Do It Yourself Gifts
Engagement Party Gift Ideas

"Traditionally, engagement presents are given only by close relatives and intimate friends
upon the announcement of your engagement and are almost always intended especially for the bride. When the engagement party is a small dinner, cocktail party, or luncheon and a guest wants to give a gift, he or she takes it
to the party. If everyone brings a gift, the bride-to-be may open them as part of the festivities. When the party is a large reception or cocktail party, gifts are not generally taken; if they are, they should not be opened during the party, to avoid embarrassing those guests who (correctly) did not bring any. The bride-to-be may decide to give her fiance a small engagement present, such as a pair of cuff links, a watch, or a key chain. These items may be engraved with the date of the engagement."

Now that you know how and when to give an engagement gift, you need to decide on what to give.

When we got engaged, we really didn't expect a gift from anyone. The intention of having our engagement dinner was not to receive gifts, but merely

Skipping the engagement gift sounds great, but as you can see from my site, I love to give gifts! I give them because I want to, not because etiquette says that I should or shouldn't. So, if you're like me, you'll probably want to give them something in celebration of their news.

Take into consideration your relationship to the couple (are you a close relative or a casual acquaintance) and the amount you want to spend, and use the list below for some ideas:

$0-$25 Engagement Party Gift Ideas

• Book(s) on wedding planning
• Engagement christmas ornament
• Gift basket with champagne/wine and truffles
• Stationary or note cards with their married last name or initial--you can even make these on your own computer!
• A letter telling the couple how happy you are for them, why you believe they'll last forever, welcoming one of them to the family...whatever (depending on your relationship to them). They'll cherish something like this, and have it to put in their wedding scrapbook.
• A personalized photo calendar with a picture of the couple for each month of the year (you can make these using most major online photo companies)
• A wedding scrapbook
• Framed photo that you took of the couple (they could use it on their sign in table at the wedding)

$25-$50 Engagement Party Gift Ideas

• Items for their home--brass door knocker with their married last name on it, personalized towels with initials, personalized door mat with last name initial
• Items they'll need for their wedding--engraved cake serving set, champagne flutes, unity candle, cake topper
• Personalized photo album
• Keepsake mantel or desk clock
• Picture frame for their wedding photo
• Crystal keepsake piece--vase, candlesticks, candy dish
• Wedding countdown clock

$50-$100 Engagement Party Gift Ideas

• Gift certificate to a photo studio to have their engagement photos taken.
• Gift certificate to a restaurant or spa
• A piece of luggage to take on their honeymoon

$100+ Engagement Party Gift Ideas

• Gift certificate for professional dance lessons
• Subscription to a Fruit, Beer, or Wine of the Month Club
• Gift certificate to a local bed and breakfast
• Piece of furniture for their house

Most people will not spend $100 on an engagement gift, but if a group of people go together, a gift from the $100+ list may be appropriate.

Gift Ideas for the Future Groom to Give his Future Bride

• A poem or letter on nice paper to keep in your wedding book
• Jewelry box with an engraved plate inside (a store like Things Remembered will engrave sayings on a plate for you to stick inside).
• Jewelry--necklace, earrings, bracelet, or a pin. Pearls are always a good choice so that she can wear them on your wedding day.

Gift Ideas for the Future Bride to Give her Future Groom

• A poem or letter on nice paper to keep in your wedding book
• Jewelry box with an engraved plate inside
• Jewelry--watch (wrist or pocket), cuff links, tie tac or clip, necklace, ring, bracelet
• Money clip
• Engraved flask
• Nice pocket knife
• Engraved desk clock

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