- Shopping for engagement gifts without a registry to go by can be a little tough.
- I got engaged last year, and we got a lot of bottles of wine – a gift that never goes unused, but if I’m being totally honest, stops feeling special after a while.
- If you’re looking for something with a little more flair than a bottle of Champagne, look no further than the following 22 gifts any couple will make good use of.
Shortly after my partner proposed to me last year, we began planning our engagement parties – yes, parties plural. We wanted to celebrate with my family in Florida, her family in New Jersey, and our friends in Brooklyn. Needless to say, it was a lot of work.
We decided not to register for our engagement parties because we didn’t love the idea of people feeling obligated to buy us fancy gifts twice. For the wedding, sure – we’ll be registering for a Vitamix if anyone’s wondering. But for the engagement parties, we just wanted to be with our friends and family, celebrating this exciting next step we chose to take together.
I’ll be honest – money is always a great gift for a newly engaged couple. The cost of a wedding these days could make your head explode, and it’s likely that your gift will go toward helping them build a budget. But if you want to get them a physical gift, it’s best to go with something relatively inexpensive that they can enjoy together.
Save the big gifts for the wedding once they've registered for the things they really want and need.
Keep scrolling to read my engagement gift recommendations, or check out more ideas here:
- 30 engagement gifts under $100 for couples who don't have a registry yet
- 25 personalized engagement gifts couples will actually use
- 35 affordable gifts to congratulate the recently engaged couple in your life - all under $50
A cute set of mugs
Personalized Family Mugs, available at Uncommon Goods, from $30
When my partner and I got engaged, someone sent us a set of these mugs with our avatars printed on and the year we met on the back. I'm not one for kitschy gifts, but honestly these were too cute. The idea itself was so thoughtful and sweet, and the mugs themselves are actually really great quality.
A decanter for the whiskey-loving couple
Your, Mine, and Ours Engraved Decanter Set, available at Uncommon Goods, $65
Whiskey is a way of life for some couples. You know the type that likes to enjoy a night cap at the end of a long day. A nice decanter set with gender-neutral glasses will make this couple very happy indeed.
A cake stand for sweet celebrations to come
Glass Cake Stand, available at Food52, $44-$165 (prices vary by color and size)
It's becoming more and more common to have the top tier of a wedding cake preserved for the couple to eat on their one year anniversary. Give them something beautiful to serve it on, or to use for all their dinner parties and family gatherings in between.
A literal wedding planner for the organized couple
Wedding Planner, available at Erin Condren, from $44
If I've learned anything from wedding planning over the past year, it's that checklists are your best friend. This planner from the queen of planners, Erin Condren, includes handy lists and built-in timelines to take the guesswork out of wedding planning. It's not for everyone, but if you happen to know that one partner or the other is highly organized and loves making lists (*raises hand quietly*), they'll be grateful for this thoughtful gift.
A place to put all the wine they're going to get
JK Adams Ash Wood 12-Bottle Wine Rack, available at Uncommon Goods, $42
They'll be getting enough bottles to fill up a whole rack, so this compact storage unit sure will come in handy.
A custom map of where they got engaged
Custom Maps and Posters, available at Grafomap, starting at $49
As a Christmas gift this year, I got my partner a Grafomap of the exact spot where she proposed to me. It totally blew her away! The maps can be customized with different colors, zoomed in or out as far as you want, and you can even include a special date on your map.
A calendar with photos of the happy couple
Brass Easel & Calendar, available at Artifact Uprising, from $49
Assuming they live together, they'll both be able to take advantage of this little desktop calendar to keep track of their days - but more importantly, they'll be able to reflect on all the sweet memories you chose for them to see again. Photos can easily be pulled from Facebook and Instagram to fill the calendar out.
An engagement photoshoot for the happy couple
Flytographer Gift Card, from $250
If they haven't had an engagement photoshoot yet, consider a Flytographer gift card that will help them find and hire an amazing local photographer. The most popular gift card costs $500 and includes a 90-minute photography session and 45 photos. The most affordable gift card costs $250; you get a 30-minute shooting session and 15 photos to treasure for years to come.
A framed picture from their engagement shoot
Framed digital photos, available at Framebridge, from $69
There's a chance they had an engagement photoshoot shortly after the proposal, but even if they didn't or weren't able to, it's not too hard to find a sweet photo of them together on social media to be framed. With Framebridge, all you have to do is upload the digital photo to the website, pick a frame and frame size, and they'll do the actual printing, framing, and shipping for you.
A cake-serving set for the wedding day
Kate Spade Take the Cake 2-Piece Cake Knife and Server Set, available at Wayfair, $90
The engraving on the cake server says "how sweet it is" - perfectly apropos for a loving couple.
A cookbook they'll want to use together for date nights in
Date Night In, available at Anthropologie, $27.50
Date night doesn't always have to mean going out for a fancy dinner. Sometimes it's just about spending a night in with a pile of takeout, or taking the time to cook a nice meal together. Get them a cookbook that portions out ingredients for two so they know just what to make and how much to buy at the grocery store.
A Champagne-scented candle that's just as good as the real thing
Jonathan Adler Pop Champagne Candle, available at Shopbop, $42
Shake things up a bit with a Champagne candle instead of a basic bottle (they'll be getting enough of those - I can tell you from experience!).
A set of tea for the chillest couple
Vahdam Assorted Tea Gift Set, available at Amazon, $34.99
If wine isn't quite their thing, a gift set of loose-leaf tea might be the perfect alternative. It feels special and celebratory, but you can still operate a vehicle safely after having a few cups.
A gift card to pick out a luxurious set of sheets that matches their decor
Brooklinen Gift Card Box, available on Brooklinen, from $100
Give the newly engaged couple new sheets - and the freedom to personalize prints, sets, and sizes - with a gift card box to the internet's favorite bedding startup, Brooklinen. Executive editor Ellen Hoffman calls them one of the best purchases she's ever made.
A custom stamp for all their invitations and thank-you notes
Custom Stamp Gift Set, available on Paper Source, $31.96
Planning a wedding includes quite a bit of snail mail - invitations and thank-you notes, for starters - and a custom stamp can make the process go by much faster. Each gift set includes a self-inking stamper, one black ink cartridge, and one gift certificate that allows them to customize a stamp plate online.
If you've got a bigger budget, there's a beautiful copper version on Food52 from $215 as well.
A beautiful bouquet of flowers
Personalized Bouquet, available on UrbanStems, from $45
If they've been living together for a while and you just can't think of anything they need at home, a beautiful bouquet of flowers is always a safe bet.
If you're looking for more options, check out the Insider Reviews buying guide to the best flowers you can buy online.
A monogrammed passport and luggage tag set for frequent travelers
Leatherology Passport Cover + Luggage Tag Set, $65 [monogram from $20]
For their honeymoon and all their future travels, they'll definitely make use of this set. Either split the gift between them, or purchase one for each person - either way, you can't go wrong with a simple and useful gift like this.
An unexpected and clever sweet treat
Sweet & Sparkling 8-Piece Candy Bento Box, available at Nordstrom, $68
Pop the Champagne ... bears, that is! They're probably going to be drinking a lot of Champagne in the upcoming months as they celebrate their engagement, so gift them these sparkling Champagne candies for a sweet, edible change.
A candle that brings a romantic ambiance to any room
Single Flame Gift Box, available at Otherland, $36
Candles might be a common gift, but Otherland's are among the best ones to give. That's because the scents are unique, the packaging is gorgeous, and everything down to the matchbox message - the engagement-themed one says "The Perfect Match" - is thoughtfully designed.
An instant camera for capturing life's sweetest moments
Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera (with 10-pack film), available at Walmart, $59
The fanciest DSLR can't beat the novelty and instant gratification of this Instax camera, which produces mini prints to slip in wallets and hang on the wall. Personally, we plan to pick a couple of these up for our wedding day so guests can take photos of each other and bring them home!
A smart lighting kit to add a little flair to their home
Echo Dot (3rd Generation), available at Amazon, $49.99
Their entry to the perfect smart-home setup starts with this Echo Dot, which will let them use their Alexa enabled devices with a simple voice command.
A book with ideas to add spontaneity to date nights
The Adventure Challenge Couples Edition, for $39.99
This book can help couples of any relationship stage liven up their date nights with fun experiences and adventures, like cooking a delicious apple pie blindfolded and recreating your grandparents' first date. It comes with 50 ideas that range from $0-$50, but they can all be modified to fit within their budget. The pages also leave room for them to add photos and journal about each experience.