Stag Do T-Shirts: Ideas, Nicknames and Ordering Tips
By The Velocity Wear Team
Stag do t-shirts get around nineteen hundred UK searches a month. The idea is simple: a matching shirt for the group, something special for the groom, and nicknames on the back. The execution is where it goes sideways. Here's how to get shirts that make the photos without making anyone cringe.
First, an honest word on numbers
Our minimum is 20 shirts per design. Plenty of stag dos are eight or twelve blokes. If that's you, a local print shop or a small online personaliser will suit you better, and we'd rather say that now. If you're a big group, combining the stag with a family event, or doing a shirt for the wedding party too, read on.
Design ideas that work
- A mock tour shirt: Dave's Last Stand, with the dates and destinations on the back like a band tour.
- A football shirt style: the groom's surname and number on the back, everyone else's nickname.
- A photo of the groom at an awkward age. Always a hit. Get a decent-resolution scan.
- A simple matching colour with STAG CREW on the chest and names on the back.
- A different colour shirt for the groom, so he's easy to spot and easy to buy drinks for.
Keep it funny, not trouble
Some slogans that seem hilarious at the planning stage are a problem on the day. Bars and clubs in popular stag destinations can refuse groups in offensive clothing, and airlines and ferries can take a dim view too. Crude jokes about the bride, anything sexual, or anything that targets a group of people is best left off. Inside jokes about the groom himself are fair game.
Nicknames on the back
The nicknames are what people keep the shirt for. Collect them in one list, including what size each person wants. Set a character limit, around ten letters, so they're big enough to read. And check with the person whose nickname it is. There's funny, and there's the one mate who'll sulk all weekend.
Shirt choice
For a summer weekend in Spain or Portugal, a lighter tee around 160 to 180 GSM keeps people cooler. For a UK winter stag, a heavier tee or even a hoodie gets more wear. Dark colours hide spilled drinks. Bright colours are easier to find in a crowd at 1am.
When to order
Production takes 10 to 15 working days after artwork approval, then delivery. Give yourself at least four weeks before you travel. Stag season peaks in spring and summer, so earlier is better.
Sizing lads
Don't assume everyone is a large. Ask. Groups of men typically lean L, XL and 2XL. Share a size chart with chest measurements, and remember a nickname on an XS shirt doesn't help anyone.
Destinations and dress codes
Popular stag destinations like Newcastle, Liverpool, Dublin and European cities have plenty of venues that won't admit groups in fancy dress or offensive slogans. Plan to wear shirts by day and something smarter at night. Some weekends include activities like go-karting or golf where a matching tee works perfectly.
Splitting the cost
Collect money in advance through a bank transfer or payment app. The best man usually covers the groom's shirt.
Price
Tees start from $13 each at 20 pieces with one print; individual nicknames add a little per shirt. Work out the per-head cost on the calculator, mock it up in the design studio, and see custom t-shirts.
