Did you get any great engagement gifts?

[idoinjuly]

We are going to my cousin's daughter's engagement ceremony/party tonight.  I want to get here something other than sappy frames or photo albums.  She and her FI are long distance, so restaurant gift cards probably wouldn't be helpful.

Is this a stupid idea?  When we were engaged I had a binder with page protectors that I always had with me.  I had contracts, brochures, and just random wedding planning info.  I was thinking about making her a binder like this and including a wedding magazine and putting it in a cute tote bag or something.

[lime]

We chose not to have an engagement party.

TBH, I know how to put together a notebook, so I wouldn't love that. I would rather have a nice bottle of wine, champagne, a growler of a local microbrew beer or a box of nice chocolates.

ETA - A GC for a mani is a great idea. That I would have definitely loved. 

[lola]

I think it's a good idea, but I also think if she's the type that has a formal engagement party she's probably already got a wedding planner.


ETA - also, I think lime had awesome ideas.

[idoinjuly]

I don't know her FI, so I don't want to get alchohol. In our culture, you either drink, or you don't, and if you don't drink, you judge it.

ETA that that's a really broad statement. lol.  Some people are just weird about alchohol in our culture/religion so I don't want to buy it without knowing him. 

I like the mani gift card idea.

[lime]

Hmm. Well, that tough with the alcohol, then.

The mani GC sounds like a winner. No one can ever have too many of those.

[AmeliaBedelia]

I think it's a great idea, but I received 5 of those binders/planning books at my engagement party, so most of them went to waste. I'd bet that someone else will buy her one, or that she's already gotten/made one for herself.

Someone got me a little silver ring holder/jewelry tray for my nightstand. I thought that was really sweet, and definitely useful.

[Jalapeñomel]

I didn't have an engagement party, and I have never been to an engagement party or given an engagement gift.

[redheadk]

Jun 9, 2013 12:10:22 GMT -5 bricco said:

Bridal mags and gift card for mani/pedi are the best ideas so far.

Also, what about a gift cert to somewhere that makes those "Soon to be Mrs. __________" hoodies/tshirts/etc. or does an etsy gift card exist because that would be amazing.

They do and that was going to be my suggestion. It's pretty much unheard of to not buy at least something for your wedding on etsy these days, lol.

[midnightrae]

I didn't get any engagement gifts, but we also did not have an engagement party. That is a nice idea though. I like it.

[Deleted]

My favorite engagement gift was a huge Vera Wang coffee table book on wedding dresses. I'd skip the binder and go with a spa gift card.

[snickers]

That's really cute!
We got mostly wine & alcohol for engagement gifts (lol).

[eb777888]

I could have really used something like this. I think it's a great gift idea and it's really thoughtful.

[milosh]

We just got money for an engagement gift, it was pretty great!

[Deleted]

i don't remember getting any engagement gifts, so i guess that's a no.

[cheeseandcrackers]

i never got any either to be honest

[RoxMonster]

I have never been to an engagement party, nor did we have one. But I guess my question is: isn't the e-party for the couple? If you get her bridal magazines or a gift card for a manicure, that is only a gift she can use, but not her and her FI. If I went to a party thrown in honor of the couple, rather than just the bride (like a shower), I would want to get something for both of them.

I would personally just write a check if I attended an engagement party.

[coribelle26]

My favorite was a painting of the bridge where we got engaged (from my parents). Purchased, they don't paint, lol.

[Overthemoon]

My ILs got us beautiful champagne toasting flutes. We didn't have a party though.

[jane6672]

We did not get any.