Gifts for Groomsmen
Your wedding day is undoubtedly one of the most memorable days of your life and often involves a fair amount of planning and preparation. While there are many decisions to be made, one of the most significant includes choosing who’ll be involved in the bridal party. After all, half the fun is being able to anticipate and celebrate your big day with your closest friends and family by your side!
As an upcoming groom, you’ve probably already experienced the exhilaration of proposing to your bride, so it will come as no surprise to find out that proposing to your groomsmen is an exciting moment in its own right. Whether you plan to keep it simple or are looking for the perfect groomsmen gift, we’ve got you covered; read on for helpful tips for selecting your groomsmen and discover impressive gifts for groomsmen.
Selecting your groomsmen
For some grooms, selecting their groomsmen is a breeze - but for others, it can lean towards the impossible. If you’re leaning towards the impossible, we’re here to help; our top tips when selecting your groomsmen are:
Start with a ballpark number
You’ll need a rough idea of how many groomsmen you’ll have before deciding who you’ll have. Typically, the number of groomsmen depends on the number of bridesmaids to keep things equal on both sides (an equal number ensures each party member has a partner). If you and your partner are working together to decide on a number, some factors to consider include:
- How many guests you’re inviting to the wedding: Groomsmen often act as ushers at a wedding, and you’ll typically need one usher for 50 guests.
- How intimate your wedding will be: Whether you’re planning a small, intimate gathering or a colossal party can determine how many bridesmaids and groomsmen you have. When deciding on the number, you’ll want to consider the overall vibe of the wedding you’re planning.
- Other people’s feelings: Your wedding is about you and your partner, so while your happiness is the most important, it’s advisable to consider the feelings of friends and family members who may expect to be in the bridal party. Sometimes, having less bridesmaids and groomsmen is the easiest way to ensure no one’s feelings are hurt. However, if you’re set on a larger number, and there’s a friend on the fringe, it may be better to include them rather than leave them out.
- Whether or not you’ll be giving gifts: If you’re planning gifts for groomsmen and bridesmaids, you’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding on a number. If you have a particular wedding budget in mind, factor this into your budget to thank your party with a meaningful bridesmaid and groomsmen gift.
Ask siblings first
They say that ‘family is forever’, so when selecting your groomsmen, it’s often easiest to consider family members first. Siblings, future siblings-in-law and even close cousins are often a safe and simple way to add numbers and get everyone involved. If they’re younger than 16, siblings can also serve as junior groomsmen, ring bearers or ushers to help include them in the wedding party without serving as official groomsmen.
If you have no siblings, or you’ve chosen not to include them, start adding in your friends; this number will likely depend on how many bridesmaids there are and how big your wedding is.
Consider reliability
A wedding isn’t the time for flakey friends; always consider if your potential groomsmen are reliable. You’ll need to be able to count on your groomsmen at crucial moments, so if your friend often fails to call you back or consistently shows up late to pre-planned events, they may not be the right person for the job. Instead, prioritise friends and family you know you can count on.
Emphasise creating a positive group dynamic with easy-going friends
Will your bridal party get along? The last thing you need is a group dynamic that causes undue stress before your big day. Your groomsmen don’t all need to be best mates, but creating a group dynamic of groomsmen with agreeable, friendly and easy-going personalities will mean you can cross “fights between friends” off your list of pre-wedding worries.
Be thoughtful toward personal situations
Depending on the wedding, being a groomsman can be expensive. If a friend or family member is in a difficult financial position, it’s usually best to talk it over before putting them in a situation where it’s awkward to say no. If your potential groomsman is unable to fill the role, there are other positions that may be better suited. Ushers, toasters, and readers are excellent roles they can fill without the financial pressure.
For friends and family who accept your groomsmen's proposal, giving them a thoughtful groomsmen gift can be an excellent way to thank them (in advance) for all their support in the lead up to the big day!
Proposing to your groomsmen
A straight-to-the-point method of proposing to your groomsmen is organising a get together (or phone call when distance is an issue) and simply asking, but if you want to take it up a notch, giving a gift to mark the occasion can make the moment all the more special. If opting for a gift for your groomsmen, leaving a personalised note asking ‘will you be my groomsmen?’ can be a memorable and impressive groomsmen gift.
Typically, gifts for groomsmen are provided as a way of saying thank you for the support and assistance they’ll be offering before and during the wedding and are given to everyone who’ll be taking part in the day.
What kinds of gifts do you get your groomsmen?
Thankfully, there’s no shortage of gifts for groomsmen out there! Some of our favourite groomsmen gift ideas include gifts that can be enjoyed before, during and after the big day:
For the bucks night
Giving a groomsmen gift to enjoy during the bucks night is a fun gift that will come in handy later! To ensure your future bucks night is a party to remember (literally), consider non-alcoholic groomsmen gifts; this will also help your groomsmen wake up in fine fettle to pursue other possible groomsmen tasks the following morning.
Lyre’s gift sets - such as the Lyre’s Amaretti Sour Gift Set and the Lyre’s Old Fashioned Gift Set - come with a non-alcoholic beverage and two premium tumbler glasses that ensure spirits are bright with a drink that’s alcohol light.
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For the trip
If you’re planning a trip with your groomsmen, a groomsmen gift that can be used for the journey offers a memorable souvenir that represents all the excitement and anticipation of your upcoming adventure.
Our wonderfully crafted cooler bag or tote bag can carry just about anything and offer elegant comfort and long durability. As a bonus, include your choice of our impossibly crafted range of non-alcoholic spirits and your groomsmen's favourite snacks, all to be enjoyed on the trip, of course!
For the wedding
Traditional gifts for groomsmen often include drinks to be enjoyed or accessories to be worn on the big day. If you’re heading down a traditional route, a groomsmen proposal box with a personalised note, sentimental accessories, and an enjoyable beverage would be an exceptional groomsmen gift.
Lyre’s premium cufflinks are crafted using the most prestigious materials and are the cherry on top of a stylishly swagger attire. To complement your groomsmen’s new cufflinks, we recommend adding Traditional Reserve into your groomsmen proposal box. This non-alcoholic groomsmen gift captures the essence of a blended malt whisky with flavours influenced by oak tannin, subtle smoke and nutty grain.
For the next morning
A groomsmen gift to enjoy the morning after the big day is a thoughtful gift to thank them for all their planning, preparing and anticipating and wrap up a perfect wedding celebration. Similarly to gifts for groomsmen given for the wedding, a groomsmen proposal box with their favourite snacks, the finest non-alcoholic drinks, and some warm socks (there are no cold feet at your wedding) is a tender and meaningful groomsmen gift to make a special moment one to remember.
Saluti to a memorable groomsmen proposal, spectacular wedding, and - most importantly - a happy marriage!
