Monday, April 27, 2009

engagement gift question, take 2

A girl I met through one of my friends recently got engaged. I have met the bride a grand total of two times- once at our friend's bridal shower which I hosted, and once at a post-wedding party for my friend and her husband (that's at the Sheva Brachot, for all my Jewish readers), which she hosted. We are not exactly BFF. I have met her fiance a grand total of zero times. Clearly this is a couple that is very near and dear to my heart. She invited me to their engagement party next weekend. Judging by the fact that 1) the invitation was a "secret" one so non-invited guests wouldn't see it and 2) the small amount of invited guests, it looks like she actually wants me there and isn't just sending out an invitation to every single person that she has ever met. Even though I'm not exactly close with the bride, I make it a point to attend functions to which I'm invited unless I have a prior engagement, and am free on the day of their party so I will be attending. My question is, what do you get a couple that you know absolutely nothing about? I know both of their names, where the bride went to college, where she lives now, and that she makes really good cheesecake. And not much else. I know that I don't want to get them a wedding planning book because they most likely will not use it.

16 comments:

  1. Ok a gift for a stranger... Maybe something practial yet fun like monogrammed Tervis tumblers? Or a gift cert for dinner out so they have one less thing to do during wedding planning? Or just a bottle of wine? This is hard. What does your friend think you shoild do?

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  2. do they have a registry? are people opening gifts there or just bringing them?
    i definitely wouldn't spend very much.
    you could go with a silver picture frame, monogrammed, maybe with their wedding date also engraved. anything from simon pierce is nice.
    I definitely wouldn't spend more than $50, though

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  3. Bottle of wine & wine tote (something like the party to go bag), his and her golf towels(if they play golf of course). A pair of monogrammed hand towels for the bath. Something small like that? I also like the gift certificate for dinner out. A bottle of wine would probably be great if all else fails since you don't know much about them. Even a bottle of champagne would work I think?

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  4. I have a go to gift that I personally love. I for some reason love to give wine related gifts. It is a wine cooler at Macy's by Lenox. It is in their Spyro collection. I love it. It is $67.

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  5. Make her a bridal box.

    My sister made me one for my wedding. It had everything someone would need on their wedding day. Mints' gum, safty pins, clear nail polish, bobby pins, deoderant ect. Out it in a cute hat box and call it good.

    It can be very inexpensive but it looks like you cared enough to really think about it.

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  6. I'd get 1) bottle of wine and a fancy wine opener, or 2) a cocktail mixing thingy (Pottery Barn has some nice ones).

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  7. I, go for a nice bottle of wine or champagne. Can't go wrong!

    Another great gift is the Vinturi - it's a wine aerator. You can get one off amazon for $30. :)

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  8. I have run into this before too -- nice to be included but then what on earth to get them! :) A nice bottle of champagne is a GREAT way to go -- fun, celebratory, they'll enjoy it, special, etc.! If they don't drink, you could get her a cookbook on cheesecakes -- maybe find one with unusual varieties, or published by a famous pastry chef, etc. I'd say go w/ the champagne, tho' -- it's always a hit!

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  9. I L.O.V.E. giving nice champagne as an engagement gift. Easy, fun, they'll drink it, the won't buy it for themselves. And let me be clear. I'm not talking Dom, because they they WONT drink it - I'm talking Moet.

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  10. Another vote for a bottle of bubbly! We got a really pretty pair of flutes as an engagement gift. They have some hearts etched on them - lovely.

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  11. I would say a bottle of wine and a monogrammed wine holder? I do like the gift certificate to dinner...also you could get them a monogrammed wine stopper. Also maybe a gift certificate to Macy's or Bloomies?

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  12. Or some monogrammed coasters....that's my last thought! Ha!

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  13. i would do a monogrammed acrylic tray with her new last name, or a bottle of champagne or a personalized notepad for the bride to be

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  14. Do you think you will be invited to the wedding? Typically it is bad ettiquite to invite someone to any wedding related events if they aren't invited to the wedding. If you're not that close, I would probably just get a card.

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  15. Forgot to include a gift idea aside from a card... I usually go to the christian book store and get a workbook for newly engaged couples. It helps them get to know one another better before getting married. Also anything monogrammed would be nice.

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  16. I hate to sound like debbie downer but if they just got engaged I wouldn't go with anything monogrammed. I have had a lot of friends get engaged and then call it off after a few months. This has happened to three of my friends recently. I'd go with a bottle of wine with a pretty bow and leave it at that.

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