Groomsmen/Bestman Gift Ideas

[ckblum]

Well I'm getting married this summer! And I have 7 groomsmen, one best man and one ring bearer to get some gifts for. I originally had wanted to get my guys a 3/8 Snap-On ratchet with their names engraved, but since my fiance has 8 bridesmaids I added a few more groomsmen to my side. Eight 3/8 drive(and one 1/4 for the little guy) Snap-On ratchets are a little rich for my blood, I still have a wedding to pay for.

I was think of going with some Williams ratchets as they are USA made, good quality and almost identical to Snap-On. But I would like a custom engraved handle on them also, the Williams don't come with a comfort handle so I would have to turn down the handles to fit a custom handle. I thought I remember seeing some custom HANDLE jobs here on the Journal.

The other option was possibly giving them Snap-On ratcheting screwdrivers, the hard handles but this is also getting up in price. Plus cost of engraving (does Snap-On custom engrave??). I could possibly get a bit of a break on price from my Snappy guy considering I'm buying 8.

I guess there's no specific question, just want some discussion. I'd like to get them something useful, unique, quality, long lasting. I'm not the kinda person to give trinkets or useless gifts. It's also something that speaks about my personality as I'm an ex-AME, currently HD mechanic, so I'm the gear head in the group.

What are some gifts you've given? Received? Ideas???

 

[L.Cheapo]

Funny you posted this.

Congrats on your wedding. I was married last November. So far so good!

We had a small, intimate wedding. The wedding party was her best friend (maid of honor) and my best friend (best man) and immediate family in attendance.

I got my best man a 3/8" Snap On hard handle ratchet. Its my favorite tool I own, and since he only has Craftsman RPs, I figured he deserved it. As a DIY guy himself, it went over really well. He gave me a stainless steel keg-type tabletop grille when I was his best man years ago. He got the better end of that deal. lol

Good luck to you!

 

[jsharpphoto]

What about some nice engraved hickory handle hammers.

 

[james92se]

My brother and I were in our buddy's wedding a few years back. He got us Swiss army knives with our initials engraved on them. I still find myself using mine regularly.

What about something like a Leatherman tool and have it engraved?

 

[Joe B.]

My brother and I were in our buddy's wedding a few years back. He got us Swiss army knives with our initials engraved on them. I still find myself using mine regularly.

What about something like a Leatherman tool and have it engraved?

I did the same. I gave out Swiss Army knives with a million tools on it. I always thought they were so cool as a kid but never could get one with more than a few things on it. I went with black instead of red as it was a formal occasion. I also just had the date engraved on it as I did not want to lame up a good knife with obvious wedding references.

The Swiss Army Knives I gave out were so big they really were not practical to use or hold so I expect they will be kept as a novelty for years to come.

 

[kctyphoon]

this is just me, but i would find a nice watch from a decent brand within your price range like Fossil or something similar and be done with it. everyone can use a watch and its not something that will wind up getting beat up.. i still have the one given to me when i was a best man and its still in perfect shape, just needs a new battery. also - keep in mind its suppose to be a gift for them, (it gets expensive being in some else's wedding sometimes) so make sure its something they/most of them will all like instead of something you do.. congrats on getting married..

 

[paramud]

http://www.bottlebreacher.com/product-category/groomsmen-gifts/

I am getting my groomsman this. Bullet bottle opener.

I am just struggling with most of the planning since my best man died recently.

 

[ckblum]

I'd love to do Leatherman's except I've already received one from being in my buddies wedding party last year.

Our wedding is 225+ people. I'd honestly love to be able to get them all a nice SO ratchet with an engraved handle, that is my #1 choice if money was no object. I could handle $60-80 each. That would pay for a 3/8 Williams long flex handle ratchet (my weapon of choice) and custom wood handle. I have the skills to lathe handles, just need to figure out how to attach them.

I like the hammer idea as well! I could get the handles wood burned/engraved with their names. Nice hickory handled hammers last a few lifetimes as well, I still have a Proto 32oz one I use from my Opa when he was a pipe fitter.

 

[ckblum]

http://www.bottlebreacher.com/product-category/groomsmen-gifts/

I am getting my groomsman this. Bullet bottle opener.

I am just struggling with most of the planning since my best man died recently.

Sorry for your loss Paramud. I almost lost my best man earlier this year to a car accident, I can't imagine losing someone who is like blood to me, especially when I didn't have any brothers growing up. Whip your groomsmen into shape and get them to give you a hand!

I also like the bottle openers! I was gonna make them each a simple wall mounted bottle opener with a cap catcher. That was more of a simple DIY cheap gift, need some sort of beverage related gift always!

 

[RedRabbit]

I would go with the snap on screwdrivers since everyone can use one, regardless if they play with cars or not. They retail for 60 but u could get them from a dealer bulk prcloce probably 45 to 50 each. Then a bulk deal for the engraving.

 

[straightcut]

Congratulations on your wedding!

This may be the thread you were referring to for custom handles:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99005

 

[montanafordman]

Congrats on the wedding! I've been happily married almost 13 years myself - its not always easy though, our motto is don't go to bed angry so stay up and fight! Best of luck to you. You definitely have some great ideas. I was going to say Leatherman but it sounds like that's out. I like the hammer or screwdriver idea. For my wedding I got my groomsmen zippo lighters with their name engraved on them. None of us were smokers but we went on a hike in the mountains and went golfing before the wedding and smoked some Cubans I picked up on a trip abroad, besides its handy to have a zippo for camping, or whatever - all guys are pyros on some level . Mine would be more worn but I had one already that I use whenever the need arises. My brother in law got us all leatherman micras with our initials engraved.

 

[ckblum]

Congratulations on your wedding!

This may be the thread you were referring to for custom handles:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99005

That's what I was thinking of! I just bought a 1/4 and 3/8 drive long flex ratchets with red hard handles off the truck but I was just thinking of that thread while shelling out my hard earned dollars on the truck.

I might get my best man a 3/8 drive flex handle in green if the truck still has it next month, along with a green ratcheting screwdriver. All my groomsmen would get screwdrivers with names engraved. I like the idea of screwdrivers or hammers, it's something everyone eventually uses (thanks to IKEA).

I like the watch idea, but not a lot of my friends are watch wearers. Maybe it could be a good gift for my future father-in-law.

 

[fordgasm]

I got married in april 2013 and gave my groomsmen the USMC Ka-bar knife. USA made, great history behind it, an American icon and an amazing knife. Went over real well, they all loved it.

 

[countryroad82]

When I got married I gave all my groomsmen 4WR Vice Grips and a Bacho 4" adjustable wrench, as they all know that I carry those 2 items along with a pocket knife at all times. Most of them still carry them to this day, my best man got a 1/4" drive set of SK tools as he had always admired my set.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I got married in april 2013 and gave my groomsmen the USMC Ka-bar knife. USA made, great history behind it, an American icon and an amazing knife. Went over real well, they all loved it.

I'm so jealous.

 

[BFHtime]

Before I clicked on the post, I was thinking leatherman.

The ratchet is a great idea. For eight ratchets, I would ask my snap-on guy for a deal. My guy takes care of me anyway, and if it was my wedding he might throw a couple in for free, or give me a really good discount. If there was a buy one get one deal involving that ratchet, the deal would improve almost double check he flyer for buy one get one deals, they seem more common at the end of the year, but they could happen anytime.

This is one of those things where you want to give something nice, but you also get what you pay for.

 

[Ohmthis]

Congratulations on getting married! Gifts for the groomsmen are a tough thing to decide on. I have been in several weddings and have gotten things from gerber/ leatherman tool, a flask, beer mug, and a lighter. I gave nice case pocket knives to carry in a formal type setting. But the best gift I've ever seen and received was from my little brother. He hand made us maple tool boxes/carry box. I use it to this day and it was more special than anything he could have bought me. Good luck on your marriage!!!

 

[Thumper68]

The best gift I ever got as a groomsman was a flask with my name ingraved on it, there was a reason behind it though. the venue for the reception didn't serve booze just beer. Well knowing that I am a rum guy the groom got us all the flask.

 

[Catadj78]

The best gift I ever got as a groomsman was a flask with my name ingraved on it, there was a reason behind it though. the venue for the reception didn't serve booze just beer. Well knowing that I am a rum guy the groom got us all the flask.

I gave engraved flasks when I got married 2 years ago

 

[Andy8430]

A lot of great ideas/examples of gifts. My suggestion was my gift from my brother-in-law. He gave us a pelican flashlight. Great for around the house or as a backup in the truck (with lithium batteries).

 

[ckblum]

Great ideas! So far, leaning the most towards the screwdrivers, although hearing the wooden tool box idea gives me another idea for the screwdrivers. My dad is a carpenter and I have access to all kinds of tools. I could ask him to make me some custom boxes that hold the screwdriver, some bits and an area for more tools later on. I could engrave each box with their names as well.