Who Receives Cufflinks at a Wedding
Wedding cufflinks are rarely ordered for one person. A full brief more often covers the groom, groomsmen and both fathers. Each has a different role on the day and a different piece to suit it. A coordinated wedding party does not need matching cufflinks. It needs each piece to be right for the person wearing it.
The Groom
Often a morning gift from the partner. His initials, the wedding date, a family crest. He keeps them for decades.
Groomsmen
A group commission. Each man's own initials on a shared cufflink style. Distinct without being identical.
Father of the Bride
A gift from the couple. Initials, a date, or a quiet inscription on the swivel bar. His role, acknowledged.
Father of the Groom
He stands beside his son on the day. A piece that acknowledges it, engraved in sterling silver.
The Wedding Party, Coordinated
Kai Zaunick has been making wedding cufflinks to order in his own atelier since 2006. Often it is the partner who chooses them. The groom reaches for them again at every formal occasion that follows.
A pair of engraved cufflinks given on the morning of the wedding is one of the most enduring gifts in the ceremony. Worn that day and kept long afterwards, taken out again for anniversaries, for formal occasions, for the quiet moment of remembering.
The same care extends to the wedding party. For groomsmen and fathers of the wedding party, a coordinated set with individual engraving ties the group together without making them identical. Order three or more pairs and receive preferential pricing. Every pair arrives gift-ready in our signature presentation box.
Personalized Individually or as a Set
Personalized wedding cufflinks can carry a shared engraving across the full set, or each pair can be personalized individually: the groom's initials on his, each groomsman's initials on theirs. Either way, every pair is produced separately to its own specification.
The Monogram Tradition
The monogram as a personal mark predates modern typography. It appeared on wax seals, engraved silver, heraldic devices and monogrammed stationery long before it became a fixture of contemporary design. At a wedding, its function is precise: a wedding monogram makes an object permanently and unambiguously the groom's. The choice between a two letter monogram and a three letter monogram is not purely aesthetic. Each format carries its own history, its own visual weight and its own convention.
The Two-Letter Monogram
The modern approach. First initial and last initial, arranged at equal weight on the face. The composition is clean and direct: no hierarchy between given name and family name, no historical convention to observe. Two letters cut deeply into sterling silver carry a great deal of presence without requiring a third initial to anchor them. The format suits a name without a middle initial, or a groom who prefers a contemporary reading over a traditional one. It reads as clearly at a formal dinner ten years from now as it does on the wedding morning.
The Three-Letter Monogram
The traditional form, and the one with history behind it. The convention places the last-name initial at the center, enlarged. The order reads: first initial (left), last initial (center, larger), middle initial (right). For John Andrew Smith, the S sits at the center. The J and A flank it. The family name is honored in the arrangement, as it was on the silver and stationery of formal households before contemporary design standardized the sequential format.
The reason the center initial is larger is not decorative. In formal tradition, the family name outranks the given name in composition as it did on crests, seals and engraved silver plate. The enlarged central initial carries that logic forward. The result is a mark that reads as a unified emblem, not three letters placed in sequence.
At 18mm, the arrangement of those three initials matters in ways that do not apply at larger scales. Twenty years at the atelier has given Kai a clear understanding of which letterforms hold at engraving scale. Some typefaces that read well at display size compress into illegibility when the center initial is enlarged. Some combinations form a unified emblem. Others crowd. Kai will confirm the layout before the order proceeds. If a requested combination needs adjustment, he will show what the alternative looks like before anything is engraved.
The Monogram as Protagonist
There are two distinct approaches to monogram cufflinks. The choice between them shapes the character of the piece and what it says about the man wearing it.
The Monogram on the Face
The classical approach. A plain or lightly finished sterling silver face carries the initials as the primary design. The monogram is not a detail added to a cufflink. It is the cufflink. The face reads as typography first, as jewelry second. This is the most familiar format, and for good reason: the quality of the engraving carries the entire piece. The letterforms, their scale, their weight and their composition on the face are the design decisions.
Kai will advise on which script works for the letter combination requested. Some pairings read better in block, others in calligraphy. The engraving is cut into the silver surface, not surface-marked: the difference between a design that holds its definition for decades and one that does not. See the dedicated monogram cufflinks range for the full choice of face styles, scripts and compositions.
The Monogram on the Reverse
The alternative approach, and the one most makers do not offer. The cufflink model is the protagonist. The face carries a design: a motif, a theme, a subject chosen because it speaks to the man wearing it. The monogram goes on the reverse face or the swivel bar, engraved where only the wearer knows to look. Every model in the ZAUNICK range can be personalized this way, because the engraving does not require a plain surface to work.
The person choosing the cufflink can find a piece that reflects who the groom is: a subject he knows, a material he prefers, a silhouette that suits his style. Then add the initials on the back. The piece is personal in two ways: by the design chosen and by the engraving that marks it as his. Not all reverse engravings suit all models: the available surface differs by design. Kai will confirm the placement before the order proceeds.
Send your brief with the model in mind and the engraving you want on the reverse. We will confirm placement options and produce to your specification.
Family Crests, Refined for Cufflink Scale
A family crest or logo designed for stationery often lacks the clarity needed at 18mm. Kai specializes in refining artwork for cufflink scale, simplifying fine lines and adjusting weights so that a family's legacy reads clearly in solid sterling silver.
Heraldry as Wearable Keepsake
The use of a coat of arms on a groom's cufflink is a practice dating back centuries. Whether you have an established family crest or are commissioning a custom design, Kai assesses how to simplify a complex shield so it reads powerfully and cleanly on an 18mm surface. Not every crest translates without adaptation. He would rather have that conversation before the order is confirmed than deliver something that falls short of what was imagined.
See our dedicated family crest cufflinks range.
Your Bespoke Journey
From first submission to finished piece.
Submit
Send your crest, logo or reference image.
Refine
Kai adapts the artwork for engraving scale.
Review
Receive a digital proof within 2 business days.
Approve
Request adjustments or confirm the design.
Receive
Production begins in our studio.
Made to Order, In-House
Every wedding cufflink is made to order in solid .925 sterling silver or 18k gold, produced in-house and inspected before it leaves the studio. There is no outsourcing, no stock held in advance.
Engraving That Holds
The engraving is cut into the silver surface, not surface-marked: the difference between a design that holds its definition for decades and one that does not. A monogram, wedding date or family crest engraved this way will read as clearly on a thirty-year anniversary as it did on the morning it was first worn.
Clear Timelines for Your Wedding Date
Wedding planning runs on deadlines. Here is what to expect for US delivery:
- Standard personalization: ships within 5–7 business days of order confirmation
- Custom artwork (crests, logos): ships within 5–7 days of proof approval
- US delivery: 3–5 business days via tracked, insured shipping
Wedding within two weeks? Send your brief with the date. We will confirm what is achievable for your timeline.
Common Questions
How far in advance should I order wedding cufflinks?
Order 3 to 4 weeks before the wedding date. This allows time for artwork refinement, proof approval on crest orders, and production with a comfortable margin for US shipping.
Can each groomsman have different initials?
Yes. Every pair is produced individually in the studio. You can order matching styles with unique personalization for each recipient: their own initials, a date or a monogram specific to them.
Do you offer preferential pricing for wedding party orders?
Yes. Preferential pricing is available for coordinated sets of three or more pairs. Send your brief with your order details and we will respond within one business day.
Can you engrave a family crest on cufflinks?
Yes. Kai specializes in refining heraldic artwork for cufflink scale: simplifying fine lines and adjusting weights so the design reads clearly in sterling silver. He would rather confirm what is achievable before the order is placed than produce something that falls short. Submit your crest via the contact form to begin.
Can a bride order personalized cufflinks as a gift for the groom?
Yes. Engraved cufflinks are a classic morning-of-the-wedding gift. Initials, the wedding date, a monogram or a family crest. Every pair arrives in a signature presentation box, gift-ready.
What is the difference between a two-letter and three-letter monogram on cufflinks?
A two-letter monogram is the modern approach: first and last initial at equal weight, clean and direct. A three-letter monogram follows the traditional American convention: the last-name initial is placed at the center and engraved larger than the surrounding initials. For John Andrew Smith, the S sits at the center. The family name is honored. Kai will confirm which arrangement works for the specific letter combination before production begins.
Can I have my initials engraved on the back of a cufflink instead of the face?
Yes. For any cufflink in the ZAUNICK range, the monogram can be placed on the reverse face or on the swivel bar. This lets you choose a cufflink for its design and add the engraving privately on the back. Kai will confirm placement for the specific model before the order proceeds.
Start Your Wedding Order
Tell us about your wedding party: styles, personalization and your date. We will respond within one business day with options and a quote.
Kai reviews every enquiry personally.
