‘Tis the season — engagement season, that is. Industry data shows that 37% of proposals in the United States occur between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. December tops the list as the most popular month to propose, with many couples getting engaged right before or during the Christmas holiday.
Outside of champagne or cash, it can be hard to know what to give as an engagement gift. We rounded up a few fun and festive ideas to help you celebrate the newly engaged couples in your life and make their holiday season “marry” and bright.
For the Bride-to-Be
For a newly minted bride-to-be, you can never go wrong with a ring dish. They’re a popular gift for a reason. Not only are they extremely practical, but they add a romantic touch to kitchen sinks and nightstands around the world. Step it up a notch with a matching ring dish and picture frame from Rifle Paper Co. Bonus points if you print out a photo from the engagement for the frame!
Another practical but thoughtful gift for bride-to-bes is a jewelry cleaning pen — like this one from BrideBrite. It’s like a teeth whitening pen but for engagement rings. Every bride wants her ring to shine bright like a diamond! These make a great stocking stuffer, too.
For the Foodies
Couples that cook together, stay together (or so they say). For the newly engaged couples who love to cook, consider gifting them a cookbook like A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together. Based on the popular blog A Couple Cooks, this book is a fun twist on a traditional cookbook that’s perfect for partners. Each recipe includes different symbols to show how two people can share the kitchen and enjoy a home cooked meal together.
A personalized cutting board or cheese board is another crowd pleaser! Get it monogrammed with the couple’s new initials or engrave their engagement date as a reminder they’ll hold on to for years.
For the Homebodies
For the couples who love to stay home and cozy up together, gift them a set of monogrammed bath robes to help them lounge in style. Bottle of wine and bath bombs optional.
A customized puzzle is another fun gift for homebodies and gamers alike. You can use a website like Shutterfly to turn a photo of the fiances into a mixed up memento that’ll keep them entertained for hours.
For the Mixologists
Cheers to the happy couple! If they’re cocktail connoisseurs, treat them to a night out at a cocktail making class. You can use Eventbrite to find in-person classes in your area or online classes to attend from home. This activity might even help them decide on their signature cocktails for the wedding reception!
Personalized cocktail napkins are another great gift for the bartender beau and the bride-to-be. Get them embroidered with their names, engagement date, monogram, or even a picture of their four-legged friend. This gift is sure to be proudly displayed on their bar cart.
For the Locals
Many couples start venue shopping shortly after their engagement. Make it easy by gifting them a staycation at a popular wedding venue or boutique hotel in their area. This gift kills two birds with one stone: it gives the couple a chance to relax and celebrate their engagement, plus it doubles as a venue tour. Win-win!
If you know the couple’s favorite restaurant, you can give them a gift card for a special date night. Consider calling ahead to order a bottle of champagne or special dessert. You never know — they might even end up hosting their wedding reception there!
For the Christmas Lovers
There’s nothing more magical than getting engaged around the holidays. Looking for a sweet but simple engagement gift? Order a custom Christmas ornament with the couple’s names, engagement date, or a photo engraving. This thoughtful keepsake will help the couple remember their special season for years to come.
If ornaments aren’t your thing, consider gifting a set of personalized stockings to mark their first holiday as an engaged couple.
For the Planners
Some couples have a game plan for their wedding before they even get engaged. If you know a couple that’s jumping into wedding planning headfirst, give them a gift that’ll help them stay organized and on track.
These wedding planning binders from Erin Condren are jam packed with resources and can be customized with an image of the happy couple. Or, gift them a personalized calendar with photos from their time together.
Celebrating Engagements this Holiday Season
As engagement season kicks into full swing, we hope this gift guide helps you celebrate the happy couples in your life and make their engagement even more fa-la-la-la-lovely. Cheers to you and yours this holiday season!
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
