Some men become part of a family by birth. Others arrive later and simply keep turning up, year after year, until nobody can remember a time without them. Stepfather of the bride cufflinks are for that second kind of dad: the one who chose to be there. On the morning of your wedding, when he's fastening his cuffs and trying not to look nervous, he'll be wearing something that tells him exactly what he means to you.
A thank-you for the man who stepped in
Stepdads often sit in an awkward spot at weddings. They may not walk you down the aisle or give the father-of-the-bride speech, and they're usually too gracious to mind. A small, personal gift quietly puts them in the picture. It says: you were part of how I got here, and I want you to carry a piece of today with you.
Because the design is entirely yours, the cufflinks can reflect your own story rather than a generic sentiment printed on a card.
Design ideas drawn from your years together
Think about the moments he'd recognise instantly:
- The first photo of you both. Perhaps the holiday where he taught you to swim, or the day he moved in with a slightly wonky flat-pack wardrobe.
- A drawing you made as a child. If your mum kept that crayon picture of "me and Dave", scan it. Children's drawings print surprisingly well at small sizes because the lines are bold.
- His nickname for you, or yours for him, written in your own handwriting on white paper and photographed in good light.
- The wedding date, simple and clean, if he's a man who prefers understated things.
- A phrase that sums him up, such as "Always there" or "Thanks for choosing us".
Whatever you pick, remember that one square image appears on both cufflinks, so choose a single strong idea rather than trying to fit in everything.
Bringing an old family photo back to life
Many of the best stepfather photos live in albums, not on phones. To use one, lay the print flat near a window, turn off the flash and photograph it straight on, or use a free scanning app. Crop tightly around your faces: a wide shot of a beach becomes a speck on a cufflink, whereas two smiling faces filling the square stay recognisable.
If the print has faded, nudge up the contrast a little in your phone's photo editor before uploading. Avoid heavy filters, though; natural colour tends to look best against the silver-coloured finish.
Thinking about Dad as well
If your biological father is also part of the day, it's worth deciding how you'll handle gifts for both. Some brides give each man a pair with a different, personal design, which avoids comparisons while still treating them fairly. You can put several designs in one basket, so a pair for your stepfather, a pair for your dad and perhaps pairs for grandads or brothers can all go in the same order.
Five or more pairs are £15 each plus £5 shipping per order, so five pairs come to £80. If you only want the one pair for him, a single pair is £40 with shipping included.
When to give them
Most people hand over stepfather of the bride cufflinks the night before or on the wedding morning, so he can wear them for the ceremony. A short note tucked in with the gift box can say more than a speech ever could. If you'd rather keep it for afterwards, a photo from the day itself makes a lovely design for a pair given on your first anniversary.
How to order
- Upload your image. We use your full-resolution original for printing, so pick the best version you have.
- Check the live preview. You'll see the design on both cufflinks, and you can drag and zoom until the faces or words sit exactly where you want them.
- Order through our secure checkout. Your personalised stepfather of the bride cufflinks are printed in Cornwall, where we've been making personalised gifts for 17 years, and arrive gift boxed and ready to give.