Wedding cufflinks are often an after-thought of the day. But with a little preparation, your wedding cufflinks can add a special finishing touch to your big day. The beauty of your cufflinks is that they are totally independent of wedding suits for men. Whether you are wearing a full highland outfit, a morning suit or a simple 2 piece suit, your cufflinks are there to add a bit of your own personality to your outfit.
Here are our top 10 tips for wedding cufflink success:
1. Get the right shirt for your wedding cufflinks.
To use wedding cufflinks you first need an appropriate wedding shirt. By this we mean a shirt with French cuffs – double cuffs designed to be worn with cufflinks. You can, of course, wear single cuffs but for your wedding only a French cuff will do. It has weight, it has gravitas, it has, well, a little bit of Bond to it.
2. Make sure the holes for your wedding cufflinks are the right size.
Most cufflinks have a stalk with a hinged bar (bullet back cufflinks – see later) and others a bar and ball – these are all fine for any style of wedding cufflinks. However, some cufflinks are chain link (a pair of large plates connected by a chain). To use these, you will need to ensure that your shirt has holes large enough to accommodate this style of wedding cufflink.
Tip: If you buy made to measure shirts, you should be able to specify the size of cufflink holes
3. Keep your wedding cufflinks simple.
There is a temptation to over-do jewellery but the best and most timeless wedding cufflinks are most often the simplest. Silver knots, a simple bar, monogram cufflinks.
Tip: A popular wedding gift for a bride to her new husband is a pair of wedding cufflinks. A special present to wear as well as a lasting reminder of your special day.
4. What about wedding cufflinks for the rest of the men?
You may want to tie the look of all of the men together with the same cufflinks. If you have gone with £200 solid silver Tiffany cufflinks this can start to get expensive!
Tip: Stainless steel does not tarnish and looks every bit as good as silver or white gold at a fraction of the price.
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21 of the Best Wedding Venues in Glasgow for 2021
5. Make your wedding cufflinks personal.
If you are giving wedding cufflinks as a gift, it is now easier than ever to personalise them. You can have the box embossed or the cufflinks engraved – this usually takes an extra few days to organise so don’t leave it until the last minute.
Tip: For personalisation ideas just search for personalised wedding cufflinks for some great ideas.
6. A nod to somebody special
Wedding cufflinks are very personal and your wedding day is going to be a highly significant day in your life. If you have a male relative, friend, or role model who you think deserves a special place in your day, ask if you can borrow a pair of their cufflinks. While this may sound cheeky, it is an incredible honour to be asked to contribute something so personal. Even though you are asking to borrow something, knowing that something so personal is going to play an important part in your day will show them how much they mean to you.
7. Match wedding cufflinks with shirt buttons
If you are wearing a bowtie as part of your wedding outfit, or other neckwear that makes your shirt buttons visible, matching your cufflinks to your wedding shirt buttons is a good idea. There are an almost unlimited number of options when it comes to wedding cufflinks, but less so as far as shirt studs are concerned. Shirt studs are most commonly used with formal shirts with wing collars and they are typically in plain metal – gold, silver or stainless steel and often accented with semi-precious stones in different colours. Fortunately, you can buy sets of studs and matching cufflinks to make the process easier.
Many men will sidestep this landmine by having a shirt with covered buttons or wear a tie to cover the buttons – so this is less of an issue these days.
8. Different types of wedding cufflinks
Stud Cufflinks
Also known as solid stem cufflinks because they are not hinged or flexible. They have no moving parts and they are quick and easy to put into a shirt cuff. Simple, fuss-free and last a lifetime, these are a great cufflinks for any occasion – from a business meeting to your wedding day.
Chain Cufflinks
The basis of chain cufflinks is, as the name suggests, two ends linked by a chain. The chain style is a traditional style of cufflink and gives a slightly looser fit – a good choice if you prefer a looser fitting cuff.
Ball end cufflinks
Very similar to solid stem or stud cufflinks, a ball end cufflink has no moving parts. Instead, this cufflink style uses a metal balls attached by a bar. With its rigid structure, the ball end cufflink easily inserts through the cuff and into place.
Bullet back cufflinks
The bullet back is the most common type of cufflink as it is generally considered the easiest to use. This style features something decorative on one side and a small, bullet-shaped pivot on the other. The ‘bullet’ on the back rotates to a straight position to thread through the shirt’s cuff holes, where it can be pivoted back to secure. Ideal for men who like less fuss, classic silver knot wedding cufflinks use this bullet back design.
9. Match wedding cufflinks with accessories
Now this is far from a set in stone rule, but you will score more style points if your wedding cufflinks match your other accessories – watch strap, tie bar, belt buckle. By match we don’t necessarily mean every colour and feature, but if you can pair gold with gold and silver with silver this creates a well-thought out ensemble. This is another reason why stainless steel is your friend. As it is a lot cheaper and more accessories are made from it, your choice widens considerably, and it won’t break the bank unlike some precious metals.
10. Avoid novelty wedding cufflinks
Please, please don’t wear novelty wedding cufflinks. The thing that was an in-joke at the stag-do, or something that will embarrass your bride is a definite no. Your wedding cufflinks should be an extension of your personality. And while you may want to convey your fun side, novelty cufflinks are the equivalent of wearing glasses with attached nose and moustache – funny for a split second and regretted later.
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