Giant Ceremonial Scissors: The Complete Buyer's Guide to Sizes, Gold vs. Chrome, and How to Choose

Giant ceremonial scissors are the centerpiece of every great ribbon cutting, and choosing the right pair is easier than most planners think. At Golden Openings we invented this category, and we have shipped oversized scissors to grand openings of every size, from a corner bakery to a stadium. This guide covers the sizes, the finishes, the price tiers, and exactly how to pick a pair that fits your event and photographs well.

If you are planning a grand opening, the scissors are the prop everyone sees in the photo. Get the size and color right and the picture sells itself.

Why the Scissors Matter at a Ribbon Cutting

A ribbon cutting is a ritual that marks a beginning, the same way an opening ceremony has for generations. The oversized scissors are deliberately theatrical. They are too big to be practical, and that is the point. They turn a simple cut into a moment, and they give the press and the social feed a clear, joyful image.

Regular office scissors disappear in a photo. Big scissors for ribbon cutting fill the frame, draw every eye to the people holding them, and make the ceremony feel like the event it is. That is why we built our business around them.

The Sizes: From 12 Inches to 40 Inches

Size is the first decision, and it should match the scale of your event and how many people hold the scissors. Real ceremonial scissors actually cut, so larger sizes also span a wider ribbon. Here is how the common sizes stack up.

Size	Best For	People Holding	Notes
12 inch	Small shops, indoor events	1 to 2	Compact, easy to ship and store
15 inch	Most grand openings	1 to 3	Our most popular all-purpose size
20 inch	Larger crowds, outdoor	2 to 4	Strong photo presence
3 foot (36 inch)	Big public events	3 to 5	Real showpiece, needs two-hand grip
40 inch	Headline events, records	4 to 6	The largest, maximum spectacle

For most businesses, the 15-inch pair is the sweet spot. It is large enough to look ceremonial, light enough for one person, and it cuts a standard ceremonial ribbon cleanly. Our 15-inch gold-plated ceremonial scissors are the pair we recommend more than any other.

When you want jaws to drop, step up. The truly massive pairs make headlines, and our largest ceremonial scissors in the world at 40 inches are built for the events where the scissors themselves are part of the story.

Gold vs. Chrome vs. Colored Handles

After size, color is the choice that shapes your photos. The three main options each send a different message.

Gold scissors read as celebration, prestige, and tradition. Gold scissors are the classic ribbon-cutting look, and gold-plated blades pop against a red ribbon in every photo. If you want the timeless grand-opening image, choose gold.

Chrome scissors look modern, clean, and corporate. They suit tech companies, medical facilities, and any brand with a sleek, contemporary identity. Chrome also pairs well with cooler ribbon colors.

Colored-handle scissors let you match your brand. We can supply handles in colors that align with a logo or a team, which works beautifully when the brand color is the whole point of the day.

A quick way to decide:

• Want the classic celebratory look? Choose gold

• Want a modern, corporate feel? Choose chrome

• Want to match brand colors exactly? Choose colored handles

Browse the full range in our giant scissors collection to see each finish.

How to Choose by Event Size

Match the scissors to the moment. A few practical rules from years of grand openings:

For a small indoor opening with a handful of guests, a 12 or 15 inch pair keeps things in proportion and is easy to pass around. Anything larger can look comical in a tight space.

For a typical retail or office grand opening with a crowd and a photographer, the 15 or 20 inch gold pair is the reliable choice. It reads well at a distance and in close-up.

For a major public event, a stadium, a hospital wing, or anything with media coverage, go to the 3 foot or 40 inch scissors. Big events need a prop that matches the scale of the announcement, and oversized scissors deliver that instantly.

If multiple dignitaries will cut together, size up so several pairs of hands fit on the handles. Photos of four people gripping one giant pair of scissors are some of the most shared ribbon-cutting images we see.

How to Use Giant Scissors in the Ceremony

The cut itself is short, so the staging around it matters. We recommend this simple sequence:

1. Hang the ribbon taut at chest height across the entrance using a ceremonial ribbon and ribbon holders or stanchions

2. Line up the key people behind the ribbon, with the honoree center

3. Place the scissors in the honoree's hands and let everyone get a grip if it is a group cut

4. Pause for the photographer, count down out loud, then cut

5. Hold the pose for a few seconds so cameras catch the moment

A clean backdrop helps. A grand opening banner behind the ribbon gives your photos branding and context, so the image works as marketing long after the day ends. For more on the ritual itself, the general ceremony entry at Wikipedia is a useful primer.

One practical tip: ceremonial scissors are large and sharp enough to cut ribbon, so an adult should handle the actual cut. Hand them over carefully and keep the blades pointed away from the crowd.

Economy vs. Premium: What You Actually Get

Not every event needs the top tier, and we make pairs at several price points. The difference comes down to plating, weight, and finish quality.

Tier	Construction	Best For
Economy	Lighter build, basic plating	One-time events, tight budgets, novelty giant scissors
Mid-range	Solid feel, durable gold or chrome plating	Most grand openings, repeat use
Premium	Heavy, polished, display-grade finish	Headline events, keepsakes, frequent reuse

If you will use the scissors once, an economy or novelty pair gets the photo done. If your organization opens locations regularly or wants to keep the scissors as a memento, invest in a mid-range or premium pair that holds up and looks the part every time.

Customization Options

Personalization turns the scissors into a keepsake. We can engrave blades or handles with a company name, a date, or a logo, which is popular for franchise openings and corporate milestones. Engraved ceremonial scissors often end up displayed in a lobby long after the ribbon is cut.

Other ways to make the pair your own:

• Match handle colors to your brand palette

• Add an engraved date and location for a commemorative record

• Order a matched set so several executives can cut at once

• Pair the scissors with branded ribbon and a banner for a coordinated look

If you want large ceremonial scissors that double as a lasting display piece, customization is the small upgrade that makes the biggest difference.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After staging so many ceremonies, we see the same avoidable slip-ups. The most common is choosing scissors that are too small for the crowd. A 12-inch pair that looks fine in your hand vanishes in a wide photo of twenty people, so when in doubt, size up rather than down.

Another frequent error is forgetting the ribbon and the holders. The scissors are only half the picture; without a taut ribbon at the right height, the cut looks awkward and the photo loses its focal point. Plan the full setup, not just the scissors.

A few more pitfalls worth dodging:

• Hanging the ribbon too high or too low, which forces an uncomfortable reach

• Skipping a rehearsal of the count-down and cut, so the timing looks ragged

• Letting a child make the actual cut with sharp, oversized blades

• Forgetting a clean, branded backdrop, which leaves photos looking generic

• Ordering a single pair when several dignitaries expect to cut together

None of these are hard to fix, and a five-minute walkthrough before guests arrive prevents almost all of them.

Caring for and Reusing Your Scissors

If you bought a mid-range or premium pair, you will likely use them again, so a little care keeps them photo-ready. Wipe the plated blades with a soft, dry cloth after each event to remove fingerprints, and store the scissors in their box or a soft sleeve to avoid scratches. Avoid abrasive cleaners, which can dull gold and chrome plating over time.

Organizations that open locations regularly often treat a premium pair as a standing asset. The same engraved scissors appear at every grand opening, building a small tradition and a consistent look across a brand's photos. That reuse is also where premium plating earns its cost, since it holds its shine across dozens of events.

For a keepsake pair, a wall mount or display case in the lobby keeps the scissors visible and protected between uses. Mounted alongside a photo from opening day, they become part of the location's story rather than an item gathering dust in a supply closet.

Putting It Together

Start with size based on your crowd and how many people will cut, choose gold for the classic look or chrome for a modern brand, and decide whether this is a one-time prop or a keepsake worth personalizing. Pair the scissors with a taut ceremonial ribbon and a branded banner, and your ribbon cutting will look polished in every photo.

When you are ready to choose, our team has staged thousands of these ceremonies and can help you match the right pair to your event in a single conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size ceremonial scissors should I get?

For most grand openings, a 15-inch pair is the best all-purpose size. Step up to 20 inch, 3 foot, or 40 inch for larger crowds, outdoor events, or media coverage.

Do giant ceremonial scissors actually cut ribbon?

Yes. Our oversized scissors are functional and will cut a standard ceremonial ribbon cleanly, which is why an adult should handle the actual cut.

Should I choose gold or chrome scissors?

Gold scissors give the classic, celebratory ribbon-cutting look and pop against a red ribbon. Chrome scissors suit modern, corporate brands and cooler color schemes.

How many people can hold one pair of giant scissors?

It depends on size. A 15-inch pair fits one to three hands, while a 3-foot or 40-inch pair can accommodate four to six people for a group cut.

Can I personalize ceremonial scissors?

Yes. We can engrave a company name, date, or logo and match handle colors to your brand, which turns the scissors into a keepsake for lobby display.

What else do I need for a ribbon cutting besides scissors?

You will want a ceremonial ribbon, ribbon holders or stanchions to hold it taut, and ideally a branded banner behind the cut for better photos.