Is it just us or have a lot of friends been announcing their engagements this winter? There is definitely something romantic about bundling up in the cold nights and of course all those twinkly lights – there’s a damn good reason they call it ‘cuffing season’. But whatever the reason, as soon as we see yet another friend displaying that sparkly diamond on Instagram, our first thoughts turn to how can we help them celebrate.
If we're completely honest with ourselves, the pressure of wedding giftingsometimes taints the excitement of knowing one of your nearest and dearest (or semi-casual acquaintances) is getting married. Knowing what to buy and how much to spend is an absolute minefield at the best of times and that confusion only multiplies as we enter the realm of engagement gifts.
Anniversaries are straightforward; there are traditional themes to play with. Even wedding gifts are a bit easier to manage because, more often than not, you'll have a registry to pick from, or the couple might just make it really easy and ask for some cash towards their three-week safari extravaganza honeymoon. But pre-wedding gifts are tricky. You don't want to clash with anything the betrothed couple are already planning to pop on their John Lewis Gift List and, let's face it, you certainly don't want to spend thousands of pounds this early in the game.
We've taken some of the fuss out of the equation and narrowed things down for you. Whether you're buying for your best friend, your sibling or that casual aquaintance, you can call the search off...
SHOP: Engagement Gift Ideas For Every Budget
SHOP: The Best Engagement Gift Ideas
1 of 18Arena Flowers Cloud 9 Bouquet, £39
Treat the bride-to-be to a gorgeous bouquet - you might even find that you help inspire their wedding bouquet. We love this congratulations assortment of cream and apricot roses, carnations and astrantia.
2 of 18Kyro Gin, £29.95, Master Of Malt
Stand out from the champagne-giving crowd with this chic, award-winning, Finnish gin. We have it on good authority that it pairs wonderfully with both sweeter and more quinine-heavy tonics.
3 of 18Two Hearts Stencil Print, Not On The High Street, £21
For a really special gift, personalise this cool neon screenprint with the engaged couple's names and proposal date.
4 of 18Kate Spade New York, I Do Bridal Planner, £46
Help the bride stay organised with this brilliant planner filled with checklists and plenty of space for inspo.
5 of 18KABINSHOP, Personalised Wedding Ring Dish, £26
Surprise the couple with this gorgeous personalised dish to store their rings in and ensure they never lose them again.
6 of 18Set of 3 Streamlined Cheese Knives, Anthropologie, £20
Treat the future bride and groom to this sophisticated set of cheese knives - it's high time the pair got their kitchen in order.
7 of 18Custom Made Paper Cut Couple Portrait, Not On The High Street, £120
Immortalise the happy couple with this custom paper cut to remind them of this exciting period of time for years to come.
8 of 18Top Tips for Grooms by James Harrison
Give the groom in your life a helping hand with this useful book, crammed full of tips for planning everything from the stag to the invites to the wedding speech.
9 of 18Mateo Woven Wine Rack, Anthropologie, £38
The lucky pair will be getting given a lot of champagne and wine as they celebrate their up-coming nuptials - so give them something chic to store it in.
10 of 18Personalised Blanc de Blancs Champagne, £45, Fortnum & Mason
Make your Champagne gift stand out from the rest with a personalised label. This will be one bottle they never forget.
11 of 18Pink Motel Personalised Writing Set, Papier, £24.99
They will have a lot of thank you letters to write, so help them do it in style with this personalised marbled set from Papier.
12 of 18Personalised Cocktail Glasses, Not On The High Street, £48
These perfect vintage-style coupes come in a very special personalised wooden box that you can guarantee will be passed down the family for years to come.
13 of 18Doina Fine Chain Bracelet, Monica Vinader, £125
This simple bracelet would make a very special keepsake gift for the lucky bride-to-be. And it's ideal in that it isn't in any danger of overshadowing that ring...
14 of 18Bed Of Nails Acupressure Cushion, Cult Beauty, £40
Organising a wedding is stressful enough, even before Covid-times. So help them out with the gift of better sleep, the relieving of aches and pains and the release of oxytocin and endorphins.
15 of 18Nailberry Oxygene Nail Lacquer in Mindful Grey, £15, Look Fantastic
Treat them to this perfect nail polish to keep those nails in top shape as they show off their engagement hand a thousand times a day. At least. And as as added bonus, it's oxygenated, so will also keep them in great condition, in plenty of time for the big day.
16 of 18Personalised Marble Wine Cooler, Not On The High Street, £74.99
Help keep all that Champagne and wine cool during the engagement celebrations (and beyond) with this super-special personalised marble wine cooler.
17 of 18Picture Gallery Wall Small Photo Frame Set, £195, The White Company
The happy couple will be planning on creating some memories to last a lifetime, so what better than a gallery wall collection of photo frames to house their special day in.
18 of 18Personalised Candle, £18, Etsy
Treat the pair to this cute personalised candle from Norma & Dorothy. There are five scents to choose from and all candles come in a luxe dust protector and gold foil box – the perfect gift.
What Is The Best Engagement Gift?
While there clearly is no ‘one sizes fits all’ gift to please all newly engaged couples, what we know for sure is that something special, no matter what size, will be warmly received. So whether you splurge on a custom-made paper cut portrait of the couple, treat her to a hard-working bridal planner, or even pop a mini heart box of truffles in the post, you are bound to make her smile.
READ MORE: As Sales Of Engagement Rings Rise During Lockdown, Here's Everything You've Ever Wanted To Know