Engagement gifts

[DAISYDUCKRN]

Just found out today that my cousin's daughter recently got engaged. There will be an engagement party. What is an appropriate gift theses days (i have been married 25 years and don't remember getting gifts from family) would like to give a gift but not sure what thanks

 

[englishteacha]

Maybe something they could use for the wedding? I didn't have an engagement party, and I didn't know that one gave gifts at one.

 

[Lisa11130]

My Daughter had an engagement party and we had about 50-55 guests. One 2 couples brought gifts, though a lot bought cards with well wishes. Her engagement party was more of letting both families get to know one another, not like a Bridal Shower. Several of her friends have also had engagement parties and she said very few people brought gifts, it was just more of a nice get-together.
Lisa in Indiana

 

[Derby4me]

I'm young and somewhat newly married (6 years) and I think that a nice card with some sort of a giftcard for dinner is a very nice thing. Planning a wedding is such an operation but the real focus should be the marriage. Your gift would give them the opportunity to take a step back from the craziness and reconnect.

 

[littlelulu33]

We gave my neice a piggy bank...I found a ceramic store and had one painted. Half the pig said Wedding fund and the other half said Honeymoon fund with their names and wedding date. I also put in a little $$ to get them started. They really thought it was a great idea and asked where they could get them done for other parties that they had coming up for friends of theirs.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

I received a couple random wedding planning books. You can get some for relatively cheap, especially on ebay. A subscription to a wedding planning magazine would be nice, too! Planning is tough work!

Then again, just a card would be great also ... I don't think I would typically expect gifts at an engagement party - I just lucked out!

 

[Keira1387]

At my engagement party we were given gift cards for restaraunts and a few crystal gifts(bowl and glasses for wedding toast). As pp said you are not required to bring a gift, but they were very much appreciated.

 

[Justsyd2]

There's no need to bring or send a gift for an engagement party. It's more of an announcement and celebration. If you want to bring something, a card always works.

 

[DVCBELLE]

I got married back before computer's were so widely used and my mom always gave to my friend's a bride box to keep her addresses and gift records in.

But since all that seems on computer now - what about a wedding scrapbook for her to start saving all her pre-wedding memories. Other ideas are toasting glasses, a bottle of champagne, cake cutter set or guest book.

From the article below - I like the idea of a wedding countdown clock - that would be fun and unique!

Found this article online with etiquette and ideas:

When a couple makes the big decision to wed, an engagement party is often given in their honor. While etiquette doesn't require you to bring a gift to the party, you may choose to share in the soon-to-be-wed couple's joy by honoring the occasion with an engagement gift. Even if no formal celebration is held before the big day, you might enjoy taking this opportunity to give the couple something practical, fun, or perhaps even sentimental.
A great engagement gift can be something useful for the home, such as a high-tech wine bottle opener, luxuriously scented candles, or a subscription to a gourmet cooking magazine. Alternatively, you could choose a gift in keeping with the celebratory spirit of the occasion, such as a bottle of champagne, a boxed set of romantic music, or a gift basket filled with relaxing spa goodies for their honeymoon. You could also give something to help the happy couple prepare for their big day, such as a wedding planner journal, wedding survival kit or even a wedding countdown clock. If you're very close to the couple, you might even give them an item that can be used as part of their wedding celebration, such as a guest book, a personalized cake server, or a framed picture of the happy pair to place on the gift table.

 

[puffkin]

If I was invited to an engagement party I would take a card. I would save the gift giving for the shower (when you can view a registry and see what they need) and the wedding (cash).

In my area, people don't really have engagement parties. If for some reason I would have had one, we would never have expected gifts.