Father of the Bride Gift Ideas, Plus Shirts for the Groom’s Parents

Espresso brown t-shirt with a black-and-white wedding portrait between white FATHER and OF THE BRIDE lettering.
Gift guide

Updated November 2, 2026

Quick answer

A meaningful father of the bride gift is a shirt printed with a photo of him and his daughter, maybe from her childhood, to wear at the rehearsal dinner or on the wedding morning. We make the same style for the mother of the bride and for the groom’s parents, in vintage black and white.

Parents of the couple spend months helping plan, pay for and pull off the wedding, and they rarely get a gift of their own. A photo shirt changes that. It’s something they can wear while everyone is getting ready, and it turns into a sweet reminder of the day once the dress is boxed up.

Espresso brown t-shirt with a black-and-white wedding portrait between white FATHER and OF THE BRIDE lettering.

Father of the bride gift and one for mom

These two are written from the bride’s side. They’re easy to hand over the night before or the morning of, when a small moment with mom or dad means the most.

Father of the bride shirt shown as a hoodie in pepperFor dad, from the bride

Father of the Bride Photo Shirt

A dad-and-daughter photo in vintage black and white with Father of the Bride lettering. Use a picture from when she was little and watch him tear up before the ceremony even starts.

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Black and white photo of a mother fixing her daughter's bridal veil, MOTHER above and OF THE BRIDE below in antique goldFor mom, from the bride

Mother of the Bride Photo Shirt

Mom’s photo with antique gold Mother of the Bride lettering. It looks lovely as a sweatshirt for the bridal shower or the getting-ready photos.

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Gifts for the groom’s parents

A father of the groom gift or a mother of the groom gift from her son can land even harder, because nobody expects the groom to get sentimental. These two lean on early photos.

Father of the groom shirt shown as a crewneck sweatshirt in pepperFor dad, from the groom

Father of the Groom Childhood Photo Shirt

A childhood photo of the groom, or of father and son, printed under Father of the Groom in white. Hand it over at the rehearsal dinner.

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Mother of the groom shirt shown as a hoodie in pepperFor mom, from the groom

Mother of the Groom Baby Photo Shirt

A baby photo, such as mom holding her son as a newborn, with gold Mother of the Groom lettering. A quiet thank-you she’ll want to wear all weekend.

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For the bride’s brother and sister

Siblings carry a lot on the wedding weekend, from toasts to keeping the bride calm. These match the parents’ shirts, so the whole family can get ready in the same style.

Brother of the bride shirt shown as a crewneck sweatshirt in pepperFor a brother, from his sister

Brother of the Bride Photo Shirt

A sibling photo with Brother of the Bride across it. A fun rehearsal dinner gift for the brother giving a speech.

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Black and white photo of a bride hugging her sister cheek to cheek, SISTER above and OF THE BRIDE below in antique goldFor a sister or maid of honor

Sister of the Bride Photo Shirt

A photo of the two sisters with gold lettering, made for the getting-ready room and the bridal party photos.

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For bridesmaids and the bachelorette weekend, see our bridal party gift ideas, and browse every wedding shirt for the rest of the family.

How to personalize a wedding family shirt

  1. Choose tee, crewneck or hoodieThen select the right size for the person getting it.
  2. Choose a shirt colorGarment-dyed shades have a soft, muted look.
  3. Upload the photoAdd the picture and fill in any text boxes the design offers.
  4. OrderThe sample image is replaced by your photo, and we print it in the USA.

If you’ve never printed an old photo on fabric, our guide on turning a picture into a shirt explains what to expect.

Which old photo to pick

For parents’ shirts, the best photo is usually the oldest one you can find. A few tips for getting a clean print:

  • Photograph printed snapshots flat, in daylight, straight from above to avoid glare and tilt.
  • Faces should be clear and front-facing, with nobody cut off at the edges.
  • Choose the highest-resolution version you have. Scans and original phone files beat screenshots.
  • For childhood photos, pick everyday clothes and a head-and-shoulders or waist-up shot. We don’t print bath or pool photos of kids, even old ones.
  • The vintage designs tone everything black and white, so a faded color photo can still look great.

Our photo guidelines have a few more tips on resolution.

Use family photos you own or have permission to share, including professional engagement shots. We won’t print celebrities, rappers, athletes or any public figure, and anything showing a company logo, a brand name, a sports team or league emblem, or an animated or movie character is off the table. Orders with that kind of material are canceled with a full refund.

Tee, crewneck or hoodie for wedding week

Option Sizes Fabric Wedding-week use
Tee (CC 1717) S to 4XL 6.1 oz garment-dyed ring-spun cotton, relaxed unisex fit Summer weddings, golf outing, the morning-after brunch
Crewneck (CC 1566) S to 3XL Fleece, 80% cotton and 20% polyester Getting-ready photos, fall weddings, bridal shower
Hoodie (CC 1567) S to 2XL Garment-dyed 80/20 fleece, lined hood, pouch pocket Late-night after-party, cool evenings

Fleece runs relaxed at the usual size; one or two sizes up gives a slouchy fit over a robe or button-down. Measurements are in the Comfort Colors size guide.

Order timing before the wedding

Allow 1 to 3 business days for us to print, then 3 to 5 business days for tracked USPS shipping to a US address. Most packages arrive in 4 to 8 business days, but no delivery date is guaranteed. Wedding weeks get hectic, so we’d order at least three weeks before the rehearsal dinner, which leaves a cushion for slow mail. Read more on how long custom shirts take.

Wedding family shirt FAQ

When should the bride give her dad the shirt?

The morning of the wedding and the rehearsal dinner both work well. It also fits a quiet first look with dad or the getting-ready photos.

What’s a good mother of the bride gift from the groom?

The mother of the bride shirt works from either partner. Use a photo of her with the bride and add a handwritten note from the groom.

Can I use a professional engagement photo?

Yes, as long as you have the photographer’s permission. Pick a version where faces are sharp and well lit.

Can the whole family match?

Yes. Order the parents’, brother’s and sister’s designs in each person’s size and the same shirt color for a coordinated look.

What if a shirt arrives misprinted?

Snap a photo of the problem and send it to us no later than 15 days after the package arrives. We’ll replace it or refund you. Sizes and colors you selected can’t be returned, since each shirt is personalized.

Dress the bride’s and groom’s families

See every design for mothers, fathers and siblings of the couple.

Shop parents of the bride and groom shirts

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Written by Herman A. Donalson

Founder of OutfitBlend. He writes about personalized apparel and photo gift ideas. Questions: [email protected].