MemberI’m a US bee, but one of my friends just told me she just learned this is a normal thing in Canada. Apparently it often involves a raffle? IS THIS A REAL THING? I can’t imagine any culture in which it would be appropriate to throw a fundraiser for your wedding…
MemberLol, Canada is so large. Depends where you are. Not normal in my circle of friends and I actually hate them.
MemberNot normal in my neighbourhood on the west coast. Never seen one, heard of one or been to one
MemberNormal where I live. We dont really think of it as a fundraiser to be honest. It’s more like a party to get cheap booze and win awesome prizes.
In fact people are more likely to side-eye if you dont have one in my circle.
It’s not a thing everywhere in canada. Only some parts.
Eta: I think you could say that about a lot of traditions though. North American bees, is it normal to come up with a list of presents you want for your wedding and throw a party with the purpose of being showered with those gifts???
Is it normal to tell your best friends you want standing up for you what to wear? And that they should all dress the same?
A lot of traditions are weird and sound like bad etiquette.
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MemberThey already have over 300 people who have rsvp’d yes and are likely to raise between $8K and $10K for their wedding by doing this.
I also knew a couple that got married last year, they hosted their stag & doe in Toronto. They made less than $1K. So it really is a more rural thing, but yes, it is a known thing in Canada!
**It’s basically like another party / wedding event. Like a bridal shower or bachelorette except you invite anyone and everyone. You buy tickets to gain entry and some people buy tickets and dont even attend, as its a way to support the bride & groom. You get friends and family to donate prizes and then have raffles and other games to win prizes and tickets. Usualyl all the games are watched/hosted by members of the bridal party and you buy drink tickets to further support. It is kind of a fundraiser, but kind of not.
MemberThis is so interesting!! Thank you so much everyone who responded – I guess it makes a lot of sense that it could be popular in certain areas but not others. 🤷🏼♀️ As long as everyone is on board with it, it sounds fun!
MemberThis is common where I’m from, but definitely not across all of Canada. Even though it’s a “normal” where I live I still hate them and agree they are tacky.
MemberI’m in Canada and have heard of these, but I find it gross and tacky. It’s not ALL of canada obviously, mainly rural Ontario and Manitoba.
It’s definitely a fundraiser. Like, its the literal definition of a wedding fundraiser, IDK why anyone would say it’s not. It’s also tacky in that people who aren’t invited to the wedding are invited to the fundraiser. So they are helping to pay for the wedding that they aren’t even invited to! Gag.
MemberI’m in Canada and that’s a big NOPE. A Stag/Stagette party here is one last “hurrah” before the big day. It’s not a fundraiser and there are no gifts.
MemberI’ve heard of them and know of people who’ve done them…even been invited to a few but I always declined. Seems gauche to me. I would never throw a fundraiser for my wedding…
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MemberI’ve heard of them, but they’re very localized. They dont happen where I live. In Manitoba, they are called “wedding socials” and you sell tickets, have a raffle/prizes, usually there’s a 50/50. Couples can make some serious money with one and if it’s a common thing in the area, it’s not considered tacky.
MemberI live in BC and have never heard of anyone here having a stag and doe.
MemberAs others already mentioned, Canada is a large nation with a lot of different regional cultures and norms.
Stag and Does / Buck and Does are common in rural Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba. I believe they’re called Socials in Manitoba and parts of Saskatchewan. But they’re pretty much unheard of out west and in urban areas in those provinces.