It’s that time of year – where your Instagram feed is full to the brim of beautiful engagement ring selfies, there’s new status updates on Facebook every other day and engagement party invites are flowing into the inbox! If you’re popping along to an engagement party, a gift is definitely not expected these days but it you are looking to mark the occasion or get a bit of a token for a close friend, there are some gifts that go down particularly well. A bottle of their fave wine (or Champers if you’re looking for something extra special) is always a winner – you can never have enough in the fridge and engagement celebrations do tend to go on awhile. But there are some other lovely ways to mark this fun phase in your newly engaged mates life too. Check out our round up below…
For Couples
Personalise It: If you’re looking for a personal twist for your champagne/wine gift, you can pick up personalised wine labels with your friends’ name and date of engagement on it! While the vino will more than likely be devoured, the bottle could be kept as a cool keepsake – they can pop a candle in it and have it as a daily reminder of this lovely time. Check out Etsy and WowWee.ie for cute designs or the weddingsonline shop also stock the cutest bride and groom bottle holders if you’re looking to surprise friends with some celebratory beers.
Vouchers: Vouchers are always appreciated – treat your friends to a voucher for their fave brunch spot so they can brainstorm and toast the engagement at the same time, or a voucher for their fave restaurant which they can enjoy down the line as a break from the panning madness.
Prints: If you’re looking to get something they might not splurge on themselves, a cool or romantic print is a great little keepsake and reminder of this special time. Not on the Highstreet have tons of amazing prints that can be personalised specifically for engaged couples or if you’re looking for a unique print to suit their style, Irish stores Jam Art Factory and April and the Bear stock some awesome Irish artists.
Print via Not on the Highstreet
Glasses: It’s a traditional one but if they’ve their own house or are going to be buying one down the line, wine glasses always come in handy and are a lovely gift idea. They might not realise it now, but a lovely set of glasses will be really useful for dinner parties or for just cosying up with a nice glass of something on the couch. If your mates aren’t mad about wine, some cute whiskey tumblers or a cocktail set will be a great investment piece as well.
Festive Ornament: If your friends get engaged around Christmas, a cute ornament saying ‘First Christmas Engaged’ or their names and the engagement date will be something they can hang on the tree for years to come!
Hamper: Hampers are things you’d never in a million years buy for yourself but when you get one it’s like Christmas all over again! Make a hamper or basket up with their favourite foods/goodies to celebrate with from lots of yummy chocolate treats or cheeses if they’re more of savoury couple to their all time favourite beers or wine.
Other cute things you can pick up are anything with Happily Ever After on it (perfect for romantics and a loved up time like this – we’ve seen everything from cushions, notebooks and bridal totes to the really sweet Happily Ever After book-inspired print above). Take a look on the likes of Etsy or Not on the Highstreet for some lovely ideas. A personalised Piggy bank is another fun little token your newly engaged pal will get a laugh out of and more than likely use and anything with their initials on it could be a really sweet gesture too.
For the Bride-to-Be
Ring Holder via Etsy
Planning Notebook: If you’re looking to go down the thoughtful route but kind of want something practical too, a wedding planning notebook will tick all the boxes and your friend will be chuffed too. Make it extra special by opting for a personalised version. Check out 15 fab wedding planning notebooks in our round up here.
Jewellery: If it’s a close friend or family member and you’re looking for something symbolic and sweet, a cute ampersand or love heart bracelet, earrings or necklace will always remind her of this fab time. Check out Chupi and Kate Spade for lots of lovely ideas.
Ring Holder: She’s going to need somewhere to pop her new engagement ring come bedtime so a ring holder is a fitting and fun engagement pressie.
Soon to Be Mrs Mug: There are so many gorgeous wedding related gifts idea out there but one’s she’ll defo get some use out of is a mug with ‘Soon to be Mrs X‘ or ‘Bride-to-Be‘ on it – sure to make her smile every time she uses it.
Polish: If your pal loves her beauty stuff, she will adore the awesome ‘engaged’ themed nail polish Essie launched – check it out here or she may equally enjoy some little beauty treats to pamper herself with on the lead up to the Big Day.
Bridal Mags: Another thoughtful idea that’ll give her a taste of what’s to come and get her excited about all the planning is a couple of wedding magazines.
