Gifts for Groomsmen

Somehow my fiance roped me into buying gifts for my groomsmen. She believes this is custom, so if she does it, I should do it.

My groomsmen are split between bicycle riding hipsters and car/gun guys. Oh, and my grandfather. All of them like the outdoors. All of them like drinkin. Not all of them like smoking. Not all of them have bicycles. 3/5 do, though.

Thoughts on gifts? (or no gifts at all)

Flask, or beer glass, or shot glass.

I got my groomsmen engraved knives. I know several of them carry them everyday. So it was at least a useful gift.

last wedding I was in we got Timex weekenders that I've enjoyed. tons of options for the bands as ours matched the ties.

Crap, you mean I have to get gifts for my groomsmen?!

berkeley this expensive wedding E36 M3.

93EXCivic wrote: I got my groomsmen engraved knives. I know several of them carry them everyday. So it was at least a useful gift.

This. I bought them each a nice Victorinox Swiss Army knife, and had their names engraved into them. They seemed to be more appreciated than a flask or something equally useless-but-traditional-giftlike.

I was a groomsman last year. The divorce went as smoothly as the wedding. Anyway, I was happy with the cheap pocket watch. It was a nice gesture, but not at all necessary. I like mtn's idea.

HAve you seen the Shinola thread? Shinola do some really nice leather goods, designed and made in Detroit. http://www.shinola.com/

A few years ago I got an engraved aluminum oil cap for the Lotus Elise that I still do not have yet.

I've gotten money clips, watches, various knives, multi tool, a giant stein, probably some other stuff I'm forgetting. I carried one of the knives, CRKT Drifter, daily for about 6 months before going back to my Gerber EZ Out that I've carried for 15+ years, so I did get some use out of one of the knives but it wound up in the change bowl with most other gifted knives.

However, I got a nice leather tri-fold wallet as a groomsman gift a few years ago, that I use daily. Not sure who it's made by, quality leather with a tastefully done Arkansas Razorback embossed leather patch stitched to the front of it. It helped that I needed a new wallet at the time, but had a few others as back ups already, and like this wallet better than the others. I'm a huge Razorback fan too, so that helps.

Is there a sports team they all like?

Problem is timing. Only got a week to figure this out.

Working through same thing.

How does one figure what is an appropriate expenditure on the gifts? I was thinking it related to the expense of tux rental somehow?

Haha then I'm in the clear because my buddies aren't renting anything.

I would just agree to get them something that is useful rather than something that will get thrown in a closet or on a shelf. Multitool, swiss army knive, watch are all good ideas. Or there's always booze.

Apexcarver wrote: How does one figure what is an appropriate expenditure on the gifts? I was thinking it related to the expense of tux rental somehow?

Nothing I ever got was in any way relative. Hell. I think one was an expensive bottle of beer and I wasn't even around to enjoy it a the time.

IMHO, it is the thought that counts. Personalization is a nice touch, though.

I carry it daily. Opens beer bottles, packages and just about anything else.

i got a stupid bracelet that i gave to my 2 year old to play with.

and new all-stars. that was the best.

You figure out how much you can reasonably afford for gifts, you divide that by the number of groomsmen, and there's your budget. When I got married 20-odd years ago, I spent under $40 each on 4 groomsmen.

In reply to Apexcarver:

I've been a groomsman in weddings where the tux rental was covered by bridal party, and that was the "gift." Others where I got a gift, but paid for the tux myself. Others still where I didn't pay for anything. One where it was just, black sport coat no tux to rent, no gift. Another still was no coat, wear a white button up and khakis, the bridal party bought us all matching ties.

I've never expected a gift in any of them, though I've never been real fond of being asked to participate, and then pay for my own tux rental too. I have always obliged, and have never said a word to any friend that asked me to do so, however if I ever get hitched, I will not require the wedding party to foot the bill for any of their obligations with the ceremony.

Man I've been in a lot of weddings. Always the groomsman, never the groom.

One gift I got for playing the role is a Klein bottle opener that was engraved. That thing is my favorite groomsmen gift. Another was a mustached flask with my name on it. Cool but the bottle opener is better/more useful.

http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-98002BT-Bottle-Opener/dp/B00093GENU

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to Apexcarver: I've been a groomsman in weddings where the tux rental was covered by bridal party, and that was the "gift." Others where I got a gift, but paid for the tux myself. Others still where I didn't pay for anything. One where it was just, black sport coat no tux to rent, no gift. Another still was no coat, wear a white button up and khakis, the bridal party bought us all matching ties. I've never expected a gift in any of them, though I've never been real fond of being asked to participate, and then pay for my own tux rental too. I have always obliged, and have never said a word to any friend that asked me to do so, however if I ever get hitched, I will not require the wedding party to foot the bill for any of their obligations with the ceremony. Man I've been in a lot of weddings. Always the groomsman, never the groom.

I'm in a wedding in about a month, and am annoyed that I had to pay $150 for shoe and tux rental. I could have purchased a new suit for about $50 more. I'm considering having everyone buy a suit for my wedding, but the problem is that the groomsmen range from 5'7" 150 to 6'5" 230 to 6'3" 300. I'm not sure that we can find a brand/model of suit that everyone will fit in that would be a reasonable cost.

93EXCivic wrote: I got my groomsmen engraved knives. I know several of them carry them everyday. So it was at least a useful gift.

I have one of those from when I was a groomsman in my brother's wedding, and it pretty much lives in my pocket now. They're a pretty good choice.

singleslammer wrote: One gift I got for playing the role is a Klein bottle opener that was engraved. That thing is my favorite groomsmen gift. Another was a mustached flask with my name on it. Cool but the bottle opener is better/more useful. http://www.amazon.com/Klein-Tools-98002BT-Bottle-Opener/dp/B00093GENU

Before I clikced on that link, my first thought was, "How often do you have to open Klein bottles?"

Although a Klein bottle could be kind of amusing if your groomsmen are on the geeky side.

http://www.kleinbottle.com/

I got a knife from my brother. It's the only "legal" pocket knife I own, and thusly the only one I don't carry. (All of mine have hidden button quick opens- making them technically defined as switchblades and therefore illegal.... but i've never been questioned. Now the time I got pulled over with the replica Nazi dagger in the trunk......) Honestly, a bottle of hooch and an engraved lowball. Sit around after and let them tell you how stupid you are. Maybe buy each one the kinda hooch they like.

Hookers and Blow.........

I bought each of mine a decent cigar and a engraved flask.

My groomsmen all got black Converse Chuck Taylors and wore them at the reception (ditched the rental shoes). Made for some fun photos. I now have an ex-wife, but those guys are still friends.