Grooms frequently agonize over their groomsmen gifts, and this comes as no surprise. That malehood and shopping do not mix is a fact coded into the male genetic makeup. In fact, most men view shopping as a necessary evil, akin to dental visits, for example. So, if you are a guy, buying a present for a buddy is officially a difficult activity. Buying presents for five guys, on the other hand, will probably feel like getting a lobotomy.



Save yourself the unnecessary grief by keeping the following things in mind.

Scrap the Price Point.

"How much should I spend?" is a question that will come up many times while one is on a hunt for groomsmen gifts. Some experts advise you spend a sum that is directly proportionate to the overall cost and complexity of the wedding rehearsal. Other experts recommend the amount you fork out on groomsmen gifts be commensurate to the cost of the suits they are purchasing for your wedding.

My advice is not to obsess over the two advices. Do not worry about the price point.Giving groomsmen gifts is not a dollar-for-dollar pissing contest. What you should do is focus on finding gifts that are meaningful to the recipient. After all, your groomsmen are friends who stand in that aisle with you to celebrate your step into married. They are not money-hungry piranhas who want to cash in on a great gift.

Get Personal.

Nothing says "Thank you" and "You matter" more than carefully thought out groomsmen gifts. Get personal. Groomsmen gifts should convey a message to your groomsmen. Additionally, they should match their recipients' personalities.

If your friends are sports enthusiasts or are inveterate outdoorsmen, get them a hunting knife or a multi-use pocket knife, with flashlight and a compass. Other great groomsmen gifts are barbecue tool kits and steak branders.

In general, you cannot go wrong with the following groomsmen gifts:

1. Glass mugs or glasses

2. Shot glasses or beer steins

3. Stainless steel flasks

4. Silver-plated money clips

5. Cigar holders

6. Keychain bottle openers

7. Travel mugs

8. Zippo lighters

9. Pocket watches

10. Magazine subscriptions

Most of these groomsmen gifts cost $20 or less. They will be even cheaper if you can order them four to six weeks before the wedding. Although most shops accept rush orders, they do so at added cost.

Engrave Like You Mean It.

Engraving groomsmen gifts is a quick and foolproof way to make each gift special. The recipients will think you put in extra time and effort in choosing your groomsmen gifts because you remembered to have their names etched onto their presents. Engraving is also a practical way to make sure memories last years. Every time the recipient sees the engraving, he will fondly remember how silly you looked fidgeting while you waited for your bride. He will remember, too, how even sillier he had been, laughing at you and your bad case of jitters.

Finally, you need to remember that a wedding is not just a time of great joy and great expense, but also of great friendships. Groomsmen gifts should not only be tastefully chosen, they should encapsulate all that is beautiful and warm in a relationship.