Grandads rarely ask for anything at a wedding. A good seat, a decent pint and a dance with the bride usually covers it. Yet for many families, grandfather of the bride cufflinks become one of the most treasured gifts of the day, because they turn a fleeting afternoon into something he can hold on to, take out of the drawer and show to anyone who'll listen.
Grandad's place on the day
A grandfather's role at a wedding tends to be felt rather than formal. He might say a few words at the meal, read a blessing, or simply be the person the bride looks for first when she walks in. A personalised pair lets the bride, the couple or the wider family acknowledge that, without making him the centre of attention he'd probably rather avoid.
They also give him a reason to dress up properly. Plenty of older men have a double-cuff shirt they rarely wear; this is the occasion to bring it out.
The gift can come from the bride alone, from the couple, or from all the grandchildren together. If it's a joint present, mention everyone on the card, because he'll want to know who to thank at the reception.
Three generations in one square
The most moving designs often link past and present:
- Him holding her as a baby, scanned from the family album. Guests will spot it across the table.
- Grandad and granddaughter at a milestone, such as her graduation or the first time she beat him at cards.
- A side-by-side of his wedding and hers. Put the two pictures together in a free collage app, square format, and upload the result as one image.
- The two wedding years, for example "1968 · 2026", in clear lettering.
- A sketch of the family home, or the church where he married, if the bride is marrying there too.
Because the same image is printed on both cufflinks, keep it to one idea and let it fill the space. The simplest grandfather of the bride cufflinks are often the ones he'll wear most.
Remembering Grandma
If his wife is no longer with you, the wedding may feel bittersweet for him. Some families gently include her by using a photo of the two of them on their own wedding day, or a small flower she loved alongside the date. Talk it through with the family first; for some grandfathers it's a comfort, for others it's too much on a day already full of feeling. There's no right answer, only what suits him.
Getting a vintage photograph to print clearly
Older photographs are often small, soft or tinted brown with age, and they need a little care to work on a cufflink:
- Scan at the highest setting your scanner or app allows, then crop around the faces.
- Sepia and black-and-white tones suit the silver-coloured finish well, so there's no need to force colour into them.
- If the image looks flat, raise the contrast slightly and sharpen a touch, but stop before faces start to look harsh.
- Avoid photographing a photo through a frame's glass, as reflections will show.
Upload the best version you have. We print from your full-resolution original, not a compressed copy.
Buying for more than one grandad
Many brides have two grandfathers at the wedding, and some have step-grandads too. Each can have his own design in the same basket. At five pairs or more it's £15 a pair plus £5 shipping per order, so topping up with pairs for the father of the bride, the groom's grandfather or a brother can make sense. A single pair on its own is £40, shipping included.
Ordering his pair
Choose your image and upload it. The live preview shows it on both cufflinks, and you can drag and zoom to centre faces or dates exactly. When you're happy, check out securely. We print his grandfather of the bride cufflinks in our Cornwall workshop, where we've been making personalised gifts for 17 years, and they arrive in a gift box, ready for the bride to hand over with a hug.