To help you choose the best engagement gifts, from the traditional to the unusual and unexpected, we’ve enlisted the help of wedding etiquette and engagement gift buying experts to curate our list of ideas below.
Engagement gifts can be tricky to choose because unlike finding the best wedding gifts, there’s no gift list or wedding registry for you to select from and it’s also difficult to know what the etiquette is for buying an engagement gift.
How much do you spend? Do you buy an engagement gift and then a wedding present for the couple later down the line? We’ve answered these questions and more in our FAQs section at the bottom, as well as putting together a list of the best gifts for couples who are due to tie the knot below.
Where to find the best engagement gifts in the UK
- Amazon: Wide range of tech gifts, cookbooks, DIY kits, date ideas, and more
- Anthropologie: Find trinkets, unusual homeware, accessories and quirky gifts
- Etsy: Personalised and customisable gifts from independent sellers
- Fortnum & Mason: Shop top-rated celebratory hampers, or build your own
- John Lewis: Homeware, designer fashion pieces, beauty and more
- Majestic: Mix and match top quality wines and get great discounts
- Not On The Highstreet: Bespoke and personalised gifts for independent sellers
- Oliver Bonas: Beautiful homeware gifts, fashion and beauty buys
- Papier: Shop photo books, personalised stationery, frames and more
- Selfridges: Best destination for top quality engagement gifts from luxury brands
- The White Company: Buy luxurious bedding, fluffy pillows, and gorgeous home gifts
- Virgin Experience Days: Explore a variety of getaways, day experiences, and more
Our pick of the best engagement gifts in the UK
Engagement gift giving advice from the experts
What Do You Give As Engagement Gifts And How Do They Differ From A Wedding Present?
When it comes to how engagement gifts differ from wedding gifts, Lucy Menghini, founder of wedding gift site Six Stories, explains that, “engagement gifts are typically given to celebrate the recent engagement and express your well wishes for their future together, but these gifts are often smaller and less formal.” Menghini suggests presents such as engraved photo frames, experiences such as a couples’ spa day, kitchen gadgets, or champagne and wine for an engagement gift. “Wedding presents, on the other hand, are given to the couple on their wedding day and are typically more substantial, ranging from honeymoon funds to larger monetary gifts; they’re intended to help the couple establish their new life together.”
Tara Butler, gifting expert at Getting Personal, suggests personalised gifts such as “a wedding fund box or a wedding planner notebook,” make good engagement presents, “or if they were lucky enough to capture some pictures of the actual engagement, then a photo frame might be perfect.”
Is An Engagement Gift Necessary?
This will depend on your lots of factors, including how close you are to the engaged couple. Menghini tells us that “engagement gifts are not strictly necessary or obligatory, but they are a beautiful gesture to celebrate the couple’s new chapter in life. Giving an engagement gift is a way to show your support and excitement for the couple’s upcoming wedding and future together, but it’s a personal choice, and your presence and well wishes at their engagement party or celebration can also be sufficient.”
What Is An Appropriate Amount To Spend On An Engagement Gift?
“The amount you spend on an engagement gift primarily depends on your relationship with the couple, your personal budget and the customs within your social circle,” says Menghini. “There is no set rule for the specific amount to spend, as gifts can range from small tokens to more substantial presents. It’s important to consider what feels comfortable and meaningful to you.”
She also stresses that engagement gifts don’t have to set you back too much: “hand-painted pictures of that engagement moment or even a handmade candle reflecting the place they got married” are just some of her suggestions. “Try to take time to think outside the box about little touches,” Menghini adds.
Can You Give Cash Or Gift Cards As An Engagement Present?
Butler tells us that “cash or gifts will always be welcomed, but you can make the gift feel a little more personal by giving the couple their gift in a memory box, or with a small token like a notebook.” Menghini says that “cash or gift cards can be perfectly acceptable and appreciated engagement presents; they offer the couple flexibility to use the gift as they see fit, whether it’s contributing to wedding expenses, saving for their future, or purchasing something they desire.”
However, she adds that “if you choose to give cash or gift cards, it’s always a nice touch to accompany them with a heartfelt note or a small, symbolic item to make the gift feel more personal. Ultimately, the choice of engagement gift should reflect your relationship with the couple and the level of your personal connection.”