Berkshire Bride - Resources for Brides in Berkshire County

"Not Another Shot Glass...": Groomsmen Gift-Giving Ideas

One  of the last things the groom does before his wedding day is select the attendants' gifts for his groomsmen. There are the traditional  gifts such as shot glasses, cuff links, flasks, money clips, business card holders, pocket watches, and tankards. Those are all great gifts  but sometimes they can be considered "safe" to give. Ask yourself this  question... if your beau has ever been in a wedding before, what was the  gift given? Have the flasks, beer steins, and shot glasses started  collecting dust on the shelves? If the answer is yes then you might  want to consider trying a different approach.

The phrase  "think outside the box" is truly a commodity in this case. Instead of  reaching for the catalog with the standard gifts, try looking at the  groomsmen as individuals and get them things that really reflect the  person they are. We know what you're thinking... "Guys won't care about  that". On the contrary, that can't be further from the truth! A guy  would much rather receive a "cool" gift they can use instead of a show  piece that's considered a knick knack. Here are some great, innovative  ideas for you to consider when selecting your male attendants' gifts  that won't break your wallet.

Board Games:

This  is a great gift to give especially for a best man that's a sibling. It  will demonstrate much thought and creativity. What was the favorite  board game you played when you were kids?

Magazine Subscription:

This  is truly the gift that keeps on giving. We recommend that you get the  subscription in plenty of time before the wedding so that your  groomsmen can indulge in the first issue upon receiving this gift  instead of a piece of paper. ( This can include adult, sports, tools,  etc. )

Tickets

This can be a bit  pricy but if there were a reunion of some 80's hair band that your best  man really loved, why not get tickets for both the groom and the groomsman ( you may not be able to afford tickets for all the guys but you could for your best man )?

Jerseys

What  are your groomsmen's favorite teams? This is a fabulous gift for them  to wear when their favorite team is playing. Don't know their sizes?  Call the tux shop where you got your tuxedos. It will be a genuine  surprise because no one will suspect a thing.

Handkerchiefs

For  the businessmen in the bunch, monogrammed handkerchiefs are great to  coordinate with any suit. (Stick with basic colors- white, black,  beige)

Beer Koozies

What kind of guy  wouldn't want a great beer Koozie to keep their favorite brand chilled?  It can be either plastic or a nice sterling with their name  engraved. They are available with different sports teams and other  personal choices.

Gift Certificates

This can  be a very useful gift. Find out where your groomsmen like to eat, shop,  or play. Don't get standard gift certificates for each person from the  same place. Get a special one for each attendant for a different place  you know they'd enjoy.

Tools

This may seem  odd but there are a lot of guys who are savvy with tools and it could  be a nice "thank you" to them if you gave them a hammer with their name  engraved on the metal or on the handle. (The same applies to a  mechanic)

Pens

This is a borderline "safe"  gift to give but if you have someone in your wedding party who's in a  position to use a power pen, this could be very useful. (A construction  worker probably doesn't want a fountain pen).

Gift Baskets

This  is a fun way to say "thank you". What do your attendants like to do in  their spare time? Do they like to fish? You could get them a set of  lures, fake bait, some fishing line, etc. for their basket. The  possibilities are endless.
   
  Attendants' gifts (male and female)  can be very difficult because you want to get the "right" thing for  them without having to forfeit the disc jockey due to wedding budget  cuts. It doesn't matter what you spend on a person, it matters about  the thought you put into their gift. Guys may be used to practical  gifts but you don't have to follow the standard protocol for  gift-giving. Happy gift hunting!