Engagement Gift Ideas

Marking an engagement with a gift is the opportunity to give a unique and personal present to a couple. While for the actual wedding the couple will probably have a defined gift list clearly specifying their desired presents, engagement gifts are a lot less formal and can even be funny or amusing.

It Is The Thought That Counts

Marking an engagement with a gift is truly an occasion where it is the thought that counts! The nearly-weds will soon be receiving wedding presents and gifts that will help them set up their marital home. Therefore there is a much greater opportunity for flexibility to give a more personal and individual engagement gift.

An engagement gift need not be costly. Indeed, many couples just starting home together are likely to prefer that the money is put towards a wedding gift with a practical use. There are plenty of low cost engagement gift ideas that will mark the occasion without costing a lot of money. A bottle of wine or bunch of flowers are easy gifts to buy, but are impersonal and quickly forgotten. There are many other gifts that are unusual and highly personal. These unique gifts are likely to be cherished by the engaged couple because of the thought and care that has gone into finding the perfect gift.

Unique Engagement Gift Ideas

There are many different gift ideas. These can be adapted and varied depending on the relationship with the couple.

Photos

An interesting variation of a framed photograph of the happy couple is to have a photograph printed onto a gift. Digital imaging opens up a whole range of exciting and personal ideas when it comes to gifts. It is possible to have images printed onto mugs, mouse mats, coasters, key fobs and many other small items. Photos can also be printed onto garments such as t-shirts, hats, and aprons.

Perhaps the photograph might be of the couple as children (the respective families will be a rich source of photographs), or maybe doing something amusing for the camera. A fridge magnet with an image of the couple is likely to raise a smile for many years to come.

A Few Words

An interesting story about the couple, be it an amusing tale of how they met or a sentimental story about overcoming adversity, would make a lovely gift. This could be presented on luxury paper and perhaps framed. Many word processing packages make it possible to create different formats and a replica of a newspaper might make a fun gift. This can be illustrated with photographs. Printed and framed, this will make an extremely personal gift, and even if it does end up hanging on the wall of the downstairs cloakroom it will always bring back a fond memory or two!

For someone with a poetic bent, a poem about the couple would certainly be highly unusual. This needn’t be sentimental: a limerick or even rap-style poem would be a contemporary take on a traditional idea. This needn’t be as hard as it sounds, there are websites that will provide easy rhymes.

Gift Hampers

A hamper or gift basket of themed items can include many great engagement gift ideas. An example would be a stress busting hamper. Weddings are a stressful time and a hamper including relaxing bath treats, lavender scented candles, stress relieving herbal teas, and other items will be gratefully received and extremely useful. A variation would be a spa hamper, containing items that the couple could use to pamper themselves prior to the wedding. There are many beauty and personal care products suitable for men as well as women.

Handmade Cards and Scrapbooks

Handmade cards are readily available from craft markets and stores or it is possible to buy the components and make a card. Handmade cards are often miniature works of art and are long treasured.

A scrapbook is a means of recording information and memories. If the couple is having an engagement party, then a nice idea might be to purchase a scrapbook for the couple and encourage the guests to write a few words each. This can be a lovely way of recording the engagement. A variation of this idea would be to present photographs taken of the party in a scrapbook along with anecdotes.

Tips for Buying an Engagement Gift

• Unless the couple has specified otherwise, do not worry about buying a practical gift. The wedding gift list will address the couple’s desires and needs.
• Don’t burden the couple with something inappropriate. A special plant might be lovely now, but if the couple is moving soon, will they be able to take it with them?
• There is no need to spend too much on a gift. While most couples will enjoy and treasure a memento of their engagement, most would also prefer that money was put towards a wedding gift.

It is safe to say that there are no rights or wrongs when it comes to engagement gift ideas. This is a chance to give the engaged couple a gift from the heart and to let a little bit of the giver’s personality shine through.