Groom Accessory Checklist: 18 Items and the Order to Put Them On
Accessories are small, easy to postpone, and conspicuously absent in photos. Print this list and lay everything out on one table the night before.
The 18 items
| # | Item | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dress shirt | One spare, still in packaging |
| 2 | Tie or bow tie | Practice tying once before the day |
| 3 | Pocket square | Should complement, not match exactly |
| 4 | Boutonniere | Ask the florist for pins and a backup |
| 5 | Watch | Set to the timeline; silence notifications |
| 6 | Cufflinks | Put in the same zip bag as the shirt |
| 7 | Belt or braces | Match leather to shoes |
| 8 | Dress shoes | Broken in at home; polished two days before |
| 9 | Socks | One spare pair |
| 10 | Wedding band | Confirm who holds it before the ceremony |
| 11 | Vow card | Printed, not only on a phone |
| 12 | Phone + charger | Hand to a designated person for the ceremony |
| 13 | Wallet / ID | Some venues require ID for the bar tab |
| 14 | Keys | Label and give to one person |
| 15 | Lint roller | Use before photos, not after |
| 16 | Safety pins + mini sewing kit | The single most-used emergency item |
| 17 | Deodorant / breath mints | No new products on the day |
| 18 | Emergency cash | Small bills for tips and parking |
Getting-ready order (work backwards from first photo)
- Shower, shave, deodorant — 2h before first look.
- Shirt, trousers, socks — keep the jacket on a hanger until the last minute.
- Shoes, belt, watch, cufflinks.
- Tie / bow tie, then pocket square.
- Jacket, then boutonniere (pinned last so it is not crushed).
- Phone, wallet, keys, ring into assigned pockets. Vow card to the officiant or best man.
Assign an owner
The ring, the vow card and the marriage license each need exactly one named person. "Someone will bring it" is how they get left behind.
Six most-forgotten items
Spare shirt · boutonniere pins · printed vow card · shoe polish touch-up · phone charger · the marriage license itself. Verify the license against your county clerk's official requirements; rules differ by state.
Download the free starter CSV with all 18 rows, an owner column and a packed checkbox. The $17 kit adds the fitting timeline and editable Notion/Canva versions.