"engagement party" etiquette... advice please...

[Freelance Superhero]

so some close friends of mine have gotten married recently or are getting married soon, but this girl i know very well just got engaged a month or so ago. she and her fiance, who i also know fairly well, have already told everyone about it and are having their official "engagement party" this coming saturday.

this is the first one of my friends' engagement parties that i'll be able to make it to, so i have a question: is it customary to bring a gift to such an occasion? if so, what kinds of things are appropriate?

the reason i ask this is because this isn't going to be some formal dinner or anything. it's basically sort of an excuse to get all the old friends together; we all usually get together for birthdays and holidays, and most of us hang out a lot together as it is. so we'll just end up eating together, then sit around and talk or have coffee or watch a video or something.

but still, i don't want to be the one who commits a party foul by showing up empty-handed. i don't have a lot of cash to throw around nowadays, so if i don't have to bring an official "gift" (i'll probably still show up with a bottle of wine or something), it would make things a little less uncomfortable for me, especially since i'm downright HORRIBLE at choosing gifts.

any helpful hints would be appreciated. thanks! :)

[tupacboy]

bring a small gift.... i usually bring a nice bottle of alcohol.... hmm... formal dinner? every engagement party i've been to been crazy....

[cheapie]

you should take a gift. something that can be used by both of them. a cooler, camping equipment, etc. that's how we've always done it. but they are usually called a "couples shower". might be different. :shrug:

[ray]

I would say go with the traditional bottle of wine, as tupacboy suggested.

[Nija]

Bring a Dancer for each of them. then leave early and stick them with the bill. If they talk to you after that, they are true friends :P

I think the bottle of booze would be good. Of course, normal people don't drink wine so get them something good, and personalized, like vodka for him, and Gin for her, or whatever their preferences' are.

Also, when buying alcohol, the closer to the floor, the better the quality. Especially if you can find it in the Store-Labeled Brand :shifty:

[Freelance Superhero]

Also, when buying alcohol, the closer to the floor, the better the quality. Especially if you can find it in the Store-Labeled Brand :shifty:hahaha duly noted, nija... ;)

yeah, i think i'm gonna go with a bottle of wine, maybe champagne, and also maybe some nice flowers or something. it's really informal and just amongst friends, so i don't think there's any reason to go all out.

but if anyone has any more insight on this, please share. i could still use some suggestions... :)

[gear02]

strippers!!!

oh wait wrong type of party...

[ray]

hahaha duly noted, nija... ;)

yeah, i think i'm gonna go with a bottle of wine, maybe champagne, and also maybe some nice flowers or something. it's really informal and just amongst friends, so i don't think there's any reason to go all out.

but if anyone has any more insight on this, please share. i could still use some suggestions... :)

Gah, no flowers. Go with Wine. You really can't go wrong with that.

[Kevster]

Like everyone has said above so far, a nice bottle of alcohol is nice (if they drink, of course). Also, something small/cheap from their registered wedding gift list can also work.

[cheapchinese]

another vote for the boozes

[Freelance Superhero]

i don't think they've even thought about the registry yet. they got engaged in February, and they're not getting married for another year and a half, i think, maybe longer than that.

so okay, it looks like some classy dranky drank should do the trick.

[RoniMan]

how about a breadmaker?.....

[ray]

how about a breadmaker?.....

[seinfed]or a labelmaker[/seinfeld]

[cheapchinese]

or Econo package of EPT :P

[attgig]

or Econo package of EPT :P
eh?


how about a box of condems?

[K2]

Bring a Dancer for each of them. then leave early and stick them with the bill. If they talk to you after that, they are true friends :P

I think the bottle of booze would be good. Of course, normal people don't drink wine so get them something good, and personalized, like vodka for him, and Gin for her, or whatever their preferences' are.

Also, when buying alcohol, the closer to the floor, the better the quality. Especially if you can find it in the Store-Labeled Brand :shifty:


how about a bottle of Mom's :)

[brain]

how about a bottle of Mom's :)

Is that worse than cheap Mumms?

[gwilks98]

It may be a bit late posting this, but the last engagement party I went to (and it was my first), the couple got a round of wedding gifts, then I believe got ANOTHER round of gifts at the wedding from the same people. Kind of irritating when you're on a tight budget. Since I was in the wedding party I really couldn't show up empty handed. <sigh>

[Freelance Superhero]

yeah, i've actually heard stories about women who have more than one bridal shower, and people who are invited to both don't know what to do as far as gifts are concerned.

in any case, the engagement party was this past saturday; i went to a local wine house and they helped me pick out a decent bottle of champagne. when i showed up at the party, i found out she was hoping everyone would understand they didn't want any gifts. many brought wine, two of us brought champagne, and a couple of them brought small gifts, so it all worked out okay.

thanks for the help guys. :)