Engagement is a special moment in a couple's life. A thoughtful engagement gift is not just a token but a lovely way to genuinely celebrate the happy couple. It's an opportunity to show your happiness and excitement for the newly engaged person or couple, as they embark on their new life together.
Engagement Gifts for Couples
Whether it's your best friend or a very close friend who's just become part of a newly engaged couple, you may be looking for the perfect gift to mark the moment. We'll share with you the best engagement gift ideas to help you find the perfect engagement gift for your favorite couple. We have gathered over 70 ideas for engagement presents for couples to let them know just how happy you are for them!
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Image credits and shopping sources: 1. Marble and Brass Cheese Board from Williams Sonoma 2. Personalized Bucket List Journal from Oakdene Designs on Etsy 3. Pickleball Crossbody Bag from Mark + Graham 4.Engagement Gift Box from EndlessAster on Etsy
Over 70 of the Best Engagement Gifts for Friends
The fall and holiday season is prime time for engagements, so to help you find some great ideas for unique gifts to give your newly engaged friends, we've collected these ideas in shoppable format! Whether you give these as a stand-alone gift or make a box of a few of these goodies for your favorite engaged couple, these unique ideas are here to help! Many of these engagement gifts are under $50, with several under $25!
More Ideas for Unique Gifts to Give to Newly Engaged Couples
While we gave visual suggestions above, you may wish for more concrete ideas of what to give. You can give these gifts as stand-alone engagement presents or put a few of these ideas together to give in a gift box, care package, or basket. If you don't feel like creating your own engagement gift box, we've collected the best engagement gift box ideas as well.
Whether you deliver these in person or send something in the mail, we think these are some lovely ways to do some gift-giving. Here are a few ideas of things we've given, seen as gift ideas, or received ourselves as engagement gifts.
1. Customized Glasses
Toasting flutes or wine glasses are a very traditional engagement gift. Toast to the newly engaged couple with a set of personalized wine glasses or champagne flutes, etched with their names or initials. There are many options for this kind of gift, from these high-end Waterford crystal toasting flutes, to insulated travel stemless wine tumblers. Mugs and insulated tumblers are another idea, especially if your friends prefer non-alcoholic beverages.
2. Gift Cards
A gift card to a romantic restaurant, a home decor store, or a coffee shop is a great option. The couple can use it for date nights or for them to celebrate their engagement, plan for new home ownership, or take a break during wedding planning. Pick a favorite spot of theirs, or give them a gift certificate to a place they've been wanting to try, but perhaps wouldn't dare treat themselves to. This gift can range from a Home Depot gift card for friends you know who are deep into a home renovation project, all the way to a gift certificate to a 5-star restaurant. It's an idea that's easy to customize to your friends' interests!
3. Fun Experiences
If your friends love gathering experiences over things, encourage the couple's sense of adventure with the gift of an experience you know they'd love. Some ideas include a certificate to go on a zip line, kayak tour, cooking classes, a winery or brewery tour, a hay ride, an escape room, or tickets to a fun event like a concert, art museum, or seasonal fair.
4. Romantic Getaway
Similar to an adventure date, if you can arrange it, or can get a few friends to chip in, you may want to plan a weekend getaway or a gift certificate for a bed and breakfast. If you live in a must-see location, then even just hosting them for the weekend at your own place can be a perfect escape for the couple. This is a great gift for a close friend or family member to give.
5. Travel Gear
If you know your friends are world travelers or aspire to be, some monogrammed passport covers, packing cubes, or luggage tags can be a nice way to personalize a gift and encourage their love of travel.
6. Scrapbooks or Journals
If your friends are creative or love to journal, a beautifully bound blank journal, or notebook scrapbook is an ideal gift for them. They can both use it to document their love story, for them to be mindful of daily intentions in their partnership, or to journal about their wedding planning journey. Even better if it has prompts like this couples journal!
7. Spa or Pampering Gift Certificate
If your friends love a little pampering, a gift card for a couple's massage, couples manicures for the wedding, or other spa treatment is a perfect way for the couple to relax and unwind together.
8. Cozy Custom "Engagement" Clothes
Engagement and wedding planning is the first time in life that they'll get to rock all the just-engaged gear like, Feyonce sweatshirts, wifey gear, and hubby socks, so help the couple live it up by gifting these items if it's their personality to wear them! We love this Barbie-themed bride sweatshirt.
9. Kitchen Gadgets
If your friends love to cook, consider giving them a cookbook for couples, or some unique kitchen gadgets that perhaps they don't yet. Just a small basket of cookie cutters, a pizza stone, or something like these heart pancake molds will help them make romantic meals together.
10. Personalized Christmas Ornaments
If they celebrate, a personalized holiday ornament that speaks to their interests like a town they love, a college team they support, or a sport they enjoy, or just a simple decoration with the couple's names and engagement date is a special addition to their Christmas tree, that will help them make the date and will be remembered each year when they trim the tree.
11. Outdoor Adventure Gear
If the couple loves the outdoors, consider gifting them sports, camping, or hiking equipment that you know they have their eye on for their upcoming adventures. Even just a water bottle and some camping or hiking essentials like bug spray and good socks can be a way to show your love and support. You can also give a gift of a donation to a park or trail they enjoy. We also love this water bottle that has a bucket list stickers of all the National Parks!
12. Subscription Services
A subscription to a streaming service they would enjoy but don't yet have, digital wedding planning other publications, or a monthly meal or subscription box like beer of the month or hot sauce, or anything aligned with their interests is a fun gift that keeps giving throughout the year.
13. Personalized Ring Dish or Holder
A special custom ring dish or a chic velvet ring box or is a lovely way and personalized gift to keep their new engagement ring and wedding rings safe. We love this one from Etsy that can be customized with where you met and the dates.
14. Games and Sports
If your couple friends love to entertain or like to host a weekly game night, giving the gift of board games can be a great idea to help them build their library of fun board games or games that make you laugh out loud like Cards Against Humanity. We also love the couple's "get to know you" games as a fun bonding experience or these Date Night game ideas. If they love outdoor games, consider giving a customized cornhole game, horseshoes, or some personalized sports gear like these pickleball covers or custom golf balls. You can also gift a personalized backgammon or chess board
15. Plants
Herbs and plants can have great significance and symbolism, so gifting a mini herb garden, or a beautiful house plant that symbolizes some good luck, or something can plant outside their new home can be a lovely idea for couples. This is an especially nice gift for those who love cooking or gardening, or just love to have the beauty of plants in their home.
16. Candy and Food
A box of gourmet chocolates, delicious cupcakes, or custom cookies with a congratulatory message is a wonderful idea. Perhaps they might be living in a new town and homesick for something in particular. Having a special treat or meal delivered from a favorite restaurant or through Goldbelly can be a wonderful way to send your congratulations deliciously! Whether they love ice cream, macarons, caviar or a pastrami sandwich! You can find something for everyone!
15. Charitable Donations
Another thoughtful gift idea is to make a donation to a charity in their name that resonates with the couple's values. Whether it's giving to their local SPCA, sponsoring them in a run or challenge, or giving to another cause they support, making a donation of your time or money or both is a sweet way to give back and support your friends' interests.
16. Flowers
Flowers are such a classic symbol of congratulations and you can make a beautiful gift just by sending a bouquet or plant. A beautiful arrangement or house plant can be a lovely way to send congratulations quickly and easily, especially if distance is a factor and you won't be able to see them in person.
17. Date Night Kits
Assemble a date night kit with items for different themed date nights. You can put together candy and popcorn in a beautiful popcorn bowl for movie night, a painting set, or give a gift of pasta bowls, napkins, some delicious sauce, and gourmet pasta for a cozy dinner at home. Or, just give them some date night dice or cards so that they can figure out what kind of date night they'd love to have for years to come!
18. Glassware and Pitchers or Mixers
If your friends love to entertain or are amateur mixologists who perhaps are known for a signature drink, give them a set that reflects this. Beautiful martini glasses and gourmet olives and a shaker, coffee beans, coffee syrup, beautiful champagne coupes, whisky glasses or a pitcher and margarita glasses.
19. Cheese or Charcuterie Boards
For foodies, snackers, or entertainers, a cheese board set is a great option for couples who love to host dinner parties and entertain guests, or who love to create their own charcuterie boards. Add a custom initial
20. Personalized Bottle of Wine
Pick out a wine or beverage that you know has meaning or is their favorite bottle of wine, champagne. You can customize a bottle of wine with the couple's names or a special message to celebrate their engagement with custom-printed labels, or handpainted bottles.
21. Wedding Planning Kit
If your friends love to document and plan write things down the old-fashioned way rather than digitally, a wedding planning book, or even an empty but personalizer binder with dividers and sheets is a helpful gift for a newly engaged couple as they begin to plan their big day and start to accumulate quotes, color swatches, and other wedding planning details.
22. Customized Puzzles, Cards, or Other Games
Thanks to Etsy you can create a custom jigsaw puzzle featuring a photo of the couple or a special image of their pet or some other happy and cherished memory. It's a unique and entertaining gift.
23. Tea for Two
If your friends love tea or hot beverages create a care package filled with a variety of fine tea, mugs, or tea cups and all the accourements like honey, tea diffusers and even a teapot.
24. Coffee Lover Gifts
If coffee is more their thing, a simple gift certificate to a favorite coffee shop, a coffee subscription, or just an array of gourmet coffees can be a perfect gift. Add an insulated tumbler or mug to complete the gift.
25. Personalized Home Items
Personalized home decor can make a great gift especially if the couple is just blending homes for the first time. Personalized home decor items that reflect their new initials like decorative vases, doormats, glassware, monogrammed cozy throw blankets, cocktail napkins, or decorative pillows that are personalized in some way, can be a great way to add a personal touch to their new space.
26. Personalized Robes or PJs
Matching robes or PJs with their initials or names embroidered on them provide a touch of luxury and comfort and give them something to wear every day after the wedding and to cover up while getting ready on the big day.
27. Picture Frames
You can give a picture frame that fits the aesthetic of their new home or apartment, or have it personalized with the couple's names and the date of their engagement or wedding. It's a great idea for them to be able to put photos of their life together or to put their engagement photos on display for years to come. We love these photo frames from Pottery Barn.
28. Beer Lovers Gifts
If one friend or both of the couple loves beer, giving a beer 6-pack holder with a custom initial, a beer can or bottle insulator with customization, or a basket of a few favorite or hard-to-get bottles or cans can be a great gift. Mark and Graham make an amazing insulated beer and growler set.
29. Cute Candles
A customized candle not only gives the gift of scent and memories, It also can set the mood for a cozy date night. If you don't want a custom-label candle pick a luxe scent like Anthropologie Capri Blue or one from Jo Malone or Nest that will evoke a wonderful mood. Another option is candlesticks and taper candles for romantic dinners for two.
30. Wedding Countdown Calendar
Just like those countdowns to Christmas, the countdown calendar is a fun way to count down the days to the wedding and build anticipation. We love this personalized one from Etsy. If the countdown isn't your style, just a fun dog-of-the-day calendar, or quote-of-the-day calendar can be a fun gift too!
31. Artwork
If you think they'd love a little artistic rendering of themselves or something important to them like a pet or home you can commission an artist on Etsy to create a custom artwork. You can also give a picture of their home or portrait that celebrates their love story or their future life together. Another idea is just to give a piece of art from a local artist that you know they've been wanting to collect.
32. Personalized Towels
This gift can take many forms. You could give soft and plush towels or fun dishtowels with sayings for cooking enthusiasts, beach towels if they love the ocean or boating, or cozy oversized bath towels if they just like spa days at home. We love these bright monogrammed turkish towels with the couple's initials or names embroidered on them are a practical and elegant gift.
33. Monogrammed Bags
A custom duffel, set of packing cubes, or a toiletry bag with new initials can be a fun way to help them pack for their honeymoon and to encourage a lifetime of getaways and travel adventures. LL Bean boat and tote bags are another great idea, especially for beach lovers and boaters. We also love Scout bags for the beach and boat. We personally have a monogrammed duffel and we love it!
34. Emergency Kit Essentials
This can be a literal emergency kit like a first aid kit for a car or backpack for an adventurous couple or one who travels, or more commonly, it can be of the wedding fashion variety with a sewing kit, band-aids, breath mints, stain remover, fashion tape and other things they will want to be able to grab for the big wedding day. We love this little one from Pinch Provisions.
35. Jewelry Cleaner and Case
For that new ring and other new jewelry that will be presented at the ceremony, you can give a cute little kit of a jewelry case for storage and some jewelry cleaner to keep those new engagement and wedding rings clean!
36. Music Playlist
Kick it old school and create a personalized playlist of songs you know they love or remind you of fun times spent with them.
37. Picnic Basket
This romantic gift isn't for everyone, but if your couple friends like to spend th day at a nearby beach or park, like to attend outdoor concerts, or tailgates a picnic basket can be a thoughtful way to get them set up for dining al fresco. Picnic baskets range from the very refined classic wicker style to the backpacking variety so there's there's something for everyone!
What is the Etiquette For Giving Engagement Gifts?
Engagement gifts are never mandatory but are just a kind gesture towards the couple. Usually, if your best friend, very close friend, sibling, or other close family member gets engaged, you may wish to give something special. For casual acquaintances, co-workers, and distant family, usually just a word of congratulations on their social media announcement, a text, and if you're feeling ambitious perhaps a card will suffice. In some settings like offices and groups of friends, many people might chip in for a gift, but again, it is never a requirement. Usually, you'll want to give the gift soon after the engagement is publicly announced, but there's no defined window. Usually within a month or two is acceptable.
How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Gift?
You don't need to spend a lot to give an engagement gift. As shown in many of the gift ideas above, a beautiful gift can be something very simple and inexpensive. The usual budget is somewhere between $15-40 dollars, perhaps more than $50 if it's a close friend, and perhaps over $100 - $150 if you feel like splurging or you have a group going in on the gift. Ideally, the engagement gift you give is something that will be used and enjoyed by both members of the couple.
Do you Have to Bring a Gift to an Engagement Party?
If you're invited to an engagement party, a gift isn't required per se, but bringing a small present to mark the occasion is always a very nice gesture and saves you from arriving empty handed. A bottle of wine or anything you might bring as a hostess gift will often work perfectly. Something small like a picture frame, ornament, journal, or set of glasses and mugs is a great portable gift and will make it easy for the couple to transport home. You can also always opt for a card with a bit of cash, but sometimes the physical gift is the more touching gesture, and you can give cash and the wedding.
More Gift Tips and Ideas
Finding the perfect engagement gift is a wonderful way to celebrate your friends' big day and their upcoming nuptials. We hope you think that these thoughtful engagement gift ideas are helpful and you've now found great way to show your love and support for the happy couple. Whether you opt for a personalized gift or a romantic experience, your thoughtful gesture will be a cherished memory as they journey towards their wedding day. Another tip - many of these make great housewarming, wedding, and shower gifts too!
Check out this post for more personalized gift ideas. And now you have a wedding to get dressed up for, so don't forget to stop back here for all sorts of wedding attire ideas!
Also check out Bridesmaid Gifts, and our Holiday Gift Guide!
Past Features
This article was originally published on October 4, 2014 and updated most recently on November, 9, 2023.
These are a few of the engagement gift ideas we've featured in the past. Some of the products themselves may now be out of stock, but we think they are still good ideas! We've updated the links where possible to connect you with where to shop for these ideas.
1. Martha Stewart Weddings Subscription ( no longer in print, try this book instead or give a digital subscription & Brides Magazine Subscription 2. kate spade new york say yes "mrs" earrings (out of stock ) try these instead from Etsy 3. kate spade new york "mr." & "mrs" double old fashioned set (out of stock, try these from Etsy instead 4. The Knot Book of Wedding Lists by Carley Roney 5. Flower Arrangement by Teleflora 6. Julep Cup from Mark & Graham 7. Bartlett's Words for a Wedding by Brett Fletcher Lauer and Aimee Kelly 8. "You wash, I'll dry" Dishtowel from Red Envelope (The pictured set is no longer available, but try this one from Etsy)
Yesterday's post was all sorts of engagement rings in honor of engagement season. However, even you're not the one getting or giving the ring, it may be your time to congratulate some of your friends on their engagement! While engagement gifts aren't a requirement, it can be fun to join the couple in celebrating by marking the occasion with a little token. Here is our explanation of the gifts above.
1. Martha Stewart Weddings Subscription & Brides Magazine Subscription Once I got engaged it was as if I was finally "allowed" -- and even required-- to buy the bridal magazines I had surreptitiously flipped through in my single days. If you're giving the couple a gift basket, tuck in a few issues of a magazine, and give them a fun-looking binder - there will be plenty to organize in the coming months!
2. kate spade new york say yes "mrs" earrings These are an adorable gift for a bride-to-be on or before the day of the wedding. You can to save them when you're officially the "Mrs", or look forward to your new status and don them during the engagement period. And if giving something to the couple, get these cufflinks!
3. kate spade new york "mr." & "mrs" double old fashioned set Kate Spade does it again, with the great little engagement gifts! I love these Mr. and Mrs. double old-fashioned glasses ( DOFs - for short) There's no mistaking which glass is yours, and it's a fun way to start your engagement and to enjoy your married status on your sips for many years to come.
4. The Knot Book of Wedding Lists One of my bridesmaids gave me this book, and although I picked up a few different ones, this was the one that really worked for me. The advice was firm and helpful, and kept me on track but didn't give me that " Um, you should, start freaking out, because you're way behind on this!" feeling that other planning books gave me! We love this book so much that we added it to our post on Best Wedding Planning Books.
5. Flower Arrangement Nothing made me feel quite so much like my friends were there and instantly celebrating with us, than the flowers that were sent to us by a few far-away-friends. It made our house feel as joyful and happy as we were, and we thought of our friends' good wishes every time we looked at the flowers. Pick one out from your local florist, or call a great florist in the couple's area.
6. Triple Roll Tumble with Monogram Now that you'll be sharing things, including a last name - it's a great time to monogram everything! These silver julep tumblers can be used for fancy drinks, but they are also wonderful for holding snacks, or as a pretty catch-all for pens, or as a vase for flowers.
7. Bartlett's Words for a Wedding Here's another gift we personally received from my parents, and it helped for finding quotes to inspire us, and to use in our vows, and some of the programs and other wedding-related things. It's a nice book to peek at together to find the right words to express your relationship.
8. "You wash, I'll dry" Dishtowel Get the teamwork started early - these dish towels would be a cute little gift - and will be a subtle reminder to the bride and groom of the fun partnership during even the most mundane household responsibilities!
Engagement gift ideas: 1/ Anniversary Wine Box from BHLDN 2/ Personalized Celebration Wine Bowl from Mark and Graham 3/ Couples Mug from FieldTrip on Etsy 4/ Personalized Ring Holder from Magic Makings Art on Etsy 5/ kate spade new york 'Miss to Mrs' tumbler from Nordstrom 6/ Personalized Striped Tray from Mark and Graham 7/ two of a kind cozy /coozie set from kate spade new york 8 / Engagement Gift Basket/ Box from Parcelly on Etsy
