About Engagement Gifts
Engagement gifts are a thoughtful way of congratulating a newly engaged couple and wishing them happiness and success in their life together. Much less common and extravagant than wedding gifts, engagement gifts are usually only given by close relatives of the couple and are often practical items that can be used to prepare for the upcoming wedding.
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Considerations
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Engagement gifts are in no way mandatory and couples should not expect to receive them, even if an engagement party is being thrown for them. Traditionally engagement gifts were only given by very close family like parents or siblings, and between the bride and groom for each other. When an engagement party is thrown or if engagement announcements are sent out, friends and relatives may choose to give a gift to congratulate the couple, but again, one should not be expected.
Time Frame
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Most engagement gifts are given to the couple either directly following their engagement or at an engagement party thrown in their honor. If a newly engaged couple does not send out engagement announcements or have an engagement party, engagement gifts will usually come from parents and close family aware of the upcoming nuptials. When couples send out engagement announcements they normally send them to all of the friends and family they intend to invite to the wedding, and some of these guests will send engagement gifts to congratulate the couple. If an engagement party is given in honor of the couple it will normally occur within a month or two of the actual engagement, and many guests to the party will bring engagement gifts for the future bride and groom.
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Features
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When it comes to engagement gifts, most people opt for something that will be useful to the engaged couple as they plan their wedding and new life together. Typical engagement gifts will be something of use to both the bride and groom and will help the couple celebrate their new life together and have a memorable and joyous wedding. Engagement gifts usually include items like wedding planning guides and references, money for wedding components like flowers, photography, or music for the reception, wedding necessities like a guestbook, toasting glasses, or cake server, bridal magazines, monogrammed or personalized household items like picture frames or towels, gift certificates for dinner or outings that the engaged couple can enjoy in the months before they marry. Parents and close family members may give the couple money to help pay for their wedding, family heirlooms or items for the couple's new household. The engaged couple may choose to exchange engagement gifts with each other, which could include jewelry, cuff links or watches.
Function
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Engagements gifts are well intended tokens of congratulations from friends and family wanting to help contribute to the engaged couple's happiness and future life together. Most couples are extremely grateful for engagement gifts, as they are usually unexpected and meaningful gifts that they will appreciate and cherish as they prepare for their wedding.
Prevention/Solution
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In order to give friends and family that would like to give engagement gifts some help in figuring out what to buy, many couples decide to register for their wedding early and have loved ones choose engagement gifts off of this list. This way, couples may be well on their way to setting up their new household before the wedding gifts arrive and there is less likelihood of having leftover items on their wedding registry. However, this may not be a feasible option for some couples, as planning a wedding registry take a great deal of thought and effort and may not be anywhere near completed (or even begun) soon after the engagement.
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