Quick Answer
What is taglio della cravatta?
Taglio della cravatta ("cutting of the tie") is a reception game, popular in various parts of Italy, in which the groom's tie is snipped into small pieces that are then sold or auctioned to guests for cash — traditionally used to help fund the couple's honeymoon.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is taglio della cravatta?
Also called: the tie-cutting game, groom tie auction.
Taglio della cravatta is one of the reception moments that turns the room genuinely rowdy: someone, usually the best man, produces a pair of scissors, and the groom's tie gets cut piece by piece, each fragment auctioned off to guests who want a keepsake — and want to chip in toward the honeymoon fund while they are at it.
How the game is played
- •A designated leader — usually the best man or a testimone (wedding witness) — cuts the groom's tie into small strips.
- •Each strip is then sold or auctioned to guests, often with playful bidding, for cash contributions.
- •Proceeds are traditionally earmarked for the couple's honeymoon, though modern couples sometimes redirect the funds elsewhere.
- •It is a regionally popular custom rather than a universal one — some Italian weddings skip it entirely.
Planning notes
- •If the groom wants to keep his actual tie, bring a spare, inexpensive tie specifically for the game.
- •Assign one person to manage the cash collected and hand it to the couple at the end of the night.
- •Time-box the game in the reception schedule — it can run long if the auctioning gets enthusiastic, so brief whoever is leading it on how much time to take.
Plan reception games into the night's timeline
Weddingkart helps you coordinate reception-night moments like this across your planning team so nothing runs over and pushes the rest of the schedule back.
See multi-event planning tools →Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the tie-cutting game?
Usually the best man or one of the testimoni (official wedding witnesses), who cuts the tie and leads the informal auction of the pieces.
What happens to the money raised?
Traditionally, it goes toward the couple's honeymoon fund, though some modern couples choose to redirect the proceeds to a different purpose.
Is this tradition practiced at every Italian wedding?
No — it is a regionally popular reception game rather than a universal custom, and plenty of Italian weddings do not include it.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated