Social customs for anniversary engravings confuse me.

October 8, 2009 1:33 PM

I need help with engraving an anniversary gift - Specifically, the text. Is it OK to have a two initial monogram? What about additional text?

My wife doesn't have a middle name - Should I pass on the traditional circular monogram -- Would it look odd with only two letters as opposed to three?

Assuming I don't, would it be weird to have additional text beneath that commemorating our anniversary? Should I put the wedding date without the year, or should I include the year? Or should I put some more meaningful text?

I'm very good with gifts in general, and I know she will love specifically what is being engraved (Circular flask with pop-out shot glass built in, she's not a MeFi reader lucky for me) but the fact that this is a rather non-traditional anniversary gift, combined with the fact that it's our first anniversary, combined with my complete lack of knowledge of social customs for this sort of thing has made me very confused. Any help appreciated!

posted by MysticMCJ to society & culture (3 comments total)

Pass on the traditional circular monogram. It's hard to read any way.

My favorite engraving font is called the monogram - circle. Each letter is independant of the other and with just 2 initials it will look great - you can Google it for a picture.
posted by pamspanda at 2:39 PM on October 8

I really thought others would have said this by now, but you're over thinking. It is something really thoughtful and you know she'll love it and you want to make it even more personal by engraving it. That's really sweet, and I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Ask the people engraving it what they recommend as for the lack of the middle initial, I'm sure this isn't the first time they've come across it. I like the idea of even more personal text for the anniversary and date, but do what you like, it is a heartfelt gift. Some people still appreciate these types of things, and I'll bet your wife is one of them.
posted by cestmoi15 at 5:36 PM on October 8

You are right, I'm over thinking it. Guess what field I work in.
posted by MysticMCJ at 7:15 AM on October 9