<p>Here’s the story. My oldest son just got engaged and we are planning an engagement party for the happy couple. It will be a somewhat small party of mostly family. About 30 people.</p>
<p>Already, I am being asked for gift suggestions and I find myself clueless. I’m hoping that the older and wiser folks on CC who have been down this road before me will have some advice and suggestions for me. </p>
<p>I don’t know if this background helps any, but in case it does, here goes:
Her parents live in another country and will only arrive in time for the wedding. We are putting on the wedding. They are both currently in school (she will finish her undergrad degree in Dec and he will finish his grad degree in May) and plan to marry in July. Neither currently lives alone (son is at home and she is living with a family). </p>
<p>Of course, they will need a bazillion things to set up a home, but I just don’t know where to start. Neither do they. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!! I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.</p>
<p>Hmmm…it almost sounds like you are planning more of a shower than an engagement party. Where I am, an engagement party gift would be a very small token for the couple…perhaps something they can use during their engagement to help plan for their wedding. It would not be a household item or similar gift that would typically be given at a shower or for a wedding gift.</p>
<p>We have given small gift certificates to restaurants, a bottle of wine, music CDs (for those we knew liked certain music)…things like that.</p>
<p>And a very nice card wishing the couple well.</p>
<p>I am sure there will be showers for home-type stuff, how about a wedding planning and organizing kit? Wish I had one way back when - there are so many options out there, and I am sure the bride-to-be will also have the challenge of travel/accomodations for the out of country guests. Just a thought…</p>
<p>Looks like thumper was quicker than me lol!!!</p>
<p>I was thinking that household items would not be the right thing for now. I am expecting that there will be a bridal shower closer to the wedding. A small token sounds right to me, but the grandparents are looking to do something more elaborate. My mom would rather do a gift rather than just money (as money sometimes just sorta gets spent without going towards something specific). </p>
<p>I can’t remember if I received any gifts at my engagement party, so I’m at a loss. </p>
<p>A wedding planning kit is an interesting idea. I’m completely unfamiliar with that. </p>
<p>My favorite: a vase (in the couple’s style which can be anything from a Pottery Barn/Crante and Barrel cylinder to something more elaborate) filled with flowers. Beautiful for the evening and for the future.</p>
<p>This is a great time for books from wedding planning to happy marriage books. At our son’s engagement party we had paper and pens available and asked everyone to write something funny, cute, serious…whatever about happy marriages. I then put them in a scrapbook for them to have. But besides that, or a bottle of wine, it is not the time for presents.</p>
<p>I usually give candlesticks as an engagement gift, Nothing too elaborate depending on the couples’ style. I always think you can’t have too many candleholders.</p>
<p>Ask them to register at Crate and Barrel (or another store of choice) for basic household items in a range of prices. Tell anyone who asks about gifts, both for the wedding and the engagement party, that they are registered. Some guests do prefer to buy a gift from a registry, while others may want to choose something else or give money. I recently attended a shower and picked up a gift at Crate and Barrel - I was impressed at all of the practical and great looking items this couple now has for their new home.</p>
<p>If the grandparents want to do something bigger, how about a really nice bottle of champagne for the first wedding toast? Maybe a couple of champagne flutes with it? That would be appropriate for the occasion but still make a statement.</p>
<p>I love the idea of a beautiful vase with flowers in it for the couple to have. How about some champagne with two champagne flutes too. And maybe a nice box of special chocolates, and some nice cheese and a cheese board. Nothing overly lavish but nice and would look nice at the party, and be mementos for the couple too.</p>
<p>My family is planning an engagement party for me at the moment. I am hoping I don’t get too many household kind of things, because our wedding is not for a while yet and I have no idea what I’d do with them in the meantime. Maybe this is a regional thing, but around here people typically do not anticipate gifts for an engagement party, that’s normally reserved for the shower-- a few people might bring a trinket or two but nothing major. I like the idea of consumables and wedding planning/marriage books! We are reading everything we can get our hands on.</p>
<p>A mom I know gave the girl her son proposed to the Waterford ring holder. I thought it was a sweet gesture to the bride to be from the groom’s parents. Very personal.</p>
<p>Ever since I heard that idea, I decided to tuck it away for future reference. I can only hope S will someday get engaged…:)</p>
<p>I also 2nd the idea of wedding planning books, maybe a wedding magazine “gift wrapped and a subscription”, or a travel guide for honeymoon planning.</p>