Engagement Gifts
by Sara
We receive numerous questions about proper wedding etiquette, and none seem to be so common and cause as much anxiety as “am I supposed to bring a present to the engagement party?” And people are confused for a reason: sometimes it’s yes, sometimes it’s no.
General wedding etiquette dictates it is unnecessary to bring a gift to engagement parties. There are numerous reasons and explanations, but most often it’s due to the long line of gift-giving events in the future. However, if you feel especially close to the newly engaged couple, know you cannot attend any future celebration, or simply wish to go above-and-beyond, then a small gift is acceptable. It is now a common practice to actually specify on the invitation if no gifts are to be given – when in doubt, obey the invite!
If you do decide to arrive baring gifts, keep in mind that the party is simply to celebrate the engagement, and the gift should reflect that. Search for small items useful in the planning process (a cute binder, calendar, or humorous wedding planning guide), monogrammed home decor or utensils they can use in their new life together, or simply a congratulatory card. One of the better gifts I’ve seen were two wine glasses painted with engagement rings and other pre-wedding images to use during their engagement period. Something fun, festive, and very pocketbook friendly – it should never be overwhelmingly expensive!