Groomsmen Accessory Checklist: Ties, Pocket Squares and More
By Bridesmaid Dresses & Gowns from $89 | Birdy Grey | Published: 2026-10-13
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step groomsmen accessory checklist covering ties, pocket squares, shoes and the details that keep the wedding party looking coordinated without matching too literally.
Quick answer
Start with the tie, because it sets the formality and color direction for everything else. Then add a pocket square that complements rather than copies the tie, confirm shoes and belt match each other, and finish with small details like cufflinks, socks and a tie bar only if they suit the dress code. Assign every item to a specific person and set a deadline at least two weeks before the wedding.
Decide the formality level before you buy anything
Accessories only look right when they match the dress code. A black-tie wedding calls for a bow tie, while a cocktail or semi-formal dress code usually suits a standard necktie. Ask the couple for the dress code in writing, then confirm whether groomsmen are expected to match the groom exactly or simply coordinate with the wedding palette. That single answer determines fabric, color and how much variation is acceptable.
Build the tie and pocket square pairing
The safest approach is a solid tie with a patterned pocket square, or a patterned tie with a solid pocket square. Wearing the same pattern in both can look flat in photos. If the wedding palette includes a print, pull one secondary color from that print for the pocket square so the two pieces relate without competing. Linen and cotton squares read more casual, while silk reads more formal.
Confirm shoes, belt and socks as one unit
Shoes and belt should match in color and similar in finish, and socks should either match the trousers or echo the tie color. This is the step groomsmen most often handle on their own, which is exactly why it goes wrong. Send a photo of the approved shoe and belt combination in the group chat so everyone buys the same thing. If the couple is renting suits, ask whether shoes are included before anyone spends money.
Add optional details only when they earn their place
Cufflinks, tie bars, lapel pins and suspenders are optional. Add them when the dress code supports them or when they carry meaning, such as matching cufflinks gifted by the couple. Skip a tie bar with a waistcoat, and skip suspenders if the trousers already have belt loops in use. Fewer well-chosen details photograph better than a cluster of them.
Assign, deadline and pack
Give each groomsman one clear responsibility, such as collecting ties or confirming shoe sizes, and set a purchase deadline two to three weeks before the wedding. That leaves time for exchanges. Pack accessories in a single labeled bag the night before, including a spare pair of socks and a backup tie if the couple has one. On the morning of, do a five-minute check of ties, squares, shoes and socks before anyone leaves the room.
Your groomsmen accessory checklist, in order
- 1. Lock the dress code and match level: Get the dress code and the expected level of matching in writing from the couple before buying anything. Checkpoint: if you cannot state the dress code in one sentence, you are not ready to shop.
- 2. Choose the tie first: Pick fabric and color based on formality, then treat the tie as the anchor for every other accessory. Common mistake: buying the pocket square first and then hunting for a tie that works with it.
- 3. Pair the pocket square to the tie, not with it: Use a solid tie with a patterned square, or the reverse, and pull the square's color from the wedding palette. Checkpoint: the tie and square should look related in a photo, not identical.
- 4. Settle shoes, belt and socks together: Match shoes and belt in color and finish, and choose socks that match the trousers or echo the tie. Common mistake: assuming rented suits include shoes. Confirm before anyone buys.
- 5. Add cufflinks, tie bars or suspenders only if they fit: Include these details when the dress code supports them or when the couple provides them as gifts. Checkpoint: if a detail fights another one, such as a tie bar with a waistcoat, drop it.
- 6. Assign one owner per item and set a deadline: Name a person responsible for each accessory and set the purchase deadline two to three weeks out. Common mistake: assuming the best man is tracking everything. Assign it explicitly.
- 7. Pack and do a final morning check: Bag all accessories the night before, including spare socks, and run a five-minute tie, square, shoe and sock check on the day. Next step: send the group chat a photo of the finished, approved look so everyone can match it.
Coordinating with bridesmaid dresses
- Deborah Chiffon Dress - Botanical Blooms: The Deborah Chiffon Dress in Botanical Blooms is an A-line style with a slit, V-neckline and micro pleated bodice. If the bridal party wears a floral chiffon print, pull one quiet color from that print for the groomsmen ties so the two sides of the wedding party read as coordinated rather than identical.
- Jennie Matte Satin Dress - Blush Pink: The Jennie Matte Satin Dress in Blush Pink is a floor-length A-line with a draped cowl neck, lace-up corset back and front slit, and it pairs with the coordinating Valerie Matte Satin Scarf. A matte satin bridesmaid dress gives you a clean, low-sheen color reference, which makes it easier to choose a tie in a similar tone without the shine clashing in photographs.
