Engagement Party Gift Suggestion

[Bearvet]

The DS of very close friends of ours has just gotten engaged - this is the first child to get married in our group of friends! His mother (my best friend) is having an engagement party for them - this is to celebrate and share this happy event, not looking for gifts. I would like to get something for them for the party (his godmother is getting them toasting flutes for the ceremony) but not sure what is appropriate. Obviously showers will be held closer to the wedding date (Summer '07), so it's not shower gift items.

Any ideas? I thought about a nice planning guide/book, but not sure she's the planning type (like I am and my friend is!), but it might be nice to have. I'd appreciate any suggestions! Thanks!

 

[goodeats]

We got a variety of things at our engagement party, most were small 'token' gifts. For instance a set of coasters, a small picnic tool-kit, etc. All were appreciated, of course. I did get a lovely chip/dip set that I really like, even if I never would have registered for. My MIL got toasting flutes, that I hated, but were kind of stuck using. What can you do, though?

I'd recommend getting something from Crate and Barrel or somewhere else with liberal return policies just in case.

 

[RUDisney]

You can get them a guest book with a plumed pen for their wedding day.

Or, you can get them a nice bottle of champagne for them to store and enjoy on their wedding night/in the limo after the ceremony/or after their honeymoon, when they return to their new house.

Or, you can see about getting them a gift certificate to www.familylabels.com so they can buy caricature return address labels when they have a permanent place to call home.

 

[Jennifer S]

Just subscribing. My sister's engagment party is in July.

 

[Binkrin]

A gift my Best Friend got that I really liked was a 3 piece photo album that my friend got at Linens and Things. There are 3 photo albums: 1 for the engagement photos, 1 for wedding photos and 1 for honeymoon photos. They were all held together by a box that they slipped into. Very cute and quite practical...

 

[princesspumpkin]

I thought that gifts weren't expected at engagement parties I just attended my BIL's and came empty handed. Oh, I wish that I had seen this thread earlier. And i actually did a search on the Dis for engagement party gifts.

 

[aunt kelly]

I think a bottle of wine always makes a nice gift, especially at an occasion where others will not be bringing gifts.

 

[WDWFAN9]

I gave my DD and my now DSIL Mickey and Minnie bride and groom ears.

 

[clh2]

I think a bottle of wine always makes a nice gift, especially at an occasion where others will not be bringing gifts.

I totally agree with this. Maybe a nice corkscrew too!

 

[lila]

I would like to get something for them for the party (his godmother is getting them toasting flutes for the ceremony) but not sure what is appropriate.

You could get an engraved cake serving set for them to use at the wedding. Here are some examples.

In general, regarding engagement gifts, if you haven't given them in the past, I don't think you should worry about it. According to Peggy Post:

p567, 17th edition
Traditionally, gifts for the coupe are not brought to the engagement party. However, sometimes close relatives and friends do bring gifts, and in various locales it has become customary that most (even all) guests want to and do give the couple something.

In general, I always give a gift when attending an engagement party, which is standard in my area. For every engagement party I have been to (even if the wedding over a year away), the couple already had a registry. If they are not registered yet, I would suggest a check or a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

 

[figment52]

A gift my Best Friend got that I really liked was a 3 piece photo album that my friend got at Linens and Things. There are 3 photo albums: 1 for the engagement photos, 1 for wedding photos and 1 for honeymoon photos. They were all held together by a box that they slipped into. Very cute and quite practical...

How cool is that