Engagement Party Gift?

[Hidden_Mickey]

What is the latest & greatest etiquette on this? I would think that it is not a gift grab, but a party to meet the family and celebrate the engagement, right? So, I asked the bride's mom what kind of gift they were expecting and she kind of danced around it, and didn't really give me a direct answer. I know I will be invited to the shower & the wedding, which will require new clothes for some of our family members. I expect to lay out some cash. But for this party? I'd like to keep it simple and inexpensive... I'm thinking about giving a wedding scrapbook/journal. What do you think?

 

[MJMouse]

My future sister-in-law threw my fiance and me an engagement party last fall. We did not expect gifts, but did receive a few.

Our parents gave us toasting glasses and a cake server set. Other gifts that I remember were a bottle of wine with a note to take time for each other in the midst of planning, a willow tree figurine of a bride and groom dancing, a book (Five Love Languages) that was helpful for some friends, and a picture frame.

None were extremely expensive, but all were thoughtful and kind. We simply appreciated that friends and family wanted to share in our excitement and joy.

 

[diznygirl]

No gifts required for an engagement party. It's just a get-together. Parents might get them something, but guests aren't expected to bring a gift.

 

[We_Love_Disney]

I like the scrapbook idea. You could also give a card to the couple, welcoming them to the family. Gifts for an engagement are completely unnecessary, especially in this day.

 

[pigletgirl]

We didn't have gifts for the engagement party. We just got cards and that was great with us!

 

[AKL_Megs]

My "go-to" engagement party gift is either a bottle of wine with the year of the wedding, example, "2010", with a note that tells the couple to save it and enjoy it on their 5th anniversary.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I've never been to an engagement party and not brought a gift. The amount I spend differs depending on how close we are with the couple. I've gotten toasting flutes (after I've cleared it with the bride), pictures frames, candlesticks, cake serving set (again, after I've cleared it with the bride) and things like that. I only purchase things that could be used during the wedding if I am personally close with the bride, otherwise I go with something more generic like a picture frame. I usually spend $50 - $100 but all of the those items can be purchased for much less in the $10 - $25 range.

Macy's and I'm sure whatever is your local department store that carries Lenox always runs sales for the wedding items. I just purchased beautiful toasting flutes for my friend from Bed, Bath, and Beyond with a 20% off coupon.

I would check with the bride about the scrapbook because she could have already purchased one or know that someone like her mom is getting her one.

When money is tight I think a pretty picture frame for an engagement or wedding photo is very nice and frames are also frequently on sale. Put that in a silver gift bag with some tissue paper and you can have a very nice gift for $20 or under.

 

[bethy]

I would never got to any event of any kind that someone is hosting and arrive empty-handed. For most events I bring a hostess gift. But for a party like a shower, birthday or an engagement i instead bring a gift for person who is being honored.

 

[lpereira]

I'd take a token gift to any event I'm invited to. I might drop $100 or more on a wedding gift but for an engagement party I'll get something useful in the $10-$15 dollar range. I send regrets for any invitation to someone's wedding I don't feel I know well enough to spend $100 on.
A girl I worked with was having her third marriage at age 25. THIRD. She sent me an wedding invitation, I sent my regrets. She sent me a Bridal Shower invitation, I sent my regrets. When she sent me an engagement party invitation that included the notation to bring 1 bottle of a specific wine and specific alcohol for use at her wedding reception- I almost lost my cool. Then she called me and asked if I'd cover a shift at work so other people could attend her parties. I declined. >< This close to telling her what I felt about it.
Oops, thread hijacking.

Take a token and if you are financially strapped a card with your top 5 marriage tips will do just fine!

 

[JoiseyMom]

I'd take a token gift to any event I'm invited to. I might drop $100 or more on a wedding gift but for an engagement party I'll get something useful in the $10-$15 dollar range. I send regrets for any invitation to someone's wedding I don't feel I know well enough to spend $100 on.
A girl I worked with was having her third marriage at age 25. THIRD. She sent me an wedding invitation, I sent my regrets. She sent me a Bridal Shower invitation, I sent my regrets. When she sent me an engagement party invitation that included the notation to bring 1 bottle of a specific wine and specific alcohol for use at her wedding reception- I almost lost my cool. Then she called me and asked if I'd cover a shift at work so other people could attend her parties. I declined. >< This close to telling her what I felt about it.
Oops, thread hijacking.

Take a token and if you are financially strapped a card with your top 5 marriage tips will do just fine!

OMG!! LOL...I have to ask, was that the order you received the invitations?? Did you get wedding first, then shower then engagment?? If so, why? I mean the usual order is engagment, shower, wedding...

 

[christineann]

lpereira, wow. That's unbelievable!

My son and his fiancee were given an engagement party that included close friends and family. I gave them a set of monogrammed wine glasses with the date he proposed. Some gifts they received include a set of steak knives, a wine set (corkscrew, wine stopper, etc.), picture frames and a restaurant gift certificate.

Not everyone brought a gift, and gifts were not expected.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

Thanks everyone. I checked the latest bridal sites and they agreed a gift is not necessary, but I bought the scrapbook anyway, since it was only $15. The bride's mom said she didn't have one yet. I would feel weird not bringing anything.