Brothers have a funny place at a sister's wedding. Some walk her down the aisle, some give a reading, some usher, some are simply there in the second row trying not to look emotional. Brother of the bride cufflinks acknowledge that relationship, whichever job he's been given, with a design that belongs to the two of them.
From her, from the couple, or from the parents
The bride often gives her brother his pair as a thank-you, especially if he's playing a part in the ceremony. Couples sometimes include him in their gifts for the wedding party, and parents occasionally order a pair for each of their sons so the whole family matches. If he's stepping in to walk his sister down the aisle, perhaps in place of their dad, the gift takes on an extra weight and deserves a design chosen with real care.
And if he's the younger brother, the one she used to dress up and boss around, the gift can have a playful edge. There's something lovely about handing a pair of smart cufflinks to the boy she once made wear a tiara, particularly if the photo to prove it ends up on them.
Sibling photos with a story
Almost every family has the picture: two children in matching dungarees, a paddling pool, a trip to the caravan park. Those are the images that work best.
- The classic sibling shot. Big brother with his arm round his little sister on the first day of school.
- Recreated photo. The same pose, same spot, twenty-five years apart. Put the old one and the new one side by side in one image.
- The childhood rivalry. A photo of them fighting over the remote, or the go-kart he never let her drive.
- Her words. A short note from the bride in her own handwriting: "Always my big brother."
- The wedding date with both initials. Understated and smart for a brother who'd rather keep the sentiment private.
If he's walking her down the aisle
When a brother gives the bride away, the cufflinks can reflect that responsibility. Some brides choose a photo of their father beside a photo of brother and sister in one image, a gentle way of bringing him along for the walk. It's a meaningful design and worth talking through with the family beforehand, so everyone feels comfortable with it on the day.
Picking a photo that survives shrinking
Childhood photos are often small prints or scans from years ago, so look for the clearest copy the family has. Parents' albums, grandparents' shoeboxes and old digital folders are all worth searching. If you're photographing a print, lay it flat by a window and hold the phone directly above it, with the flash off. Once you've uploaded, zoom in until the two faces take up most of the square. Busy backgrounds like wallpaper and garden furniture can be cropped out entirely; at cufflink size, the expressions do all the work. We use your full-resolution original for printing, so avoid screenshots.
Designing and ordering
- Upload your photo, handwriting or date.
- Preview it on both cufflinks, using drag and zoom to get the crop just right.
- Order through our secure checkout. We print from your original file in our Cornwall workshop, and every pair is sent in its own gift box.
Brother of the bride cufflinks cost £40 for a single pair, shipping included. If you're ordering for other brothers or the rest of the wedding party, five or more pairs are £15 each, plus £5 shipping per order, and you can give every pair a different design.
A detail for the family photographs
In the formal family photograph, where everyone stands in a line looking smart, the cufflinks become a small sign of who he is to the bride. Years later, when the album comes out, someone will lean in and ask about them, and he'll get to tell the story.