnock, in Ayrshire, said: 'I was in Newcastle for a stag weekend with about 18 of my pals.

'We were out on the town on the Saturday night when my mates stopped at this lapdancing club and decided they wanted to go in.

'I wasn't too bothered about that but didn't want to be a party pooper and just went with the flow.

'One of the girls was going through her routine and I was sitting having a beer as she was doing her act.

'Then in one of her more energetic moves she swung her leg round and her high heel hit me on the mouth.'

'It wasn't particularly sore but it did dent my pride. My mouth was bleeding and some of it went on my good shirt so I had to go and get changed.'

What Gary didn't realise was that the his pals were to blame.

Team-mate David Kay, 21 - the brother-in-law of the stag, Robin Miekle's - explained what happened.

He said: 'Most of us were sitting on couches at the front of the stage but Gary was on a chair.

'One of the girls asked for his chair to be moved back because it was too close to the stage' We did that but when Gary went to the loo before the act started we moved his chair back to where it was for a laugh and when he came back he didn't notice.

'Unfortunately that was how he got a kick in the mush from the lap dancer. It was purely accidental.'

Muirkirk coach Pat Lopez said: 'I'm down to 11 players but Gary will hopefully get back soon.

'He and David told me they were away for a paint-balling weekend - some paint balling.'

Gary joins a list of accident-prone footballers and is not the first to suffer an off-field injury because of flying footwear.

In 2003, David Beckham suffered a gash above his left eye after Sir Alex Ferguson kicked a football boot at him during a dressing room row

Multi Million Pound answer to Edinburghs stag problem

A MULTI-MILLION-POUND revamp of the Grassmarket is being touted as a solution to problems with late-night disturbances, rowdy stag and hen nights and traffic congestion.

Plans to breathe new life into the historic thoroughfare by getting rid of parking spaces, resurfacing roads and pavements, renewing street lighting, planting trees and installing benches are being mooted by council leaders.

Stag Weekend coaches Estonias Rugby club

BT WORKER Charlie Adie went to Estonia for a stag weekend and ended up coaching the national rugby team!

And the former pro player, who married yesterday, has been asked to go back after helping the team dramatically improve its performance.

They had lost their last game 90-0 before Charlie, his brother Ed and another member of the stag party helped with some tips and actually played in their next outing, against Finland, which they lost 42-32.

Charlie, who played professional Rugby League with Hull Sharks and York City Knights for six years, said: "They weren't short of players but lacked experience.

"The Finland team didn't seem too bothered that Estonia had played a few ringers, although it might have been different if we had won."

Charlie, a technical officer for BT at Leavesden in Hertfordshire, is marrying former BT worker Nicola Bell.

Nicola said the publicity surrounding Charlie's antics was already helping to generate interest in rugby in Estonia.

Her 32-year-old groom-to-be has been featured in newspapers across Estonia since his stag weekend last month.

"He was thrilled to be able to help out. It isn't a great level of rugby to be honest but support for the game appears to be increasing thanks to Charlie," she said.

RAF Lefenheath lapdancing club open to stags

RAF MILDENHALL, England — Women will be dancing naked starting next week at a club just a garter’s toss from RAF Lakenheath’s main gate.

Pete Usher, owner of the Lakenheath Country Club, was licensed this week to offer “pole dancing, lap dancing and table dancing that will involve total or partial nudity” at the Ushers nightclub on the country club premises.

Surrounded by farm fields, the facility is less than a half mile from the main gate of the base, home of the 48th Fighter Wing, and about one-quarter mile down a tree-shaded lane across the A1065 highway.

Usher said Americans are “part of the plan” for clientele as he switches from country and western music, which was waning in interest, to an adult show in which dancers will perform nude or simply topless.

Initially, he will offer the entertainment only on Friday nights, beginning Aug. 12, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. If the interest is there, he may offer it on other nights as well.

Capt. Jason McCree, a public affairs spokesman for the base, said Thursday, “Base personnel are free to visit any establishment they wish unless otherwise off-limits.”

Usher bought the club in 1998 after the Air Force, which had used it as a rod and gun club since 1972, gave it up. Clay pigeon shooting still is available on the site, which includes a bar and restaurant.

Usher had been providing similar entertainment for “stag nights,” the British version of a bachelor party, for several months. “It’s not everybody’s cup of tea,” he said. “But for those who want to view it, you want to make sure it’s an art form and not lewd. It’s not in anyone’s interest to run a den of iniquity.”

British law is quite specific regarding such entertainment. For example, garters worn by dancers for placement of gratuities may be “no higher than midthigh.”

Patrons must remain seated except when arriving, departing or going to the toilet. No person other than the dancer is allowed in the performance area “in a state of undress.” Patrons may be no closer than 32 inches from the performers.

Usher believes it will be a success, but added, “I’m a businessman. If it doesn’t pay, it won’t be staying.”

An overview of Brighton

Once infamous for its dirty weekends, with its sleazy private eyes gathering evidence for the divorce courts, the City of Brighton is the resort of choice for many stag nights and hen nights determined to party hard before the happy couple tie the knot. Of course, these days it's a very loose knot but
couples still want to go out in style and Brighton-based Redseven Leisure is on hand to ensure that the pre-nuptials offer a lot more than a few pints down the pub on karaoke night.

A typical weekend for rutting stags is Redseven Leisure's 'Kiss Me Slow'weekend. The two long nights start off with a bang at one of the City's most prestigious lapdancing clubs. To some that may be a contradiction in terms,
but semantics won't be on the minds of the eager young men as they hustle to their reserved table and enjoy the delightful shapes of near-naked Brighton belles. And if the boys dip into their bulging wallets, the girls will give
the groom his very own personal lap dance.

Assuming the stags can drag the groom away, their night continues at one of Brighton's larger clubs known for its Ibiza-style disco, reminiscent of all night raves where young men and women wake with the rising sun and the sea
lapping their toes. For the record, Brighton beach has pebbles and the sea does not lap! But the city has much else to offer sore heads looking for a little gentle relaxation before sampling the delights of a second night in
Brighton's premier gentlemen's club. To some, this may conjure an image of old duffers talking about the lost empire while smoking cigars in over-stuffed chairs but the 25 beautiful young women dancing topless in
their g-strings promise a lot more than the Lambeth Walk. The evening's fun and frolics are rounded off dancing the night away in a mega club with three separate rooms featuring disco classics, R'n'B, old skool, garage,
pyrotechnics and no doubt much more.

Of course the question you'll be asking is what about the hens? Unfortunately, even in drag, this reporter couldn't get an invite! So, if you want to find out what kind of fun the girls can have (don't tell the groom!) we suggest that you check out Redseven Leisure's web site where you'll find information on corporate events, international travel and much
else besides although after two nights courtesy of Redseven Leisure you may be more interested in a pair of comfy slippers and a cup of cocoa!

Plymouth no go as stag reveller injured

Victims of weekend drunken violence in a city centre are to be treated in a permanent "field hospital" to relieve congestion in a hospital casualty unit, and to try to improve detection rates.


Police in Plymouth are opening the field hospital in a building in the Union Street clubland area of the city from the end of this month.

The announcement coincided with a warning by a judge in Bournemouth that binge-drink offenders would face substantial jail sentences, as there was "far too much of this sort of behaviour".

Victims of violence in Plymouth are taken to Derriford Hospital at present. But they often clog up the casualty unit and police cannot investigate attacks quickly.

The field hospital will be staffed by police and medical personnel from 11pm to 4am on Friday and Saturday nights. This will enable victims to be given immediate medical treatment and also be interviewed while evidence and memories were still fresh.

The unit will operate for the "foreseeable future" until at least the New Year.

The Plymouth police commander, Morris Watts, said: "It's early days, but the theory is that it will help improve detection rates and give a better service to victims of crime.

"From a health perspective, it will stop ambulances from being tied up and reduce through-put at the casualty unit, which has to be good."

Judge Roger Jarvis jailed two men at Bournemouth Crown Court for separate drunken and unprovoked attacks, expressing his concern that he had two binge drinking cases on his list in the same day.

Jailing Gary Samson, 22, for eight months, the judge said: "Substantial sentences are justified for binge drinking offences. This activity causes real anxiety and distress to ordinary members of the public."

The court heard that Samson, a father of two, attacked a stag night reveller. His victim sustained an eye injury and sought refuge in a fast food restaurant.

Samson, of Bournemouth, who admitted assault, was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation.

The court heard the second offender, Harold Robinson, 22, a father of one, drank 15 pints of lager and several spirit shots before punching a man who had helped him to his feet when he stumbled.

Jailing him for a year, Judge Jarvis said: "This sort of behaviour must be dealt with in a way that discourages others."

Robinson, of Poole, Dorset, who admitted assault, was also ordered to pay his victim £250 compensation.

New UK company on the scene.

NEW STAG AND HEN NIGHT WEBSITE, STAGSANDHENS.COM, OFFERS UNIQUE ALL ROUND INFORMATION SERVICE

A new website, StagsandHens.com, has launched to make it quicker and easier to organise a stag or hen party.

The website offers independent advice on topics including activities, nightlife, destinations and speech writing. A unique part of the website is a directory of hundreds of companies offering stag and hen products and services. Everything from archery to Zorbing (rolling down a hill in a giant plastic ball) is listed. Not forgetting accommodation, transport and going abroad. The listings can be filtered by geographical region, making it easy to find local companies.

For those short on time, the site lists numerous stag and hen party organisers offering ready-made packages. For those who have more time and want to make their own arrangements, the site includes hundreds of local companies offering niche services like go-karting, clay pigeon shooting and pole dancing lessons.

A free personal photo album has recently been added to the site, allowing people to share their stag and hen party photos online. Photos can be password protected to ensure that any compromising ones aren't seen by the ‘wrong’ people. Other useful features and functionality are in the pipeline, including a personal party planner.

Andrew Rogoff, director of StagsandHens.com, said:

“Being asked to be the best man or woman is an honour but having to organise the stag or hen party can be really hard work. Expectations are rising and people can no longer get away with a night down the pub followed by a strip club later. Our aim is to make it all much easier by offering a menu of exciting ideas along with links directly to the companies that provide the services”.

He added: “The main difference between us and related websites is that we’re independent. We list both the package operators as well as the local companies offering niche services.“

People are increasingly turning to the Web for shopping and information and the site is already benefiting from this trend with increasing traffic. One of the most popular sections is the list of stripograms. Results from a recent StagsandHens.com survey show that 62% of visitors to the site would like a stripper at their party.

Andrew Rogoff is available for comment. For further information, please email contact@stagsandhens.com.

ABOUT STAGSANDHENS.COM

StagsandHens.com Ltd offers a one-stop-shop for anyone organising a stag or hen party. Outline of features and content:

IDEAS AND INSPIRATION: loads of great ideas from paintballing to pole dancing, spa breaks to surfing.

PRACTICAL ADVICE: get help with the Best Man’s speech or top advice on party planning.

DIRECTORY: listings of hundreds of stag and hen-related products and services in your area.

PHOTO ALBUM: share stag and hen party photos with a free online photo album. Leave comments for others and join the community.

Andrew Rogoff is available for comment. For further information, please email contact@stagsandhens.com.

Good news, stag stroke victim on the mend

A Coventry man has slowly regained consciousness from a coma after suffering a stroke at a stag do abroad.

Father-of-five Sammy Thompson, of Cheveral Avenue, Radford, was staying in the resort of Palma Nova, Majorca.

Mr Thompson, aged 43, had been in a coma for over a week and had undergone two operations to relieve swelling on the brain and to remove a blood clot.

Spanish surgeons also had to remove part of Mr Thompson's skull.

He has only just been moved out of intensive care since he slowly regained consciousness and is now recovering on a neurological ward in the island's Son Dureta hospital.

His family has been travelling back and forth to the island to check on his progress and is hoping for good news from doctors in the following days.

Sammy's sister, Veronica Quinn, said: "After being confined to a hospital bed for two weeks, he's incredibly weak.

"His mobility's not good, but they have managed to get him into a chair. Although he's drinking fluids quite well, he hasn't been eating - he's just skin and bone."

Mr Thompson did not have holiday insurance and his family has been trying to raise funds to help bring him back to the UK.

A recent fundraising night at Our Lady of the Assumption Social Club, in Tile Hill Lane, raised £4,000.

A raffle of footballing memorabilia and photographs is now under way.

Tickets can be bought from hairdresser Kev's Chop Shop in Spon End.

Cash donations can be left at the Beechtree Chip Shop in Beech Tree Avenue, Tile Hill.

Groom hurt in Zipper accident

A lifeboat crew had to mount an emergency operation after a groom suffered an unfortunate zipper accident on a remote Irish island.

The rescue took place on Arranmore Island, which is around five miles off the coast of Donegal.

The groom, from County Donegal, had been celebrating his stag party with a large group of friends when disaster struck sometime in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station on Arranmore was contacted about the unfolding crisis at 8.20am.

Local RNLI spokeswoman Nora Flanagan said the groom was in agony.

Arranmore Island has a population of about 600 people and is a popular tourist destination due to its spectacular cliffs, sandy beaches and traditional pubs.

The man who trapped his manhood in his trouser zip on his stag night was ferried to hospital from the remote Irish island of Irranmore, County Donegal.

Newcastle Clampdown

Two men were banned from jetting to Belfast because they were too drunk to fly, police revealed today.

They were stopped as they planned to take a flight from Newcastle.

Details of the ban emerged as Northumbria Police chief constable Mike Craik pledged to crackdown on drink-related trouble in a campaign titled The Party`s Over.

The pair were hoping to catch a flight to Belfast but were not allowed onto the plane.

Meanwhile, officers have been touring hotels and guest houses warning stag parties visiting the region that their behaviour must not get out of hand.

Brit played Rugby for Estonia on stag party!

A York man's stag weekend took a surprising twist - when he was asked to play rugby for the Estonia national team.

Despite nursing a painful hangover, Charlie Adie was named man of the match in the rugby union international against Finland.

The 32-year-old is a former York Wasps rugby league player - but had not played for three years, reports the Yorkshire Evening Press.

Charlie, an IT manager, who marries fiancée Nicola next month, was in the Estonian capital, Tallin, with 16 friends for a boozy weekend.

While downing beers in a local bar, he was approached by one of the Estonia team, who made the extraordinary offer because they were short.

"I thought it was a wind up at first," said Charlie. "I told the guy that I used to play for York, so he asked if I was available to play the following day for Estonia against Finland.

"I was quite taken aback, but I was keen to play."

Charlie, who bought rugby boots from a local sports shop on the morning of the match, also secured a game for his brother and best man, Ed.

Estonia were narrowly beaten 32-42 by Finland in the Baltic Rugby Cup international, a round robin tournament also including Latvia and Lithuania.

The Adie brothers were honoured as two of the best players on the day, with Ed scoring a try, and man of the match, Charlie, kicking four penalty goals.

Get your 'do' sponsored.

Online Sportsbook and Casino GoSportsBet.com continues to revolutionize stag parties with its concept that promises to make bachelor parties go off with a bang: "Sponsor a Stag." The sportsbook sponsors bachelor parties anywhere in the world by supplying clothing, games and a "recovery kit" for the next morning, should festivities get a little too rowdy. The largest party, to date, is being held on the July 15th weekend in New York when a group of over 100 revelers will be painting the town red.

Easily the most outrageous part of anyone's wedding plans, stag parties are traditionally the groom's last night of freedom - a final chance to go crazy before settling down. However, planning a stag night is a big responsibility, and can be costly. By supplying stag weekend essentials, GoSportsBet gives the party organizer a helping hand by easing the cost and responsibility. GoSportsBet supplies all the ammunition to hold a full-on party extravaganza, provides a "recovery kit" for the morning after, and will even pay off any fines resulting from excessive enjoyment of the party.

This weekend's party is being held in western New York State where the groom and his friends will be hitting the local strip joints, golf courses, and casinos. With the help of GoSportsBet.com, party organizer Jeff Kelly aims to throw one of the greatest bachelor parties ever.

"People are going nuts at the idea of us having one of the first-ever sponsored Stag Parties, and easily the biggest," said Jeff. "We really appreciate GoSportsBet’s sponsorship and generosity."

GoSportsBet encourages anyone interested to check out all the ridiculous pictures and stories online at http://www.GoSportsBet.com/stag, and to submit pictures and stories from their own stag parties as well. The best picture each month will be awarded $500.

For more information, please visit http://www.GoSportsBet.com/stag, or contact Laura Hunter, Marketing Director tel. (415) 738-7421; fax. (415) 738-7726.

GoSportsBet is a sports entertainment company committed to providing a secure, enjoyable and comprehensive gaming environment. GoSportsBet, a registered company based in Hong Kong, provides online sport wagering and casino games.

GoSportsBet is fully licensed and regulated in Antigua and its financial transactions are processed by the world's largest publicly traded online gaming company. GoSportsBet.com is where winners play, in a safe and secure environment.

Mumbai new fro Hens...

The lyrics 'Girls just wanna have fun' have never been more true. Hen parties, the equivalent of stag bashes, are taking Mumbai by storm

Skimpily clad PYTs dancing away in itsy-bitsy outfits. Male strippers stopping a little short of the full monty. Unlimited booze, boys and fun -- it's as wild as it gets. While women's pre-marital hen parties have been around for quite a while, they have grown wilder over the years. The craze is fast catching up with the middle and upper-middle classes. In fact, the hen parties match, if not exceed, the traditional men's stag parties in the wildness quotient.

"Hen parties are not limited to the elite class. An increasing number of girls belonging to the middle class have approached me to organise hen parties. In fact, these girls have had some of the wildest hen parties arranged," reveals event organiser Rohit Chawla, who claims to have organised several such parties in the past few months. Being requested to arrange for male strippers or pole dancers doesn't surprise Rohit anymore, as he remarks, "In fact, hen parties are getting wilder than stag parties."

A similar thought is echoed by Salil, a male stripper. Recalling an incident, where he almost got clawed, he says, "It's simply crazy out there. Be it the ambience or the music, parties are getting wilder and they're taking fun to a different world altogether. The girls take me as a professional and things rarely get out of hand, but when they do, then it becomes really ugly."

Says actor Riya Sen, who had recently organised one such hen party for her best friend, "I think it's great fun and I don't see any harm in going really wild. That's part of the whole idea -- letting yourself go."

Model Pia Trivedi says, "The concept of hen parties is really catching up in the city. People have become as comfortable with them as they are with sangeet ceremonies."

Actor Kim Sharma, who recalls attending one such hen party, however, comments, "Letting your hair down is great, but freaking out doesn't mean there's a sleaze show on. Not that I have anything against them, but I think it's important that people don't go overboard with it."

"It's the thrill of doing all the things that we would generally refrain from doing that makes these parties a memorable experience. And what's wrong in letting your hair down just once in a while?" questions Sheetal Kamat, a 23-year-old brideto-be, who is looking forward to the hen party that's being organised by her friends. "Obviously, it's going to be kept a secret from my husband, at least for some time," she winks.