Need Gift for Best Man and Groomsmen

March 28, 2008 6:50 AM

I'm looking for the perfect thank-you gift for a groom to give to his best man and/or to his groomsmen. The guys are obviously spending a load of cash on the event, so the thank you gift should be something that they'll appreciate. Prefer something that can be bought online -- and definitely prefer something unexpected. Guys all around 30 years old. Any ideas? Thanks....
posted by geoffbart to shopping (28 comments total)

I gave my groomsmen funky watches form Fossil with animated dancing robots on them.
posted by mkb at 6:51 AM on March 28, 2008

Engraved Flasks.
posted by tiburon at 6:54 AM on March 28, 2008

My brother, when he was a groomsman, got iPod shuffles with personalized engraving. Needless to say, I was a little jealous.
posted by chan.caro at 6:54 AM on March 28, 2008 [2 favorites]

grammar is eluding me this morning
*got an iPod shuffle
posted by chan.caro at 6:56 AM on March 28, 2008

A Gerber multi-tool was the best groomsman gift I have received. unless they have never been in a wedding, they all have flasks, mugs, and other junk with their names or initials engraved on it.
posted by Amby72 at 7:00 AM on March 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

I gave my guys MAG-LED flashlights. very heavy duty aluminum. They will last forever. most of the guys are outdoorsy. but anyone can use a flashlight in the car or in the house. they all are happy with it, and it is out when i show up at their houses.
posted by Amby72 at 7:11 AM on March 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

The last wedding I was in, the groom got each groomsman a different gift, but all in the same price range. It was all typical guy stuff, but semi-tailored to match each guy's personality. One got a bottle of Crown Royale, one got a nice watch, one got a great swiss army knife. To me it seemed more thoughtful than simply engraving each person's name on one of the same item.
posted by vytae at 7:26 AM on March 28, 2008 [2 favorites]

Like Amby72, I really appreciated, and often use, the multitool I got as a groomsman gift.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:26 AM on March 28, 2008

I gave my guys MAG-LED flashlights. very heavy duty aluminum. They will last forever. most of the guys are outdoorsy. but anyone can use a flashlight in the car or in the house. they all are happy with it, and it is out when i show up at their houses.

Hey, that's what I gave MY groomsmen - 23 years ago. The biggest flashlights I could find. Very useful helping people get to their cars after the rehearsal dinner, and terrific phallic symbols.
posted by thomas144 at 7:32 AM on March 28, 2008 [2 favorites]

yeah, i got a very cool leatherman wave multitool (engraved with "thanks, -[names of couple]" and the date of the wedding) when i was in a wedding party a few years back.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:03 AM on March 28, 2008

This has been a recent topic of TrueBrideConfessions- scroll back a few pages to read the various ideas they had.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:40 AM on March 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

At the last wedding I went to the groom bought engraved cufflinks for the groomsmen - with the added benefit of being able to wear them on the day...
posted by prentiz at 8:49 AM on March 28, 2008

I got my guys flasks and filled each with the beverage I associated with that person. But, looking back now, I wish I had gotten them either a swiss army knife or a Leatherman.
posted by qldaddy at 8:57 AM on March 28, 2008

Well, I'm a girl, but my friend's husband got his groomsmen nice liquor: a different kind for each one (nice bottle of scotch, some good rum, fancy vodka, etc.). Classy without yelling "go get wasted."
posted by cachondeo45 at 9:17 AM on March 28, 2008

My husband went the multitool route and got his groomsmen Swiss Army Toolkit cards. They were well-received.

Is there anything that all of you collect or use/do when you are together? Something related to that could be nice too.
posted by melissa at 9:25 AM on March 28, 2008

If you get them a multitool, make sure to get GOOD ones - either Gerber or Leatherman. Those will last for years, unlike cheaper versions. (We got a trucker friend a Gerber for Christmas several years ago; it took him all of a week for him to call and say "I don't know how I managed to get along without one of these for so long." He still has it and it still works fine.)
posted by azpenguin at 9:41 AM on March 28, 2008

I gave my groomsmen Ferragamo wallets. Although, the multi-tool idea is also great.
posted by metawabbit at 9:44 AM on March 28, 2008

I was the "best person" (I'm a girl) when my (male) best friend got married, and he gave me a funky handmade vintage-influenced flask filled with good quality single malt scotch. I didn't have a flask already so I was thrilled.
posted by matildaben at 10:00 AM on March 28, 2008

My son in law gave his groomsmen art. He bought not very expensive canvas work from young artists, and the gifts were appreciated. A local University or Community College teacher should be able to direct you to good young artists.
posted by francesca too at 10:44 AM on March 28, 2008

I went with engraved pocket watches. They're nice enough that they can be worn. They're small enough that they can be put into a small box and tucked away in a closet. It gives the groomsmen the option of what they want to do with the gift.

I know the flask is typical, and not a bad idea, but I just couldn't see any of my groomsmen actually using one. However, at least two of them actually use the watches day to day.
posted by krisak at 10:47 AM on March 28, 2008

The flask and the itty bitty beer mug with my name on it have been used 0 times. if you get people mugs get them big ones, and especially don't get yourselves big ones and everyone else tiny ones. the big mug I received at a wedding gets used all the time. little one, not sure i still have it.
posted by Amby72 at 11:22 AM on March 28, 2008

Maybe not as expensive as you're looking for, but the most atypical I've seen: engraved silver(y) yo-yos.
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:06 PM on March 28, 2008 [1 favorite]

My friend gave use engraved pocket knifes for his wedding; I thought that was the perfect gift.
posted by uncballzer at 12:36 PM on March 28, 2008

I inherited a really nice, sturdy brass clock that my dad got for being the best man in a friend's wedding.
Looks just like this except engraved with his initials on the top. It's a great piece and its heavy weight makes it feel like a real man's object.
posted by .taft at 12:46 PM on March 28, 2008

Nthing Leatherman. That's what I gave my best man and groomsmen, and half of them said they didn't expect something so nice or the, "Wow! I've been wanting one of these!" comment.

Your mileage may vary, but I purchased them from a local forestry supply warehouse and received a nice qty. discount for a little leg-work and travel.
posted by fijiwriter at 1:41 PM on March 28, 2008

How much were you looking to spend on each groomsman? Last I checked online you could get a satellite radio and 6mth subscription for around $150 (possibly less). Sports, Talk, Tunes - I can't live w/o my Sirius.
posted by doorsfan at 2:16 PM on March 28, 2008

if you've got bucks, a Tiffany Swiss Army knife is the greatest. a good, GOOD Multitool is a great idea, but a good flask...how many of us have flasks? I want a flask!
posted by flowerofhighrank at 2:47 PM on March 28, 2008

I got each of my groomsmen the Adventure Duffle bag from L.L. Bean.

I bought the medium size, in black, and had their initials engraved on them.

It's practical, useful, and durable, and, won't break the bank.
posted by mrhaydel at 7:29 PM on March 30, 2008