Through rain or shine, your best friend has stood by your side. Not to mention, this is the guy who threw you a truly epic bachelor party before your big day. Without a doubt, you’ll not only want him standing by your side as you say "I do", but you’ll also want to thank him for being your ride-or-die guy.
While the ladies tend to steal the spotlight when it comes to weddings, it’s important not to forget the men who play a major roll in making this occasion one to remember. From wrangling the groomsmen to giving a killer toast at the reception, the best man is an essential part of the big day.
It's important to gift him something truly special to show your appreciation—and there are so many unique, fun, and personal things out there to choose from. "Classic and timeless is the way to go," says event planner Blake Sams of Gregory Blake Sams Events. "I also think it’s important for a groom to gift something that he would want to have himself—not just for use on the wedding weekend but for years to come. Whether he has a penchant for whiskey or spends Sundays watching the big game, there's the perfect present out there for every guy.
Read on for our favorite best man gifts.
Timeless Treasures USA Groomsman Gift Box
Can’t decide what to get your best man? This gift has it all! A one-and-done gift box with all the accouterments, it comes complete with a flask, lighter, pocket knife, and bottle opener. Each item is personalized and neatly packaged in a custom engraved box, so he’s sure to have everything he needs on and beyond your big day.
The Blue Agave Studio Gatsby Retro Personalized Cufflinks
Featuring an art deco monogram, these retro-style cufflinks harken back to the glitz, glamour, and sophistication of the Jazz Age. With their vintage look, these polished cufflinks elevate any suit, and may just inspire your best guy to hit the dance floor for the Charleston!
Uncommon Goods MLB Game Used Baseball Bat Handle Openers
For the baseball fan who loves to crack a cold one, this gift is a home run! The bottle openers are made from used game-day bats straight from one of the Major League Baseball teams. Each one is engraved and comes with a stand and a story about the game it was used in, giving your best guy a good tale to tell.
Mark & Graham Personalized Golf Ball Gift Set
If spending the weekend hitting balls out on the golf course is his thing, then this gift is sure to come in handy. A set of twelve personalized golf balls, tees, and pencils come packaged in a handsome display case that is engraved with a monogram. For the avid golfer, this gift is a hole in one!
The Original Craft Beer Club Subscription
If your best man is a beer snob, here's a gift for him. This monthly club features exceptional beers from small, independent brewers across the country. Taste-tested and approved, each beer has been hand-selected before it arrives on your doorstep. With twelve craft beers a month delivered, three each of four different styles, this gift is a beer lover’s dream.
Apple Watch Series 6
The perfect gift for the tech nerd friend, this sleek watch is about as close as it gets to having a personal assistant. With everything from news, information, fitness, music, and digital correspondence available right at his fingertips, not only will he be the best man, but he’ll also be the go-to-guy when it comes to info sharing.
Timex Waterbury 40 Watch
This sleek and sophisticated watch is a modern take on a timeless design. It's fully customizable, allowing you to choose from a variety of watch straps and dials to match your best man’s style (or even the groom). Have it engraved with initials or a personal message to make it feel special.
Ward Wallau Relic Watches
Truly a time machine, this watch is made out of a little piece of history from some of football’s most legendary locales. With a wooden watch face that’s been salvaged and crafted from the seats of iconic football stadiums, this watch has time—and stories—to tell.
W & P Carry-On Cocktail Kit
Perfect for a destination wedding, this gift will keep the celebratory vibes alive even at thirty thousand feet! Choose from an assortment of classic cocktail options or go with the "full bar", and your best man will be flying high with this gift in hand.
GrowlerWerks uKeg Carbonated Growler
Thanks to you, he’ll always have a cold glass of beer on deck once he receives this gift. This handsome stainless steel growler keeps beer fresh for weeks. It comes with a gauge, so it’s easy to see how much beer is left, and a dispenser tap, so the flow is endless and easy!
The Man Registry Personalized Craft Beer Bottle Cooler
Taking a cold one—or twelve—to go will be a no brainer with this beer cooler. Whether he’s packing beers for the game or keeping them cold at the beach, this gift comes personalized, so he’ll always have a beer with his name on it.
Warby Parker Duran Sunglasses
It’s one of the laws of nature—sunglasses make everyone look cooler. Even your cooler-than-the- rest-of-them best man. And this pair of sunnies is no exception! These retro-meets-modern shades strike the perfect balance between round and square silhouettes, making them a win-win for most face shapes.
Bevel Shave Kit
Send him a hint—you’ve got to shave for the wedding, man! Or maybe just send him a little bit of lavish self-care. This is a shaving kit that comes with all the fixings, so he'll definitely look fresh when it’s time to walk down the aisle.
Lillie's of Charleston Hot Variety Gift Box
As the family that makes these renowned Southern hot sauces would say, "may you never feel unwanted, unloved, or hungry". With this gift, he certainly won’t! Including a trio of spicy sauces that come straight from family recipes, this is a gift made for a dedicated hot sauce lover.
Uashmama Roma Weekender Large Camel
For the best man who is always on the go, this dapper weekend bag is sure to be a hit. Handsome and functional, it's made from extremely lightweight and waterproof material. A perfect way to lighten the load, rain or shine, for the man at your side.
Tie Bar Monogram Navy Tie
Not your classic necktie, this unique gift is a twist on the traditional. With a trick of the eye when viewed from afar, the monogram print reads as a geometric pattern. But upon closer inspection, the pattern gets up-close and personalized.
Uncle Nearest 1956 Premium Aged Whiskey
Honoring the first African American master distiller, this award-winning whiskey is the perfect gift for the bourbon lover. Whether your guy takes it straight, on the rocks, or mixed in a cocktail, this is a gift that’s sure to go down smooth.
Apple Watch Ultra
We know, there’s already an Apple Watch on this list, but this is the even more upgraded version if you’re looking to really splurge. It’s a top pick for any guy who loves the outdoors or is a hardcore athlete, thanks to features like a 36 hour battery life, a variety of health metrics, and a redesigned compass app.
Dynec Wedding Tie Clips
This fun set of tie clips offers not only an option for your best man, but also for your groomsmen (and you). A grooved backing ensures they won’t slip off your tie, and the laser engraved etching won’t rub off or fade.
Béis The Weekender
An ideal size for quick trips, this weekender duffle is plenty roomy. It also boasts smart features like a separate shoe compartment at the bottom, laptop sleeve, and a trolley pouch. We also love the rugged canvas material.
Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
Any whiskey fan is sure to appreciate the unique flavor of this single malt. It’s aged in rum casks, adding notes of vanilla, sweet oaks, and a touch of fruit.
New Balance 327
The vintage feel of these kicks has a slightly 70s feel, the perfect street sneaker. Bonus points for the fact that they’re available in eight different colorways, offering a little something for everyone.
Levi's Type III Sherpa Trucker Jacket
Here’s a timeless denim jacket—but with a twist. The sherpa lining keeps it nice and warm, and makes for a fun, fashion forward element. Plus, the jacket comes in five different colors.
Burt's Grooming Essentials Kit
Consider this skincare made easy. This set comes with a face wash, shave cream, after-shave moisturizer, and, of course, one of the brand’s classic lip balms.
Yves Saint Laurent Men's Cologne Travel Spray Set
Not only are these mini cologne sprays great for travel, they’re also a great way to experiment and try three of the design house’s signature scents. There’s a bold and woody option, a warm and spicy fragrance, and a fresh and woody choice.
Uncle Nearest Uncle Nearest Gift Set
This set makes the perfect addition to any bar cart. There are two bottles of whiskey—a premium aged and small batch—along with four stunning Waterford crystal old fashioned glasses. Any one of these items would be a great gift in its own right, making the set of four feel that much more special.
CHANEL Toilette Refillable Twist and Spray
Here, you get a travel-size bottle of this design house’s iconic scent, a woody, earthy fragrance with notes of citrus and sandalwood. But it comes with two refill bottles too, ensuring he’ll always be well-stocked.
Jordan Air Jordan 1 Mid Sneaker-Men
Does it get any more classic than Air Jordans? We think not. These high-tops have a distinct retro feel in the best way possible, a lugged sole for extra traction, and come in eight colors, ranging from brights to neutrals.
Nike Full Zip Hoodie
Upgrade his hoodie game with this zip-up. It’s the perfect layering piece, helping to retain body heat while keeping the cold at bay. Also nice: The array of nine colors.
Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones
Tiny mics in these headphones pick-up and measure sound, adjusting the noise-canceling feature accordingly. They can also be set to either Quiet (full noise canceling) or Aware (allowing some environmental noise), adjustable bass levels, up to 22 hours of battery life, and a wide array of other features.
Carhartt Travel Kit
This Dopp kit offers the same rugged feel you’d expect from anything from the brand, boasting a traditional and roomy design. Bonus points for the fact that it’s lined with a water-resistant coating so that you never have to stress about spills.
Apple AirTag 4-Pack
File this one under one of those gifts that’s totally practical—and something that pretty much anyone and everyone will appreciate. Pop one of these trackers on your keys, your wallet, luggage (even your dog) to easily keep tabs on all your important stuff.
DEWALT Cordless Drill Driver Kit
Handy guys will love this power tool. It’s somehow equally portable and lightweight yet still extremely powerful. (And comes in a convenient carrying case, too.)
Manscaped The Beard Hedger Pro Kit
Here’s everything he needs to get his facial hair perfectly coiffed for your big day (and beyond). This set comes with a beard trimmer, dedicated beard shampoo and conditioner, oil, balm, brush, comb and scissors.
Crosley Cruiser Plus Turntable
This three-speed turntable gets a modern upgrade with the addition of Bluetooth technology, allowing him to listen to his favorite records on the speaker of his choice. Speaking of, pair it with one of his favorite records if you really want to up the gifting ante.
TOLOCO Massage Gun
This deep tissue massage gun is the perfect thing to relieve achy muscles. It boasts 10 interchangeable massage heads, as well as an LED touch screen where you can easily adjust settings and check on the battery life. (Which, incidentally, is an impressive six hours.)
Hoka Arahi 6
These just may be the best pair of running shoes we’ve ever tried. They’re incredibly lightweight and airy, yet still offer plenty of cushion and stabilization for a wide array of foot types. If he’s an avid runner, this is the gift for him.
OUI the People Weighted Non-Irritating Razor
So much better than any other generic razor, this sleek, stainless steel model is made in Germany. It’s weighted for a solid feel, and provides an extremely close shave to minimize the likelihood of ingrowns, razor burn, and more.
U.S. Polo Assn. Men’s Bathrobe
Super classic. in style, this fleece robe features a shawl collar that gives it an effortlessly sophisticated feel. The Polo logo on the chest is the perfect finishing touch.
Soma Cold Brew Glass Bottle
No matter whether he likes his coffee cold or hot, he’ll love the bottle. The double-walled glass insulates it to the perfect temperature, while the flip top lid is totally leakproof (always a plus in our book).
The Ridge Men's Aluminum Wallet
Odds are good that he has a leather wallet already, but we highly doubt he has an aluminum one like this. It both looks cool and is super durable—and practical, too, since you can choose to add a cash strap, money clip, or both.
Away The Everywhere Zip Backpack
Whether it's used for work or for play, this backpack is sure to get plenty of use. It’s made with a water-resistant nylon, has padded straps, and plenty of space for a laptop, change of clothes, and more. It can also be personalized, always a nice gifting touch.
Moleskine Pen+ Smart Writing Set
Make no mistake about it: This is nothing like your standard notebook. It may look like a basic Moleskine, but it’s actually a smart notebook that comes with a smart pen, too. Write in it as usual, then scan with your phone via the Moleskine notes app to transfer all of your handwritten work into a digital copy.
Nintendo NES Classic Edition
We have yet to meet someone who doesn’t love a nostalgic gift that reminds them of their childhood, and this gaming system is exactly that. It’s the old-school, first gen Nintendo, complete with the iconic controller and everything. It even comes with some of the most cult-classic games: Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, and more.
Cool Stones Whiskey Glass Gift Set
We love that this set features two pretty whiskey classes alongside reusable cool stones. But our favorite feature may be that it comes in a gorgeous wooden box that requires no wrapping. Pair it with a bottle of whiskey and you’re good to go.
T Taranto Wood Phone Docking Station
This is the perfect place for him to corral all of his daily accessories in a neat and organized way. There’s an area to charge a phone and a tablet, as well as compartments for ear buds, keys, pens, wallet, and so much more.
Vuori Banks Short
Comfy and stylish, these really check all the boxes of anything you’d want in an athletic short. They’re equally good for both working out and lounging, not to mention are made from partially recycled plastic bottles.
YETI Rambler 30 oz Tumbler
Truly a quintessential best man gift, these keep any drink the perfect temperature for hours on end. Even if he already has one, we promise you, he’ll use another.
What to Look For in a Gift for Your Best Man
- Interests: When you’re looking for a gift for your best man, the most important thing to consider is…well…your best man! Buying him something that’s aligned with his interests, style, or lifestyle shows that you get him—like really get him. And there’s nothing better than feeling seen! So if he’s a whiskey lover, gifting him that super special bottle of scotch is a great way to show him that you not only appreciate all he’s done for you, you also appreciate him.
- Personalization: Another thing to look for is a gift that can be personalized. For example, adding a name or monogram to your gift elevates it from just another watch to a special keepsake. And since your gift is marking a pretty momentous occasion in your life and your friendship, a personalized touch will make it that much more memorable. To that point, any gift that celebrates your friendship is going to be particularly meaningful. Whether it’s a custom portrait of the two of you together or tickets to the game of a team you’re both fans of, a gift that honors your bromance is a win.
Why Trust Brides
Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s written countless gift guides across a wide array of topics and categories. (She also prides herself on being an excellent gift-giver.)
- Blake Sams is the founder and lead planner of Gregory Blake Sams Events, a Charleston, South Carolina-based event firm. With over ten years of experience, Blake has an inimitable talent for creating unforgettable gatherings.