I just read this, got up and paced back and forth here in my home office with a West Coast location, hands in my pockets, thinking about your observation and ultimately decided I was not sure what your concern is.

Now I have pocket-envy.

The groom walking down the aisle with his hands in his pockets sounds like he doesn't understand how to behave or decorum in those kinds of situations.

I am not a guy, so don't understand the issue. Why can they not put their hands in their pockets and walk at the same time?

Mystical....it's called "pocket pool". My husband's boss used to play "pool" when talking to clients. My husband had a "talk" with him...he made an effort after it was pointed out...and stopped. It creeped people out!

Unobtrusively checking their bits? Keeping their hands warm? Don't feel like having their arms dangling loose?

I'm not checking bits, but I do often walk with my hand in my coat pockets, or pockets on my warm shirts and sweaters for the second two reasons often enough. And when I wear a skirt or a frock, I also like pockets :)

If I saw a bride and groom coming down the aisle after being pronounced husband and wife, and the groom had his hands in his pockets, I would think the groom already regretted having gotten married.

I think it's an awkward gesture signaling discomfort, especially being in the spotlight, and not knowing what to do with one's hands.

Why wouldn't his arm be through his bride's, or hanging onto each other's hand?? It's cause for celebration, but if I saw that, I'd think he was regretting his marriage. It would look like he was an unwilling partner. If I were the bride, I'd be pissed.

While not acceptable while walking down the aisle depending on the person's parents and area they lived in when younger it can be a learned protective thing. Some groups tell children to either keep their hands in their pockets or where the hand can be seen at all times. Both are to prevent the idea that the person is doing something wrong such as shoplifting or have a weapon in their hands. It seems to be regional as to what is taught. We were taught to keep our hands in our pockets and do not touch anything. I still find myself years later when in a store keeping my hands in my pockets if I have pockets.

Grooms (and their attendants) don't walk up the aisle so it must have been after the ceremony. Yes, the groom should have had his arm through the brides.

I attended an outdoor wedding n December and the groom had his hands in his pockets throughout the whole ceremony. It was quite bewildering.!!

I wonder, don't know but wonder if it could be a fashion statement. Don't we sometimes see male models with their hand in their pocket?

I think if you're traditional or formal enough to wear a suit to your wedding, you should instinctively know to not put your hands in your pockets -- it ruins the line of the suit. That's *my* opinion and I'll stick to it. So please mind your manners the whole ten minutes of your life this impacts, lol!

Maiflueur, my parents were both from Wisconsin and they (mom especially) insisted we keep our hands out of our pockets so no one would think we were trying to steal. All these years and you're the first one to say you were taught opposite, for the same reason. Funny how customs vary.

Just to cause you more envy, 1929Spanish, when I was walking around, I was chewing gum at the same time! Try that!

Elmer, now you’re just being a show-off!😂😂😂

Speaking of customs regarding hands - in Mexico one must keep both hands above the table when eating with friends or strangers, to prove that one is not hiding a gun. That is the traditional reason, but the custom has persisted. Of course in the U.S., one is taught to keep one hand below the table, unless that hand is being used to hold a knife or fork while cutting something.

By the way, I do not use the fork in my left hand to eat after cutting something - I put my knife down and pick up my fork in my right hand. I am never in such a hurry to eat that I cannot change the hand that my fork is in.

I like having pockets, but I do not like using them, unless I have to. When I make pants for myself, I never put hip pockets in them, since I never use them. If I have stuff to carry, I carry it in a shoulder bag. I do not like to see things bulging in pockets.

If someone else is walking with his hands in his pockets, I just think that he is awkward - not necessarily that he is uncomfortable. I would not do it myself unless I was cold, and if I were cold, I would tend to wear gloves.

You gotta flaunt what you got and what you can do.

Reasons:

1) Awkward or uncomfortable

2) Cold

3) Attempting to obscure an erection

perhaps he was trying to hold his pants up

I'll agree that walking with hands in pants pockets can be awkward at an "event" or when people are known to be looking at you (as when in front of a group), but less so when just standing.

I'm not sure about John's #3 but for when standing still, I'd substitute - it's a place to put your hands. Having spent some time in the military, I might be more likely to put hold them behind me (as with "At ease") but everyone is different.

<perhaps he was trying to hold his pants up>

That's why tuxedos have suspenders.

^ I never knew that! LOL the things you learn on the internet!

This post has turned hilarious! Thanks to everyone who posted their thoughts.

"I never knew that!"

I'm not sure you've gained an insight. Most tuxedos worn are rented. Suspenders can help accommodate the approximation of the fit. Though I do think some trousers come with adjustable waistbands.

I think suspenders are worn as a traditional accessory for the formal suit, as too a cummerbund.

I had a custom-made tuxedo at one time in my life (because I needed to wear one fairly regularly) and I expressly never wore suspenders because I dislike them. The pants fit properly and stayed up without them. Maybe that was gauche of me, I don't know.

I usually kept the jacket on so it wasn't something anyone could know or not know. I always wore a cummerbund

OK...now that it is out there, check out ads on TV and printed. See what those guys are doing.

A CLARIFICATION;

The bride had her arm crooked through his elbow, they were together. However, he had both hands in his pockets.

Dad was a Marine; the Marine drill is no hands in pockets. And he drilled it into us kids.

When you think about it, it really is all about self defense. The obvious in the military. But also for civilians. If you walk around with your hands in your pockets and trip over something, you are going to fall flat on your face. Because hands in pockets delays the reflexive action of using your hands/ arms to break a fall. Especially important living in ice & snow country. I don't carry a purse; just a small clutch that will fit in my coat pocket or tucked into my waistband.

Jim_1 - that had to look like she was clinging to him instead of him showing his care for her by giving her his arm to escort her down the aisle.

You all are a hoot😄

Seems to me it may have been sheer ignorance/naivete on his part. I can relate because when I was young, I recall an older person admonishing me about standing with my hands in my pockets. It looks loutish and awkward in a formal setting, but I thought I was being cool because I'd seen fashion models and pop stars doing it in magazines. My parents never mentioned such a thing.

Times and fashions change. I think some ways and attitudes are disappearing and only us old geezers may remember such etiquette after awhile.

To me, and I’m not a strict conservative type, in that situation, it would bother me. Hanging around casually? Who cares?

Something about the ceremony you’ve just been through together. The body language seems to suggest not feeling joy, which I would wish for any couple. Happily walking together hand in hand is always nice.

Elmer, I had never in my life given even a moment's thought to the process of a man dressing in a fancy suit, and now I have. That's funny! And that's plenty!

Jim, I don't see that many ads, but I can imagine the man multiple ways. Perhaps he's happy go lucky, maybe even whistling a happy tune with his bride by his side! Or maybe he's a lout, being semi-discretely pulled along by her. Or maybe he's a self-absorbed narcissist, not even concerned with who's on his arm. Or maybe ... well that's enough from me, too ;-)

When working, it was not uncommon for a man to have his hands in his pockets during presentations or when talking to groups. If you listened, you could usually hear keys or change being jingled. I've always thought of it as a nervous quality. So in this case, I would think the young man was nervous at his wedding and was jingling change.

Lars, I can't believe you called them suspenders! The proper name for this piece of menswear is "braces." BTW, if you tell a Brit that he is wearing 'suspenders," you will get a funny look, because that is their term for garter belt. I know this from working in the menswear industry. As a snooty colleague once told me, "People who call them "{suspenders" wear the clip-on kind."

Nicole, your mention of pocket pool reminded me of a Johnny Carson line about how his parents were so poor that all he'd get for for Christmas was a pair of pants. But they'd cut out the pockets so he'd have something to play with.

Wedding gifts:

— Some of those adhesive hook and loop (Velcro) fasteners for his pockets

or

— Cargo pants

I keep my hands in my pockets when out in public because of tremors due to Parkinson's. I believe it might be less distracting to others than seeing me with my hands flapping in the wind. I have very noticeable tremors.

sometimes its a medical problem, or tremors as caflowerluver said. Maybe his hands are cold or disfigured. There is a reason for everything.

Ignorance or emotional discomfort are the only reasons I find likely for a groom to escort his bride from the altar with his hands in his pockets. Who knows whether he was uncomfortable about the marriage or ill at ease being the object of attention?

I remember the DH of a friend asking a hands-in-pockets younger man if his parents couldn't afford to buy him toys when he was a child. The same guy reacted to an overboard PDA by loudly wise-cracking, "Get a room."

Now can we scold women for posing for photos with one hand on a hip? It looks affected and silly. What's that meant to convey, anyway?

Just have to share this pocket story. Years ago I produced children’s community theatre. During rehearsals we had one young boy who would always have his hands in his pockets. I asked his Mom if I could sew his pockets shut. She was all for it! You should have seen him up on stage trying to figure out what happened to his pockets! What a fun memory.

jupidupi, They are commonly called suspenders in this country, at least where I have lived in Texas and California. What they are called may vary regionally, but I have never called them braces and never will. I have pants that are not tuxedo pants that still have buttons for the suspenders.

Eh, these are two words for the same thing. While "braces" is what's most commonly used in Britain, I think many Americans recognize many common British terms that differ, just as they do ours. Too many familiar examples to mention.

I was expecting to see something about groping!

If you walk with you hands in your pockets you are not prepared to defend yourself against anything from losing your footing to an oncoming object hurling towards you. It makes me feel vulnerable to not have my hands and arms at my service

I think that there are many males who just can't let it be seen that they feel anything at all about anyone or anything. For some it seems to be a signal that they are just too confident to worry or care.

Interesting body language with the hands. Interpretations depend on the position of the thumb and other fingers.

https://scienceofbodylanguage.com/blog/body-language-and-hands-in-pockets/