Stag Do Pranks That Are Hilarious (But Won’t Ruin Friendships)

A legendary stag do is built on great mates, unforgettable activities, and a healthy dose of laughter. While the main event is celebrating the groom, a few well-executed pranks can elevate the banter and create hilarious memories. The key is to keep it light-hearted. You want stories you can all laugh about at the wedding, not incidents that require a formal apology.

The best stag do pranks are clever, harmless, and funny for everyone involved—especially the groom. It’s about playful mischief, not outright misery. To help you strike the perfect balance, we’ve put together a list of brilliant prank ideas that will get everyone laughing without crossing any lines.

The Golden Rules of Stag Do Pranking

Before you dive into the scheming, remember these essential rules to ensure your pranks are a roaring success:

1. Know Your Groom: Would he find this funny? If there’s any doubt, don’t do it. The goal is to make him laugh, not cringe.
2. No Permanent Damage: This applies to property, relationships, and the groom’s eyebrows. Anything that can’t be undone by the end of the weekend is off-limits.
3. Keep It Legal: This should go without saying, but avoid anything that could get you into trouble with the authorities.
4. Timing is Everything: A prank at the beginning of the night can be hilarious. A prank at 4 AM when everyone is tired might not land as well.

With those guidelines in mind, let’s get to the good stuff!

Harmless Pranks That Pack a Punch

These ideas are all about creating funny situations and memorable moments, ensuring the groom is always in on the joke.

The Ridiculous Costume Challenge

A classic for a reason! The beauty of this prank is its simplicity and endless potential for comedy. The idea is to make the groom wear something utterly absurd for a portion of the day or night.

• How to execute it: Source a costume that is completely out of place for your planned activities. Think a full-body morph suit for a nice dinner, a baby costume for a pub crawl, or dressing him as the mascot of a rival football team for a stadium tour.
• Why it works: It’s a visual gag that keeps on giving. Every photo, every interaction, and every look from strangers becomes part of the fun. Just make sure he has his normal clothes to change into afterwards.

Personalised ‘Groom’s Property’ Stickers

This is a subtle yet brilliant prank that gets funnier as the weekend goes on.

• How to execute it: Before the trip, get a few hundred stickers printed with a funny photo of the groom and a caption like, “If found, please return to [Best Man’s Name]” or “I belong to [Fiancée’s Name].” During the stag do, the group’s mission is to secretly stick them on everything related to the groom: his suitcase, his pint glass, his back, and even his hotel room door.
• Why it works: The groom will be finding these stickers for weeks, long after the hangover has faded. It’s a harmless and long-lasting reminder of his epic send-off.

The Fake Itinerary

Start the weekend with a bit of misdirection by presenting the groom with a completely fake and undesirable itinerary.

• How to execute it: Create a detailed schedule filled with the most boring or bizarre activities you can imagine. For example: “9 AM: Bird Watching,” “11 AM: History of Concrete lecture,” “2 PM: Extreme Ironing,” “5 PM: Poetry Reading.” Present it to him with total seriousness and watch his face as he processes the “plans.”
• Why it works: The reveal, when you finally show him the real epic itinerary (go-karting, bar crawls, and VIP treatment), will be a moment of pure relief and excitement.

Playful Challenges for the Whole Group

Get everyone involved with these challenges that put the groom at the centre of the action without singling him out unfairly.

The ‘Mr. & Mrs.’ Quiz… with a Twist

A classic hen party game, but with a stag do twist that makes it hilarious for everyone.

• How to execute it: Before the stag do, ask the groom’s partner a series of questions about their relationship. During the stag do, quiz the groom. For every answer he gets wrong, he has to complete a funny, pre-agreed-upon forfeit. Forfeits should be silly, not punishing—think singing a boy band classic, wearing a silly hat for an hour, or buying the next round.
• Why it works: It’s a great way to involve the groom’s partner in spirit and learn some funny stories about the happy couple. The forfeits add a layer of group fun and friendly competition.

The Secret Phrase Challenge

This prank requires a bit of teamwork from the rest of the group and is guaranteed to confuse the groom.

• How to execute it: At the start of the night, the group agrees on a secret, slightly odd phrase. The challenge is for each person to work this phrase into a natural conversation with the groom without him noticing. For example, the phrase could be “I’ve always loved badgers.”
• Why it works: The groom will slowly become more and more baffled as he hears multiple people randomly mentioning the same strange topic. The big reveal at the end of the night will be a fantastic moment of shared laughter.

The ‘No Names’ Rule

This is a simple game that creates chaos and forces everyone to get creative.

• How to execute it: For a set period (e.g., the first hour at a bar), no one is allowed to use anyone’s first name. Instead, you have to use pre-assigned nicknames or simply get someone’s attention without saying their name. Anyone who slips up faces a minor forfeit.
• Why it works: It’s a simple rule that is surprisingly hard to follow, leading to plenty of slip-ups and funny moments. It’s an easy icebreaker and gets everyone in a playful mood.

The best stag do pranks are the ones that strengthen friendships, not strain them. By focusing on humour, inclusion, and good-natured fun, you can add an extra layer of entertainment to the weekend that the groom will appreciate.

Ready to plan a legendary weekend packed with laughs and unforgettable moments? Explore our hassle-free stag do packages and find the perfect activities to build your prank-filled itinerary today!