If you Plan on Having a Jack and Jill Fundraiser, Here’s What You Need to Know?
“Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water,
Jack fell down and broke his crown and
Jill came tumbling after.” - 18th Century
English Nursery Rhyme
If you’ve ever heard these rather ominous lyrics from the classic childhood rhyme, you already know who Jack and Jill are. Stereotypical names that describe a close male and female pair, in recent years many have begun using the terms Jack and Jill to describe bride and groom pairs as they prepare for their big day. Jack and Jill hopefully won’t be breaking any crowns in their wedding preparations, but there are several other challenges bride and groom pairs will often face.
Brides, grooms, and wedding planners alike can tell you that the costs of a wedding rack up quickly. For couples who can’t quite afford the wedding or honeymoon of their dreams, however, there’s still hope.
In this post, you will get ideas on:
Jack and Jill co-ed parties, sometimes also known as stag and doe parties, are fundraising rallies that originated in Canada but are beginning to make their way to the rest of the world. They’re usually hosted by the bride and groom and invite all wedding guests or loved ones to come, play games, and celebrate the couple-to-be while also raising money to help pay for the wedding.
If you’re thinking about hosting a Jack and Jill, here are some of our best tips and tricks to get you started!
A cultural event in Canada, popular mostly in Manitoba or Ontario under various names to raise money for a couple for their future wedding plans or honeymoon. In Southern Ontario it may be called a stag and doe, or buck and doe, and in Northwestern Ontario it is called a shag. In Manitoba, this is often called a social or wedding social with less fundraising pressure than seen in Ontario. Wiki
Plan your Jack and Jill Shower at least two months before the wedding. This will give you access to the cash which you need to pay for any extras that your budget did not allow for. **Make sure it does not overlap with any other pre-wedding engagements - bachelorette, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner. If you’re thinking about hosting a Jack and Jill, here are some of our best tips and tricks to get you started!
5 USEFUL Tips to Planning a Jack and Jill Wedding Event
1. Wedding Planning Tips:
When is the right time to hold a Jack and Jill wedding fundraiser?
This is how to plan the BEST zinger Jack and Jill party, EVER!
Be very creative. Try pairing this idea with any holidays (Halloween, Valentine’s Day, etc) or even one of your favorite TV shows, movies, an era (the 60s, 70s, 80s, etc), books, or games.
** Main rule: Don't invite anyone who is not invited to the wedding.
The goal of a Jack and Jill party is to host a rally or fundraiser that generates money for your nuptials. These events are amazing ways to celebrate your love while also helping to raise funds in order to throw an even better wedding! These events are usually casual parties that take on the atmosphere of a backyard barbecue or local fair, though you can choose to dress it up to a more elegant affair if you prefer.
Will a Jack and Jill Party be suitable for planning your Wedding?
The top 4 THINGS you NEED to know about a Jack and Jill Fundraiser
2. Entertainment: Great activities, fun games, delicious food and drinks
The goal of a Jack and Jill party is to host a rally or fundraiser that generates money for your nuptials. These events are amazing ways to celebrate your love while also helping to raise funds in order to throw an even better wedding! These events are usually casual parties that take on the atmosphere of a backyard barbecue or local fair, though you can choose to dress it up to a more elegant affair if you prefer.
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Talk with a wedding planner or expert day-of planner to help you get ideas for how to organize a classy and fun affair within your budget that will make your guests feel like their donations have been worth it. People are more likely to donate if you make it clear you value their time and donation versus if you just throw out random and meaningless gift tokens as a reward.
Whether you’re going for a casino, carnival, or any other fun and exciting theme, be sure to have some amazing entertainment to keep your guests happy (which will make them more likely to donate!)
3. Planning Ahead
Plan your Jack and Jill Shower at least two to three months before the wedding. This will give you access to the cash which you need to pay for any extras that your budget did not allow for. Make sure it does not overlap with any other pre-wedding engagements - bachelorette, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner. Some couples might feel like because they’re having a Jack and Jill they can’t also have their bachelor/bachelorette parties and showers. That’s not true at all! You can still have all of those events; just make sure to space them out appropriately so they’re not all happening in the same four weeks.
4. A Clear Attendance Policy
Make sure to let your guests know that attendance is optional. Poorly planned Jack and Jill events can make your guests feel like you’re shaking them down in order to get even more money out of them and can put a damper on your excitement as you plan for your special day. Work to emphasize that while you’d love for everyone invited to attend, attendance or participation is not mandatory or required at all. This way, you’ll know that everyone who comes truly wants to celebrate and support you, making your day even better!
5. A Fundraising Goal
Publicize what your guests’ donations will go toward. This could be toward your registry which you already set up or your honeymoon. Making it clear where exactly your funds will be spent makes it easier for guests to want to contribute and helps set a clear goal that you can reach. So, consider setting up a visual aid to track how much money you’ve raised throughout the night. Will a Jack and Jill Party be suitable for planning your Wedding?
Final thoughts
When it comes to paying for your wedding, couples don’t have to shoulder this burden all on their own. Incorporating a fun tradition like a Jack and Jill party can be a creative way to involve all your loved ones in your special day and to relieve some of the stress of financing your celebration.
When it comes to paying for your wedding, couples don’t have to shoulder this burden all on their own. Incorporating a fun tradition like a Jack and Jill party can be a creative way to involve all your loved ones in your special day and to relieve some of the stress of financing your celebration.
Our expert wedding planners can guide you through planning the best Jack and Jill party ever and strategize with you on how to use those funds to develop the wedding of your dreams, so contact us today to get started on making your special day a reality!
About the author: Keren Michele, CEP, leads the planning team at K’Mich Event Planning & Consulting. With a flair for creativity in organizing one-of-a-kind weddings and events, she is passionate about providing valuable ideas for couples as they plan their special day.