On December 21st 2013, I read my
first ever engagement announcement text from a friend. On December 24th,
I got my second. Then four more came over the next 12 days. I went from having
no engaged friends to six within the course of 16 days. Now I’m drowning in
bride talk and my social calendar has transformed into a veritable wedding related
feast – including gossip sessions, mood board viewings and engagement parties.
My first thought was on how to congratulate
my dear friends on their imposing nuptials. After reading up on engagement
etiquette (there’s a lot!), it came to light that whether to buy the happy
couple a gift before they’re even married is still a big debate in wedding
etiquette circles. The best solution I found was a happy medium – a small token
rather than anything extravagant, which worked out for me because I had six brides-to-be
to tick off my list.
Now
Christmas and New Year, the most popular time of the year for engagements, is
over, many more in my position are scratching their heads while working out how
to buy engagement gifts on a tight January budget.
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate
with your friends and family by giving them the best engagement gift – on a
budget.
Basic
but Personal: The Photo Frame
Find your favorite picture of the couple,
print it and put it in a nice frame. Or alternatively you could find a picture
of the couple surrounded by their friends. This is a popular choice for an
engagement gift, but its mixture of simplicity and personalisation means that
it’s always a winner (and very low budget too, phew!).
Practical:
Wedding Planning Book
Useful and practical guides include The
Knot’s Book of Wedding Lists or “A Modern Girl’s Guide to Getting Hitched”.
Hardly a month has passed since Christmas and several of my friends are already
deep into wedding planning, and most of them are freaking out about budgeting
and picking the best song for the first dance. Getting a book on how to plan
the wedding a small yet useful and reassuring gift that will help calm the
bride and get her organised!
If
You’re Missing the Party: Balloon in a Box
If your long distance friend or relative
just got engaged, send them the perfect congratulations notice with something a
little extra with a balloon
in a box! The helium filled balloon will float out of the box complete with
a personalized message. It’s a great alternative to a card and will start the
celebrations early!
For
Your Best Friend: Wedding Planning
If someone very close to you has become
engaged, the best gift you can give them is your time – no, really. Create a
set of ‘favors’, if it’s making phone calls to chase up pesky caterers,
attending the bride to a dress fitting or helping the groom make those
all-important grooming decisions, offering your help will be much appreciated –
planning a wedding can be a huge stress!
For
the Busy Couple: Treat the Couple to a Date Night
A restaurant or cinema gift card (or even
both) means the lovebirds can have a lovely evening out on you, maybe as a
break from wedding planning stress. If your budget is bigger, you could always
push the boat out a little and treat them to a night out at the theater, or even a couple’s spa day.
If
you want to Team Up: Engagement Basket
You could either do this solo or club
together with a few close friends and/or family to congratulate the couple. A
budget version could include a wedding magazine, nice toiletries, sweets,
chocolates, wine and a posh notebook to note down all of those wedding ideas!
You could go more upscale and include champagne and personalized items like
mugs, key rings or necklaces. Etsy is a good website to find one-of-kind personalized items.
For
the Broke Couple: ‘Wedding Fund’ Piggy Bank
If a long engagement is in the works while
the couple save up for their perfect day, giving them a special wedding piggy
bank (maybe with some change already inside to start the fund!) is a sweet
token to get them started on their savings.
For
the Couple Short on Ideas: Subscription to a Wedding Magazine
A year subscription to a wedding magazine
filled with hints, inspiration and guides on how to hold the perfect do is a
great gift to give to a couple that has no idea where to start. Prices range
from £12 a year to around £50 for upmarket titles, not bad for a present that
will provide inspiration and excitement for a whole year1
Alex is a freelance writer for Balloons Galore. She loves giving
gifts (and doesn’t mind receiving them either!) and is looking ahead to buying
some killer main wedding gifts after the ‘appetiser’ of the engagement gift.