What IS a Jack & Jill, exactly?!

(continuing...)

because if the couple isn't opening gifts, what are you supposed to do after the couple quick raffles are over?

So what exactly is the proper way for one of these things to happen? Also, any good ideas on games or something to keep both the men and women involved and entertained? What kind of atmosphere are they typically, casual or formal? Any help would be much appreciated, I'm so confused! Thanks in advance!

Oh and WHAT is the difference between a Jack and Jill and a... Staginshower? Is that the word?

We had a couples shower which I guess is what most people refer to as a Jack and Jill. We had a spaghetti supper at the local elks club. We invited both families and our friends and had a DJ. We had been registered for the wedding already so yes, people brought gifts, but they didn't have to pay for tickets.
I don't understand the "ticket" thing. But, that could be different where you are located. I have learned, after 2 years on WW, that many wedding related events/traditions are highly localized.

We've talked about doing a bus- you rent a school bus and bar hop. There would be an admission cost for the bus and it would be BYOB.

I don't really like the ticket idea either, I feel like people would be less inclined to come and have a good time if they had to pay for a ticket...

To have fun USUALLY isn't free LOL (when food, drinks and entertainment is involved) We're doing a stag n doe ( a jack n jill) And we are charging $25 for a ticket, which is actually pretty cheap compared to others. IF you think about it, if a person were to go out to eat and drink think about how much that would be. But with the stag n doe- it's UNLIMITED booze AND food. And we are also having a DJ. So it's technically paying for their food, drinks and entertainment, just like if you were to go to a bar to see a band play or a club- you would pay cover ... we're doing a bunch of door prizes, raffles, games- it's going to be a great time!! Mine is in 3 weeks and I'm super excited!

A regular "jack n jill" would be just like food, games and guests would bring gifts. It's like a bridal shower but for the both of you.

So at a "regular jack & jill", since it's so much more low-key, tickets probably aren't the way to go, right?

But at one like yours, where it's pretty entertainment-driven, the tickets understandably cover the cost of the entertainment provided.. Hmm. Now which way to go?!

Yeah I just about to say that regular "Jack n Jills" are probably more low-key. Not as rowdy as a stag n doe would be lol ... Well you've got plenty of time to decide which way you want to go! Good luck!

You also need to know your crowd. In Canada it is more popular to do the Stag and Doe where you charge people to get in. The object of the party is to raise money for the bride and groom to help them pay for the wedding.

In the US it is more Couples Showers, where people come, bring you gifts, there is food and drinks and maybe some fun games... but not really a money maker party (usually the host doesn't get their money back let alone raise any extra)

Jokers: This is another popular game. Tape an entire deck of cards face down on a posterboard, and sell each card for a set price, which can vary depending on the sizes of your guest's pocketbooks. As the cards are sold, allow the buyer to write his or her name onto it. When they are all sold, find out who's got the jokers, and each get a percentage of the pot, with the house taking the rest. Variations of this game have the Ace of Spades taking half, and the couple the other half, but either works fine. This is a good game to advertize as they walk in or are buying beer tickets as your guests already have their cash out and will be more willing to spend.

We did a Jack and Jill a couple of months ago. It was $15 per person or $25 a couple, we had a dj, food and we rented a hall. People donated bottles of alcohol, car wash buckets, gift baskets, ect to be raffled off. Most of the food was made by family or friends. It was a cash bar everyone ate, danced and had a good time. We did it because neither one of us wanted a bachlorette or stag party. But Jack and Jills are common in my area. My family absorbed most of the cost but we did make money off of the raffle and 50/50 raffle.

In my area it is common for the couple to have a jack and jilll/ stag & doe/ buck & doe its to help raise money for the wedding/ the couples future together. We are having ours Aug. 27th. Our BM and MOH are throwing it with help from our families. We are having a dj, cash bar and food. Tickets are $5 per person. We are doing door prizes, a bottle draw, raffles, 50/50, and a twoonie toss (I am Canadian tee hee).

From every jack and jill i have went to their are always tonnes of games and prizes. Just check online for game ideas.

Most popular I've saw are casino nites and raffling alcohol off.

I've saw were the bride and groom had to go around and raise money from their guests. The one that raised the most money got to throw a pie in the others face.

I've also saw outdoor jack and jills with a band instead of a dj, and they did water games (dunk tanks are popular), a bomfire, bbq and cash bar.

You can really do anything you want. Just have fun.

Wow I want one! I never heard of this.

- Drop the coin in the shot glass ( a water jug from a water cooler filled with water - if it falls in the shot glass they win a free drink) ** Use a broom handle and put it in the shot glass to hold it in place while you fill the jug with water

- "Hammer Time' You get a big tree stump a hammer and super long nails. Whomever hits the nail down with the least number of hits wins ( EVERY little tap counts even to readjust) Guys get super competitive for this one and keep playing to win. One guy spent about 80 bucks to win. Keep track of their name and number of hits on a big chart so people will keep playing. Bring safety glasses and keep the stump on the floor (too easy if it's on a table or something).

- In the balloon popping game participants tie balloons to their ankles with a string and try to stomp on each other's balloons. The last person with their balloon intact wins a prize.

You can go to to the health units and picked up a ton of condoms (they're free there hehe), I put in them in a large restaurant sized mayonnaise jar and charged people $1/guess, whoever got the closest won the jar. the catch? you can guess using someone else's name, so it could be embarrassing for someone to win a huge thing of condoms

- A Texas Mickey. Basically you have a huge bottle of liquor or we did Liquor store gift cards and you buy tickets like a 50/50. Sell them for $10 for half and arm length and $20 for a full arm length plus a little extra.

A lock box game. There are like X number of keys and you have to pay whatever to buy a key ($5, $10, etc.). If your key unlocks the box, you get the prize that is inside. (I would make it a cool prize)

You can do a theme (moustache and mini skirt) if the guests come in either they get a ticket to put in a draw for wearing one or both. at the end, do a draw for a prize

We're doing a game where you have to guess the serial number (there will be a huge board of different numbers and you pick the numbers) of the $100 bill ... then the $100 is yours! Ours is CASINO themed too! Idea by the FH!!! So proud of him! He actually made an imput in part of the wedding planning process lol. We have a roulette table, black jack and poker! This is going to be an interesting night!!!

Do a jail, ppl put their friends in an area for a $1/minute while you're in jail.

Fish insurance, guests pay $1 to be insured, if they don't buy it and win a prize they have to swallow a fish to get the prize...

A food auction... the groom and bride will sit in a kiddy pool with goggles on and the guests get to bid on food like - chocolate syrup, eggs, etc. and at the end - a bag of flour... whoever is the highest bidder gets to pour the items on them.. it mades a ton of money and you do it near the end of the night so it keeps ppl sticking around to watch and drink (buy) more beer at the very least!

Don't forget to talk to local vendors and ask if they want to contribute anything for prizes.... doesn't hurt to ask. Tell them you will have some kind of advertisement to promote their business.

Oh where i am from you can have a shower.. but never heard of a couples shower and a stag and doe which it to help raise money for the couples future... which are fun as well and showers dont cost but usually presents and the stages are normaly one for 10 or two for 15

Okay so, I'm thinking that when the time comes we'll have to go more reserved, probably no food auctions or condom guessing games lol, because I'm pretty sure that for the most part our guests are going to be of age where they're not going to want to get drunk and party all night long (although I would LOVE that).. so it would probably be more on the couples shower side, rather than a big party.

But this also depends on the etiquette about inviting people, I know that it's not proper etiquette to invite anyone to any event at all where gifts are expected if they're not invited to the wedding... BUT I know that (and maybe this is only in my area?) I've seen flyers around in the past for people's stags and jack & jill's, that advertise "come have fun at a stag/jack & jill, dj/games/drinks, $10 per ticket" ...but clearly that would be more of a fundraiser, since these flyers were hung in public places, and obviously any random stranger who shows up wouldn't be invited to the wedding too?