How to choose groomsmen gifts that he will appreciate

A comment made by a friend gave me a chuckle. She is planning the her son's wedding and has no idea of the volume work that is before her. Planning a wedding is challenging. Some couples are taking a more active role but I prefer a more traditional route. If you do that, then some of the decisions (like who does what) are pretty much spelled out for you.

Certainly, the pressure on the family of the groom is probably less than what we faced as parents of the bride. However; I firmly believe that my friend is underestimating the involvement of the groom his family. From helping her son select unique groomsmen gifts to completing the rehearsal dinner, she is going to be one busy lady.
As the wife of a pastor (and after planning my daughter's wedding) I will say that every wedding is different. We have seen gifts for groomsmen that caused me to shake my head. Here are a few ideas that might help my friend and others who are wedding planning.

Go for quality.
A quality gift will last forever. If you want to give groomsmen funny gift, then by all means go ahead. When you combine this with something lasting, the groomsmen will have some that they can use for years.
Barware
Trendy flasks, tankards and barware are becoming popular for gift giving. An engraved bar tray or small wine set are long lasting gifts that may be appreciated for life.

Cufflinks
If the groomsmen are wearing shirts without button sleeves, then these may be the ideal gift. They can be worn for the wedding, in the office or for other special occasions.

Other ideas
Leatherman tools, pocket knives, mugs, padfolio, pen sets, a tie clip or pin or money clips can make nice gifts. Quality gifts that are chosen with care say that you appreciate each groomsmen.