An engagement gift to remember

November 6, 2021 8:11 AM

What’s the best engagement gift you ever received? Big, small, cheap, expensive - we just want to find a gift that will be cherished.

I’ve given plenty of wedding gifts, but not many engagement gifts. This is for close family, who for various reasons we don’t know that well (confused? thank you ancestry.com). But it’s a very important relationship and we want to give a gift that shows that while being 100% about the couple.

posted by Chaussette Fantoche to Shopping (8 answers total)

With the caveat that I didn’t get any engagement gifts (I did get some sweet cards when I got engaged and don’t discount how nice that can be!), maybe something like this, that they can enjoy through the holidays .
posted by cakelite at 8:37 AM on November 6, 2021

A ceramic stick-of-butter dish with a lid. Not showy and I doubt it was expensive and I didn't know the giver all that well, but it has been in heavy daily use for 16+ years now.
posted by nkknkk at 9:33 AM on November 6, 2021 [3 favorites]

My shop sells these (not a self-link) and my customers bought them as gifts to mark special occasions. I've only sold 3 as they're "pricey" and niche, but without exception the gift-givers report back that the giftee was thrilled with the item. Looks like the manufacturer is now sold out -- not sure if they plan to make more so you'd have to inquire with them or try to find new stock from someplace else (I am also sold out). Either that or find a similar item that has something to do with marking time.
posted by dobbs at 9:45 AM on November 6, 2021 [5 favorites]

Hi there! I do not think this was specifically an engagement gift but someone in korea got us "Weddign Ducks" they are sort of like this, but ours are in a much nicer silk bag. We still have them. The bag is also now stuffed with little notes, from times of strife or times of reflection, where we write to reaffirm our love and commitment to each other.

It is pretty cool, the only physical thing that we own that I would want to rescue from a fire.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2021 [3 favorites]

A family friend gave us a heart-shaped dish. I use it to put fancy chocolates in every year for a little celebration. We do cherish it, and remember our friend's thoughtfulness. (It's silver plate as those were the times; today I'd look for handmade pottery or maybe wood.)
posted by evilmomlady at 2:08 PM on November 6, 2021

A ring dish is a kind of a classic item, as are most things with related to building a home together. If they celebrate Christmas, an ornament with their engagement date or something along those lines can be great. Champagne and two nice flutes can be a great gift as well. A harry and David style food gift was really nice as we were engaged during COVID so it was kind of like a built in date night item as well.
posted by raccoon409 at 6:40 PM on November 6, 2021

Heath! Heath ceramics. Whenever i don’t know what to send, i send Heath, and everyone loves it. I recommend 2 coffee mugs, with a note about savoring their coffee together for the rest of their lives.
posted by you'rerightyou'rerightiknowyou'reright at 9:55 PM on November 6, 2021 [1 favorite]

If your giftees are drinkers or pic-nic-ers, these High Camp Flasks with two magnetically attached cups are lovely. They can hold a full bottle of wine or booze and are vacuum sealed. Should last a lifetime.
posted by dobbs at 11:56 AM on November 8, 2021