Groom Accessories: The Details That Elevate Your Wedding Look from Good to Unforgettable

TLDR: The suit is the foundation, but the accessories are what make the groom's look personal, polished, and photo-worthy. From ties and pocket squares to cufflinks, watches, and boutonnieres, the right accessories differentiate the groom from the groomsmen and create a cohesive look that photographs beautifully. ThePerfectWedding.com's menswear experts break down every accessory, how to coordinate them, and the mistakes that make an otherwise great suit look off.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Grooms spend an average of $100 to $400 on accessories (tie, pocket square, cufflinks, shoes, belt) (Source: The Knot, 2025)
• The most photographed groom accessories: boutonniere, tie or bow tie, and watch (Source: WeddingWire)
• Matching your accessories to the wedding palette creates cohesion in photos without being overly coordinated (Source: Brides.com)
• The #1 accessory mistake: over-matching everything (tie, pocket square, socks, boutonniere all the same color = costume) (Source: GQ, 2025)
• See our suit style guide for the foundation on ThePerfectWedding.com

The Essential Accessories

Tie or bow tie

Necktie for semi-formal and most formal weddings. Bow tie for black-tie, tuxedo, and vintage-inspired weddings. The tie color should complement, not exactly match, the wedding palette. A navy suit with a burgundy tie in a sage-and-burgundy wedding: perfect coordination without costume. Fabric matters: silk for formal, knit or linen for casual.

Pocket square

The pocket square should complement but NOT match the tie. If your tie is burgundy, your pocket square should be ivory, white, or a pattern that includes burgundy alongside other colors. A matching tie-and-pocket-square set from a department store screams "I bought these together." A mismatched combination says "I know what I am doing."

Boutonniere

The groom's boutonniere is typically slightly different from the groomsmen's: a unique flower, an additional element (a sprig of greenery, a berry), or a ribbon in a different color. Coordinate with your florist and your partner's bouquet. The boutonniere pins to the left lapel, stem down. Have someone pin it for you. Bring a backup pin.

Shoes

Oxford shoes in black (formal) or brown (semi-formal) are the standard. Loafers for casual outdoor weddings. Make sure shoes are polished the day before and broken in for at least 2 hours before the wedding. New, unbroken shoes cause blisters, and blisters cause limping on the dance floor. Match your belt color to your shoes (always).

Belt

A dress belt that matches your shoe color. Black shoes = black belt. Brown shoes = brown belt. Simple leather with a clean buckle. No oversized buckles, no braided leather, no casual canvas. The belt is invisible in most photos but noticeable when wrong.

The Personalization Accessories

Cufflinks

Cufflinks require French-cuff shirts (double-folded cuffs with holes for links instead of buttons). They add a formal, personal touch: engraved initials, family heirlooms, map coordinates of a meaningful location, or a subtle nod to a hobby. Cufflinks are visible in hand-holding and ring-exchange photos. Cost: $20 to $200.

Watch

A quality watch is the most visible and most personal groom accessory. Wear your own meaningful watch, or use the wedding as an occasion to invest in a piece you will keep for life. Dress watches (thin case, leather strap) suit formal weddings. Sport watches are too casual. The watch appears in nearly every wrist and hand photo.

Tie bar or tie clip

A tie bar keeps your tie in place and adds a subtle metallic accent. Position it between the third and fourth shirt buttons. The bar should be slightly narrower than the tie. Match the metal to your other hardware (gold tie bar = gold watch = gold cufflinks). Cost: $15 to $75.

Suspenders (braces)

An alternative to a belt, especially with high-waisted trousers or a three-piece suit. Button-on suspenders (not clip-on) are the proper choice for weddings. They add a vintage, dapper element. Never wear both suspenders and a belt.

Socks

The groom's socks appear in every "groomsmen feet" photo and during the ceremony when seated or crossing legs. Options: solid dress socks that match the trouser color (safest), a fun patterned sock that shows personality (popular), or custom wedding-date socks (Instagram-friendly). Avoid white athletic socks under any circumstances.

Coordination Rules

Coordinate, do not match

The golden rule of groom accessories: everything should look intentional but not identical. Your tie, pocket square, boutonniere, and socks should share a color family (warm tones, cool tones, neutrals) without being the exact same shade. Think "curated" not "costume."

Metal consistency

Keep all metals the same: if your watch is gold-toned, your cufflinks, tie bar, and belt buckle should be gold-toned. Mixing silver and gold hardware looks accidental. Consistency looks intentional.

Differentiate from groomsmen

The groom should be identifiable in group photos. The easiest way: same suit as groomsmen, different accessories. A different tie color, a unique boutonniere, a pocket square where groomsmen skip it, or a vest or waistcoat the groomsmen do not wear. See our suit guide for more differentiation ideas.

Expert Tip: "The accessory that makes the biggest difference in groom photos is the one most grooms overlook: the pocket square. A well-folded pocket square in the breast pocket transforms a suit from 'I wore this to work' to 'I dressed for the most important day of my life.' A simple white linen pocket square with a clean fold costs $10 and elevates any suit instantly. No groom should be without one."

Sarah Glasbergen, Founder at ThePerfectWedding.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need cufflinks?

Only if your shirt has French cuffs. Most off-the-rack dress shirts have button cuffs. If you want cufflinks, order a French-cuff shirt specifically. They add a formal touch but are not required at any dress code level.

Should groomsmen accessories match mine?

Coordinate but differentiate. Groomsmen can wear matching ties while the groom wears a different color or pattern. Groomsmen can skip pocket squares while the groom wears one. The groom should stand out, not blend in.

Can I wear my everyday watch?

If it is a dress watch or a quality timepiece, yes. If it is a plastic sports watch or a smartwatch with a rubber band, consider upgrading or borrowing a dress watch for the day. The watch appears in many close-up photos.

What about a lapel pin instead of a boutonniere?

Lapel pins are a modern alternative for grooms who do not want fresh flowers. Metal pins, enamel pins, or fabric flower pins last all day without wilting. Choose something that coordinates with the wedding palette.

More Groom Guides on ThePerfectWedding.com

See our suit style guide, grooming timeline, best man duties, groomsmen duties, groomsmen gifts, and groomsmen proposal ideas. Browse our wedding suit page. Find suit shops on our vendor directory.