Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 11/00) - Stag parties are a one-time, over-the-top opportunity for men to celebrate manly things. Friends of Bert Griffin held a stag for him last Saturday and all the elements of a good stag were there -- drink, sports, trash talk, a whole pig, and a fine negligee for the groom-to-be.

For stag organizer Carey Tremblay, embarrassing his friend was, of course, one of his goals.

"I guess we're trying to get him to do things that wives don't let husbands do," said Tremblay.

"We tried really hard to talk him out of wearing the dress, but he insisted."

Some of the men at the party were married and many offered Griffin some sage advice. Mike Baker has been married only seven months, and from what his other married friends tell him -- the crunch time is coming. He didn't want to alarm his old buddy Bert, but he, out of duty, let him in on the lowdown.

"I've been told there's no good sex after eight months. They tell me sex is only for child-bearing purposes," said Baker.

The bride Anna Marinic's dad Jack was at the party to keep an eye on things. As he watched his soon to be, son-in-law gallantly fight eight men off to avoid being dressed in a black negligee, he just smiled.

"When I heard my daughter was marrying Bert I was a happy guy. When you have a daughter you know, they'll get married. I've got one child left to go," said Marinic.

"I guess it means there will be more room in the house. They can come back anytime and if they bring grandchildren, well, that's what it's all about."

Later, Bert was chained to a dolly wearing only the negligee and green rubber boots. He was wheeled around town and left overnight in a warehouse out in Kam Lake with no phone.

Before all that happened though, he was pretty impressed with the party.

"I'm having the best time of my life here with my best friends," said Griffin.

"I'm getting married and I'm excited. I'm thinking about her tonight. I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

The happy couple have decided to tie the knot March 4 in Las Vegas because it's less stress and cheaper for their southern friends to get there. Hopefully, Griffin will have recovered from his stag enough by then to say the words, "I do."