Groomsmen Gifts: Silk Ties and Tie-and-Cufflink Sets That Get Worn Again
Angel LeQuick answer: A silk tie is a groomsmen gift that gets worn twice: on the wedding day and at every wedding, interview and dinner after it. Choose one woven jacquard pattern for the whole party, give the groom a different color of the same design, buy the standard 3.1 inch (8 cm) width, and add cufflinks when every shirt in the party has French cuffs.
The night before the wedding, five ties lie in a row across a hotel bed, each still rolled in its tissue. In the morning they will go under five collars at once, and in the photographs they will read as one line of color across the party. That is the job of a groomsmen tie, and silk does it well.
Are silk ties good groomsmen gifts?
Yes, because a silk tie is a gift with a clear use on the day and a long life afterward. A good tie goes back into the rotation the following week, and every time he knots it he remembers whose wedding it came from. Woven silk has a soft, low sheen that looks calm in photographs.
Every Folk Form tie is woven jacquard in 100% mulberry silk: the pattern is built into the cloth on the loom, so it shows a fine texture up close. You can see the range in our silk ties collection.
How to choose one tie for the whole wedding party
The simplest rule is one pattern, one color for the groomsmen, and a second color of that same pattern for the groom. The party looks unified, and the groom stands slightly apart without looking like he dressed for a different event.
- Start from the suits. Navy, charcoal and mid-gray suits accept almost any tie color. Tan and light gray suits look sharper with deeper ties.
- Pick a quiet pattern. Small dots, fine checks and short repeats read as texture in photographs. Large, busy repeats can compete with the bouquet and the dresses.
- Borrow one color from the wedding palette. Match a shade from the bridesmaids or the flowers, a step darker, so the tie does not disappear against them.
- Consider one spare. A spare tie in the same color covers a coffee spill at breakfast or a late addition to the party, and it removes one thing to worry about on the morning itself.
What color tie should groomsmen wear to a wedding?
Choose a color one shade deeper than the wedding palette and make sure it contrasts with the shirt. This table covers the common combinations.
| Suit | Groomsmen tie | Groom's tie |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | Burgundy, deep red or dusty pink | Same pattern in navy or silver gray |
| Charcoal | Blue, emerald or burgundy | Same pattern in a lighter shade |
| Light gray | Navy, deep green or plum | Same pattern in blue or gray |
| Tan or beige | Brown, rust, dark green or navy | Same pattern in a warmer tone |
| Black tuxedo | Black bow tie for strict black tie | Black bow tie, or a black long tie if the couple allows it |
Our guide to what tie to wear to a wedding goes further into colors for guests as well as the party.
What width tie for a wedding?
Match the tie to the lapel. A 3.1 inch (8 cm) tie is the standard width and suits most suit jackets, so it is the safe choice for a group with different builds. A 2.4 inch (6 cm) tie fits slim lapels and a narrow, modern cut. Keep the whole party in one width; mixed widths stand out at once in a line-up photograph.
Tie-and-cufflink sets: check the shirts before you buy
Our tie sets come with matching cufflinks, and cufflinks need French cuffs. A French cuff is a long shirt cuff that folds back on itself and closes with a cufflink through four holes; a standard barrel cuff closes with a button and has nowhere to put one. Ask each groomsman, or the suit rental shop, before ordering sets. If even one shirt has barrel cuffs, choose ties alone. Our explainer on French cuffs and cufflinks shows the difference.
A dragon tie for the groom or his closest friend
The groom, or the man standing next to him, can wear a tie that stands apart from the line. Our woven dragon ties are $167, and our other ties are $142, so a party of five in geometric ties with a dragon tie for the groom stays easy to budget. In Vietnamese symbolism the dragon stands for strength, wisdom and success; our piece on the Ly dynasty dragon tells the story of the motif in Vietnamese heritage art. The geometric ties carry no symbolic meaning at all. They are chosen for color, texture and how they sit under a collar.
Is a black tie wedding a bow tie?
Traditionally, yes. Black tie calls for a tuxedo and a black bow tie, and white tie, the most formal code, calls for a tailcoat and a white bow tie. "Black tie optional" and "formal" invitations leave room for a dark suit with a long tie, which is where silk neckties belong. For cocktail and semi-formal weddings, a long tie is standard for the party and common among guests.
What knot for a wedding tie?
A four-in-hand knot is slim and slightly asymmetric, and it suits most collars. A half Windsor is fuller and symmetric, and it sits well in a spread collar. Agree on one knot for the party so every collar looks the same in the photographs, and have the groomsmen practice once the week before.
When to order groomsmen ties
Order early enough to hand the ties out before the rehearsal. Our orders leave the Hanoi atelier in 1 to 3 business days and reach the US 9 to 15 business days later, so plan on 10 to 18 business days from order to door, then add time to wrap and deliver them. If you want each groomsman to open his own box, extra gift box and bag sets are sold separately. Tell the party that silk ties go to the dry cleaner and never into water, so a spill at the reception goes straight to a cleaner.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good groomsmen gift that gets used again?
A silk tie in a quiet pattern is worn on the day and again at future weddings, interviews and dinners. Pick a color that suits a navy or charcoal suit so it stays useful.
Should groomsmen wear matching ties?
Matching ties look the most unified in photographs. A common approach is one pattern and color for the groomsmen and the same pattern in another color for the groom.
What width tie is right for a wedding?
The 3.1 inch (8 cm) width suits most suits and builds. Choose 2.4 inches (6 cm) when the jackets have slim lapels.
Do tie and cufflink sets work with any shirt?
No. Cufflinks need French cuffs, so check every groomsman's shirt before ordering sets.
How much do Folk Form silk ties cost?
Our woven jacquard silk ties are $142, and the woven dragon ties are $167.
How do you clean a silk tie?
Silk ties are cared for by dry cleaning alone. Blot a fresh spill with a dry cloth and take the tie to a cleaner.
Do wedding guests wear ties?
At formal and semi-formal weddings, most men wear a tie. Read the dress code on the invitation, and when in doubt, wear one.
Browse every guide in our silk scarf and tie guides.
