Groomsmen Gifts

Your groomsmen have bought the suit, survived the stag do and agreed to stand next to you while you try not to cry in front of 120 people. The least you can do is buy them something nice.

Groomsmen gifts don’t need to be expensive, but they do need to be thoughtful. The best ones get used long after the wedding, rather than ending up in the drawer with the stag do sash. Here are the groomsmen gift ideas that actually work, and a few tips on getting it right.

What makes a good groomsmen gift?

• Something they’ll use. A hip flask, a good glass or a decent wallet will get far more use than a novelty trinket.
• Something for the day. Cufflinks, socks or a tie they can wear at the wedding are a nice way to tie the whole wedding party together.
• A personal touch. An engraved name, initials or the wedding date turns a nice present into a keepsake.
• Fair across the board. Get everyone the same thing, or at least something of similar value. Nobody wants to be the usher who got the keyring while the best man got the watch.

Groomsmen gifts on a budget

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get it right. Matching socks, a simple pair of cufflinks or an engraved bottle opener won’t break the bank and still show you’ve made the effort. If money’s tight, a handwritten note tucked in with a small gift will mean more to most blokes than you’d expect. They just won’t admit it.

Should the best man get something different?

It’s common for the best man to get the same gift as everyone else, plus a little something extra. He’s organised the stag do, written the speech and spent months fielding questions about the dress code, so a slightly bigger present is fair. Just keep it low-key if the rest of the lads are in earshot.

Looking for the best man in particular? See our personalised cufflinks for ideas he can wear on the day.

When to give groomsmen gifts

Most grooms hand them out on the morning of the wedding, while everyone’s getting ready. It’s a good moment to say thanks before the chaos starts, and if the gift is something to wear on the day, it has to happen then anyway. Some prefer the night before, over a pint. Either works. Just don’t leave them in the boot of the car and forget about them until the honeymoon.

Tips for ordering

• Order early. Engraving and personalisation take longer than a normal order. Leave plenty of time before the wedding.
• Check the spelling. Twice. Personalised items usually can’t be returned, and there’s always one lad with an unusual spelling of his name.
• Think about travel. If anyone’s flying to the wedding, glassware and anything bulky is a pain to get home. Something small and pocketable is kinder.
• Add a note. A few lines about what each of them means to you is the bit they’ll actually remember.

For more ideas, have a look at our gifts for the groom, best man socks and best man cufflinks.