Buying bow ties for groomsmen...pre-tied or tie yourself?

The bow tie measurement should be very close to their neck measurement, which they would have provided to the tailor (and any man who has bought a dress shirt also probably already knows their neck size). Untied bow ties are adjustable, they have a hook system on the back side of the strap in order to adjust to a man's neck.

Also, bow ties are pretty easy to tie once you learn. I taught myself in the store while FH was trying on tuxedos.

Most self tie bow ties are size adjustable with a slide to fit various neck sizes. Personally as a bow tie wearer, no self respecting gentleman should wear a pre-tied bow tie, especially to a formal event. get them the real thing, plus it can make for a great bonding exercise all of them tying them.

https://www.thetiebar.com/product/B516BOY?ResultCount=7

Please do not get pre-tied bow ties! They're for children and prom.

Self tie bow ties should have a little hidden clip in the back where they can change the length.

There's plenty of YouTube videos on how to tie a bow tie. We actually have some adorable photos of the men getting ready and helping each other. We bought these on Amazon since DH hated the plain gray that matched their tuxes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017PF0VMO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_mTULzbT3P0ZRD

Ah, THANK YOU ALL!! This makes much more sense now. I definitely want them to have self-tie bow ties- I didn't realize that even the self-tie ones can be adjustable at the back! As long as that's appropriate, I think I'll go that route! Thank you thank you!!!

PS This forum thing is amazing, why haven't I been using this all along?? x

Honestly, I think both are fine, but if you give them self tie, send along a link to a youtube video; literally no one knows how to tie these.....