The Ultimate Groomsmen Gift Guide: Dopp Kits and Weekenders They'll Actually Use

Picking groomsmen gifts he'll keep for years is harder than it sounds. Most gifts end up in a drawer. Some don't survive the honeymoon phase of the wedding hype.

The fix is simple. Pick items your groomsmen already need. Then make them thoughtful.

Two gifts do this better than almost anything else:

• A lightweight, water-resistant Dopp kit
• A durable weekender bag

Both get used long after the wedding. Both hold up to real travel. And both come in a size every guy can actually use.

Why These Groomsmen Gifts Actually Work

A good travel bag isn't just a "nice" gift. It's a practical one, too.

Here's why lightweight, water-resistant gear keeps winning as the top groomsmen gift choice:

• It holds up to real use. Water-resistant nylon shrugs off rain, spills, and the general chaos of a wedding weekend — no babying required.
• It's built for travel, not display. Lightweight materials mean the bag doesn't add bulk to a suitcase or a carry-on allowance.
• It signals effort. A well-made travel bag reads as far more thoughtful than a shot glass or a monogrammed flask. The build quality — and the price tag behind it — does some of the work for you.
• It's genuinely useful. Unlike a shot glass or a koozie, a Dopp kit or weekender gets picked up again and again — on work trips, weekend getaways, and the next wedding he's invited to.

How Much Should You Spend on Groomsmen Gifts?

There's no single right number. But most grooms land somewhere predictable.

According to The Knot's groomsmen gifting guide, a common budget range is $25 to $150 per person. Where you land usually depends on:

• How close you are to each groomsman
• How many people are in your wedding party
• What role they played in the planning (best man usually gets a bit more)
• Whether you're giving one gift or a small set

The Oak & Rove Dopp Kit, at around $95, sits comfortably inside that typical range — an easy yes for the full wedding party. The Kennedy Weekender, at around $500, sits well above it. That makes it less of a per-groomsman gift and more of a splurge pick: ideal for a best man gift, a smaller wedding party, or a gift the groomsmen pool together to give the groom in return.

The Dopp Kit: The Groomsmen Gift Almost Everyone Gets Right

If you only buy one thing, make it this. At around $95, a Dopp kit is compact, affordable per person, and impossible to overbuy.

The Oak & Rove Dopp Kit checks the boxes that matter for a gift like this:

• Lightweight, water-resistant nylon exterior with subtle leather trim for a refined finish
• A structured shape that holds up in a suitcase
• Enough room for the essentials without becoming bulky
• A size that fits inside almost any bag, including a carry-on or the Kennedy Weekender below

Not sure what should actually go inside one? Our Dopp kit guide breaks down what belongs in a well-packed kit, in case you want to fill it before gifting.

The Kennedy Weekender: For the Groomsman Who's Always Planning the Next Trip

Every wedding party has one guy already asking about the group's next trip. He's the one to give a weekender — or the one worth splurging on as a best man gift.

At around $500, the Kennedy Weekender is priced like the investment piece it is. Here's what that gets you:

• Lightweight, water-resistant nylon twill exterior
• Full-grain leather trim, handles, front pockets, and shoulder strap
• A trolley sleeve that slides over roller luggage
• A separate, waterproof shoe compartment
• A dedicated tech compartment for cords, chargers, and cables
• A laptop sleeve that fits up to 16"
• Fully lined premium black interior fabric
• 33L internal volume — roomy enough for a 2-3 night trip without becoming a full suitcase
• A luggage tag with a card slot
• Carry-on sizing that meets both domestic and international requirements (20.5" L x 8.3" W x 11.8" H)

Pair it with the Dopp kit above, and you've covered almost every trip he'll take for the next several years — bachelor trip included.

Beyond the Bag: Small Add-Ons That Complete the Gift

A bag alone is a great gift. A bag with one small extra feels like a set.

A few easy additions:

• Classic Slim Card Holder — a clean, minimal upgrade for the guy still carrying a bulky wallet
• Oak & Rove Water Bottle — practical for travel days, gym mornings, or long flights to the wedding itself
• Alto Briefcase — worth considering for the best man, or as a standalone gift for the groomsman who travels for work more than leisure

You can browse the full accessories collection if you want to build a small set without overspending on any single piece.

How to Make a Simple Gift Feel More Thoughtful

You don't need a monogram to make a gift feel personal. A few small touches go a long way:

• Pack the Dopp kit yourself with a few travel-size essentials before gifting it
• Add a short handwritten note explaining why you picked it for him specifically
• Give the whole group the same gift, so it reads as a set in photos
• Present it at a moment that feels personal, not rushed — see timing tips below

Matching the Gift to the Guy: A Quick Cheat Sheet

Not every groomsman needs the same thing. Use this as a fast reference:

• The frequent traveler (if you're splurging) → Kennedy Weekender
• The low-maintenance guy who'll actually use something small → Dopp Kit
• The one still using a fold-out wallet → Classic Slim Card Holder
• The best man, if the group is chipping in → Alto Briefcase or Kennedy Weekender
• Anyone who travels for the wedding itself → Dopp Kit + Water Bottle combo

When to Give the Gift

Timing matters almost as much as the gift itself.

Most grooms give gifts at one of these moments:

• The rehearsal dinner
• A pre-wedding hangout with the full group
• The morning of the wedding, while everyone's getting ready

Avoid handing gifts out mid-reception. It gets lost in the noise, and nobody remembers the moment later.

Final Thought

A good groomsmen gift doesn't need to be complicated. It needs to be something he'll actually use — on the next work trip, the next weekend away, or the next time he needs to pack fast and look put together doing it.

Start with the Dopp Kit and Kennedy Weekender. Add a small extra if your budget allows. That's a gift your groomsmen will still be using long after the wedding photos are framed.