What to get a couple who already live together, for Engagement Party...?

[SassyMummy]

My bestie has been engaged since sometime around New Years/Christmas, but has decided to have her engagement party in early August - so she can celebrate her first anniversary AND engagement party in one go (they got engaged very early into their relationship).

Anyway, they live together, and their house if pretty much filled up. It's pretty basically furnished though - not much in the way of decorations or anything, but I think that might be how they like it.

Anyway, I have no idea what I could get them. What the hell do you get for people for their engagement party?

I know I could give them money - but I hate giving money. I'm also pretty poor, so what I can spare in cash would look very small and kinda cheap... whereas I usually get things on sale and wrap them really nicely - meaning the present looks like it's worth far more than it actually is...lol.

So does anyone have any ideas? What would YOU get an engaged couple in a similar situation?

They don't have kids either - so I dunno if that helps or not... but yeah, they're childless and she's 21, he's 27 or 28 or something like that.

[PinkBinkie]

It may sound boring.......but what about a nice photo frame or album? You could get a unique photo frame, and it doesn't have to cost too much.

[oleander]

Wine glasses, a nice bottle opener/corkscrew, serving platter, tea pot, candlestick holders.

[catalicious]

I was also going to suggest a photo album, you can get albums at a few places at where you can have the names either engraved ona silver thing tan put on the cover or they are leather and can somehow get burnt into the cover or something for their names and the date I guess.

Other than that I would suggest maybe a nice picture or painting for the wall.... I know they may appear like they like their house plain but my house is plain too and I think people think i like it this way too wen its just I cant afford the extra things...IYKWIM>...

Maybe its the same for them...

[drewid]

I vote for 'nice'. Sure, they live together and are furnished...but people usually buy for function when they're first setting up home. So I would go for 'nice' things like - glassware, vases, photo frames, mirrors, artwork, place settings etc :)

I really enjoyed getting nice things like that for our engagement...it was lovely to have people over and be able to pull out the 'good' glasses and the 'good' place settings instead of the normal every day stuff :)

Good luck!

[di_matt]

this might sound boring but what about some tupperware to start her collection off. There is some reasonable stuff and it does have a lifetime guarantee for them. It's not personal but it is a gift for life:)

[punkbaby]

Maybe something nice for their bathroom like a matching soap holder, lotion cannister and toothbrush holder etc

photo frames never go astray though :)

[HanCh]

Some nice towels with their names sewn into them???? You can usually get this done at embroidery shops........ I have given these as engagement presents a few times now, and everyone always comments on what a good idea it is :thumbsup:

[kirstenriley]

something engraved? a silver something????

[ButterflyMama]

Buy them a lovely frame.. I wish we had gotten more of these, DH and I also lived together before we were married. You can never have enough, plus, they'll need more to put their wedding photos in! :yes:

[InSaneOne]

some of the things you always look for but don't seem to have when setting up your home is:

pictures with nice frames
bathroom set - soapdish, toothbrush holder, etc
you can never have enough towels or sheets
vases big and small
wine glasses
serving platters

you could always do a pantry hamper up for them - get some basic groceries and put it in a nice basket (or maybe do a picnic basket up for them with a nice bottle of wine - just leave out the spoilable foods and inculde a $20 gift voucher to coles or woolies)

my sister gave us a really nice table runner with matching placemats and linen napkins with holders. my gran gave us wine glasses with charms and a cutlery set and my mum gave us a basic white dinner set that matched the table setting my sister gave us

you could always go in with a few friends and do something bigger.

[MammyMammy]

get them a lovely voucher for a lovely afternoon tea at a posh hotel - we got one as a gift for our wedding for the sofitel...it was wonderful!

[MissSparkle]

We had our engagement party when we'd been living together for 2years and had our house all set up.

Someone else suggested it but we love our embroided towels! They were a great gift.

We got WAY too many wine glasses (abour 6 sets of 6...really expensive too) and neither of us drink wine!

[ETsMum]

A wall clock? You can get some nice ones at jewelers on sale sometimes - or if they are into funky stuff, there are some really colourful ones out there at gift shops...

[Elfin]

What about a couple of gold class movie tickets:)

[mama hen]

Have you thought of something nice for the walls?

I had a similar situation and picked up a really nice 2ft wooden mask (Asian Look) for around $20.

Alternatively place mats, vases, bowls - heaps of stores have specials on homeware at the moment.

[missie_mack]

The most used gift we were given was a wine bottle cooler. It fits a bottle of wine, two glasses and the bottle opener or just two bottles. We use it all the time when we go out whether it is just cans of coke or wine etc. We recently bought one for a friend because of this and they thought it was brilliant too......
And you could get varying degrees of quality depending on how much you wanna spend. My mother has a all leather one that set them back about $150 (they seen her coming lol)

[the_original_duchess]

i have friennds who are having their engagement party this weekend in a similar situation. i went out and got a picnic basket, and put chockies, a cheap bottle of wine, and 2 wine glasses in it. you can pick up cheaper baskets than the one i got (got it from myer for $50 on sale)

[SassyMummy]

Thanks everyone!

I've gotten her a present now - it's a really REALLY nice wedding album. I was looking for a some lovely frames, and found a few nice ones, but then I found this album, and I just fell in love.

Considering I'll be also giving gifts for a hens night (do you give gifts then? You do, right?) and the actual wedding, as well as birthdays along the way, I figured it'd do for now...lol.

[Hokey Pokey]

Thanks everyone!

I've gotten her a present now - it's a really REALLY nice wedding album. I was looking for a some lovely frames, and found a few nice ones, but then I found this album, and I just fell in love.

Considering I'll be also giving gifts for a hens night (do you give gifts then? You do, right?) and the actual wedding, as well as birthdays along the way, I figured it'd do for now...lol.

Not sure bout hens night, if you want to go ahead I say! My head bridesmaid organised my hens night and she spoilt me rotten. She payed for a beautiful hotel overlooking the wharf for myself and friends, supplied all the nibbles and drinks, got me a pamper and facial at the roman baths, bought me a lush bathroom and bubble bath set etc and even ran me a bath in the hotel before the night! Supplied the games and prizes and bought DH and I a honeymoon lovers hit! She was a darl!!

[SassyMummy]

Hope my bestie doesn't expect all of that! I can hardly afford to get myself a cheap pair of shoes... let alone pay for something like that! :laughing: