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When Should You Give Groomsmen Gifts? [The Best Times Are…]

As it turns out, there is far more to being a groom than sticking on a suit and remembering to turn up to your wedding ceremony on time. These days, you are expected to knuckle down and get really involved in wedding planning. That includes deciding on those thoughtful gifts for the people who will make your wedding day even more special – your groomsmen. Then you’ll need to think about when is best to give them. And that is what we will be covering here today.

So, when should you give your groomsmen gifts? You could give your groomsmen gifts when you ask them to be your groomsmen, during the bachelor party, at the rehearsal dinner, or on the morning of your wedding. The latter seems to be the most popular. Though there is no right or wrong time to give a gift to your groomsman, and optimal timing does usually depend on the gift.

The only requirement for giving gifts to your groomsmen is making sure they are all there, so no one feels left out!

So if you are giving gifts to your groomsmen and you have been wondering about your options, keep reading. 

I am going to go over everything you need to know and consider, including how they should actually be gifted too.

When Can A Groom Give His Groomsmen Gifts?

When you actually give your groomsmen their gifts is a very personal decision.

However, if you are unsure of the best times to give gifts to your groomsmen, here are a few suggestions to help you decide.

When You Ask Them To Be A Groomsmen

Just like brides do with their bridesmaids, you can always give your groomsmen a thoughtful gift when you ask them to be a part of your groom’s party.

Although this option is not that popular, it can be a bit awkward handing a gift to one of your potential groomsmen only for them to say they cannot accept that role in your wedding.

It might be the perfect time for you to give your gifts.

During The Bachelor Party

If you are having a traditional bachelor party, one where the costs and planning are covered by your groomsmen, giving them their gifts during this celebration can be a wonderful way to say thank you. 

Bachelor parties are not cheap; even if they are organized close to home, they will still require a lot of planning and money.

Your groomsmen’s gifts may be a very welcomed surprise, and they can make this event even more special.

You could give these gifts out during the meal portion of your bachelor party, or if you are all staying in the same house or hotel, you can give them out before you even leave for the evening. 

Keep in mind it is unlikely your groomsmen will want to carry a bag of gifts around for the entire evening.

So, you will have to plan the gift-giving so that you have not got five-plus men walking around a club with gift bags. 

The Morning After The Night Before

If there is no perfect time to give your groomsmen a gift during your bachelor party, the morning after the bachelor shenanigans might be the perfect compromise.

This way, no one will have to carry gifts around for an entire evening, and everyone will be in the same place.

You want to give your groomsmen their gifts when they are all together, this avoids anyone feeling left out, and the morning after your bachelor party may be one of the only times everyone is in the same room before your actual wedding day.

At The Rehearsal Dinner

Although not every wedding includes a rehearsal dinner, if yours does, this might be a good time to consider giving your groomsmen a gift.

In fact, this is the most common time for grooms to bestow a gift on their important group of men. 

Waiting till the rehearsal dinner ensures that everyone there is definitely going to be present on the day of your wedding.

Giving gifts out too early can risk you giving a gift to someone who may have to bow out of the groomsmen role early. 

A rehearsal dinner is already an incredibly social get-together, and nothing is stopping you from standing up and making a quick speech thanking your groomsmen before handing out their gifts. 

On The Wedding Morning

The second most common time for a groom to give his groomsmen gifts is the morning of the wedding.

Although the bride will be up to her eyeballs in makeup, hair, and other getting-ready activities, the groom has a lot less to do.

This means there is a lot more time to fill before he gets up to say I Do to the love of his life.

You can take some time before you leave for your ceremony venue to personally thank each of your groomsmen for being here today and then hand them a thoughtful gift as a permanent thank you for their time and support. 

How Should A Groom Give His Groomsmen Gifts?

Keep it personal, short, and sweet. You can make a little speech beforehand if everyone is together, but it is not completely necessary because there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to giving a groomsman their gift.

Gift-giving may not come very naturally to you, and the idea of being so intimate with your male friends can feel a little uncomfortable.

That is ok.

Just remember to tell them how much it means to you that they are here with you and supporting you on your wedding day.

Let them know that this gift is your way of saying thank you. 

Suggestions When Giving Groomsmen Their Gifts

So, you have decided to give your groomsmen a gift to say thank you for all of their support.

Here are some tips to help make your gift-giving go smoothly and be a moment to remember for all the right reasons.

Have Them Pre-Organized

It is easy to tell when gifts were a last-minute haphazard decision.

If you do this, you may as well not have got gifts for your groomsmen at all. 

However, if you really do want to get them a gift take the time to find something special and personal.

You will want to organize these gifts a couple of months before your big day.

This way, you won’t have to panic buy closer to the wedding, and they will be the kind of gifts you are proud to hand over.

Also, ensure that you have the time and date of your gift-giving pre-planned.

This way, you won’t be panicking to get everything in the boot of your car last minute. 

Give Them Out One At A Time

Give each of your groomsmen his own time, even if it is just a couple of minutes, as you hand them their gift personally.

This can make all the difference in making your groomsmen feel really appreciated. 

So, avoid just popping all the gifts on a table and making your groomsmen rifle through the gifts to find the one that is meant just for them.

Hand them out personally and individually. It may take a little more time, but only five to ten minutes at the most. 

Personalize Them

Personalizing a gift does not always mean an engraved lighter or leather wallet – although that is a very nice idea, and plenty of groomsmen will be thrilled to receive something like this.

You want to make sure that each gift is individualized for each man.

There is no point in purchasing an engraved silver lighter for a man that has never smoked in his life or a hip flask for a recovering alcoholic. 

This is a quick-fire way to make a thoughtful gift become a pretty unacceptable one.

Take the time to decide what each of your groomsmen would appreciate.

If you are not sure, you can always ask your partner’s opinion or stick to a more generically acceptable gift that you can’t go wrong with – like engraved cufflinks. 

Don’t Leave Anyone Out

This one seems pretty obvious, but you would be surprised how many times a groomsman falls into the background and gets forgotten a little.

Make sure you have covered everyone; this is part of your pre-organization; the last thing you want to do is get to your gift-giving moment only to realize you left one of the gifts on your kitchen table or you forgot to get one at all.

So, Should You Give Your Groomsmen A Gift?

Giving gifts to your groomsmen, even if it is a small one, is a lovely way to thank them for all their support in the lead-up to your wedding day.

To thank them for an awesome bachelor party and for being with you as you marry the love of your life.

Plus, I don’t think there is anyone out there who does not love a gift. 

That being said, gifts are not necessary if your budget can’t stretch to them, but they are always an appreciated gesture.