Getting engaged is one of those magical life moments that's worth celebrating, and showering the happy couple with a sweet present is a great way to share in their joy. However, finding a good engagement gift can be quite a challenge, especially if you're looking to impress them with something unique.
Luckily, we did some digging to find some cool engagement gift ideas for couples that are getting ready to tie the knot. With trending questions this month, such as "what’s a good engagement gift," we thought it was best to reach out to etiquette experts Myka Meier and Jackie Vernon-Thompson to learn what you should and shouldn't gift this wedding season.
Whether you're shopping for a personalized memento, a household essential or a luxury gift you can go in on with a group, our Shop TODAY editors rounded up some of the best engagement gifts the lucky couple will be thrilled to receive — plus, we included some picks from our experts.
Expert- and editor-loved engagement gifts
SEO writer Jannely Espinal is saving these socks for her future groom to wear on their wedding day. They're decorated with a tuxedo-like design, and are made primarily out of cotton for a comfortable fit.
Now that they have the bling, they'll need a way to clean it! This easy-to-use, affordable stick provides dazzling results, according to senior partnerships editor Francesca Cocchi Zabloudil.
"It quickly gets rid of any grease and grime from my skin care products, cooking and other everyday tasks, leaving my rings looking shinier and more polished," she says, adding "I like the pen format since it’s easy to toss in a travel bag."
The kitchen is where the heart is. If the newly engaged couple are foodies, or love to spend time hosting, a customizable cutting board adds a personalized touch to their kitchen. “Now, it is important to be absolutely sure the bride will take on her new husband’s name because it is not always a given,” says Vernon-Thompson. “Before making this decision, consult the bride and groom to be sure.”
"My boyfriend's friends are recently engaged, and we wanted to gift them something sentimental," says editorial assistant Madison San Miguel. "One of the gifts we considered was this customized map that highlights significant moments in their lives, from the exact location to where they got engaged to their first big move. It could even work as a great anniversary and wedding gift, too!"
"I gifted this to one of my friends who recently got engaged and the tag line that they’ve come to appreciate is that it helps set them up for marriage, not just their wedding," says associate editor Sierra Hoeger. "It’s a weekly communication journal that helps guide you and your partner through necessary conversations about finances, your relationship, wants and needs, etc. Sometimes it’s hard to have those conversations, so I feel like having it all set up for you is nice!"
“Some of the best gifts are experiences,” suggests Meier. And if you know they’re constantly going on adventures or already planning their honeymoon, add to their trip with by gifting matching customizable luggage tags. One of her favorites are these from Mark & Graham. For just $12.50 more, you can add the couple’s initials or a playful image on the tag in an array of colors and styles.
“After I got engaged, one of my longtime friends/bridesmaids sent me a sweet surprise package with a customized candle and a little container of matches,” recalls social media video producer Anita Chomenko. “She was able to customize the label so it said our names and our engagement date. And the bottle of matches say ‘A perfect match.’ It’s sweet, it’s thoughtful, it’s useful and it definitely made me smile.”
There's nothing more useful than a giftcard, but a Papier one can really come in handy for an engaged couple. Espinal says, "this could be a great idea if they want to plan their invitation."
Want to get them a few kitchen staples before the big day? These plates are the perfect pick, or at least deals editor Rebecca Brown thinks so. She says, "I recently bought these Year & Day splatterware dinner plates and they’re gorgeous for everyday use and entertaining. They’d make a great engagement gift for any new couple looking to upgrade."
This is writer Emma Stessman's "most used appliance," due to its many features and multipurpose abilities. Plus, it's compact enough that they can take it from an apartment to a future house.
"I use it practically every day," she says. "It has 11 preset functions, so you can bake, toast, air fry, dehydrate, broil and more. I use it instead of my oven most of the time because it heats up quicker and is easier to clean."
These custom champagne bottles are perfect for the couple to pop on the night of their wedding. Espinal suggests engraving: "toasting to your future bond," to celebrate the newly engaged couple.
Best engagement gifts under $50
As they get ready to spend the rest of their lives together, this handy book will help the happy couple come up with a list of things they'd like to accomplish over time. On every page, the top half is the goal they'd like to achieve or thing they'd like to do and the bottom half leaves space for them to tell the tale once it's been completed.
Help the happy couple raise a toast to themselves after the engagement party with these trendy cylindrical wine glasses. With a near-perfect average from 1,500+ verified Crate & Barrel shoppers, there’s options available for champagne and red or white wine.
This cute little glass and wood night light comes engraved with the couple’s name. They’ll think of you every time they turn it on at night for a cozy and warm glow.
This minimalist “frame” features a beautiful picture of the new couple with their names and the date they got engaged. A color photo would look nice, too, but we love how simple the black and white is!
A future bride’s worst nightmare is to lose her precious ring, but with this floral tray, that worry can be eased. With its cone-shaped center, it’s sure to keep engagement rings and wedding bands safe, while also doubling as adorable home decor.
When the happy couple breaks out their decorations every holiday season, they’ll get a pleasant reminder of their engagement date with this personalized diamond ring ornament that comes in several color options.
This understated print is perfect for the minimalist couple in your life. It can even be printed on a canvas, so they may not even need to worry about getting it framed.
A morning cup of coffee is made better when you’re enjoying it with a loved one. Encapsulate this feeling of companionship with a set of ceramic mugs for the soon-to-be-spouses.
Love burns brightly with this Homesick candle essenced with hints of mandarin, grapefruit and champagne grapes. You can even personal the gift box with sweet sentiments for the newly engaged pair.
While they may be eagerly counting down the days in their heads, having a physical reminder of their nuptials will only get them more excited. This set includes dual-sided countdown blocks for their wedding day and future anniversaries.
Zola encourages couples to make "real talk, real fun" with this deck of cards, that hopefully takes the stress out of wedding planning. Each card has three prompts: Imagine the Day (that sets the scene), Discuss (allowing both of you to share your opinions) and Reflect (letting you share thoughts on the other's perspective).
Gift them with something they can use for years to come when celebrating anniversaries and other relationship milestones. These personalized cake knives are available in a number of different designs, fonts and colors.
Gift the bride with “something new” that she will use on her wedding day. Available in gold, rose gold and silver, this wedding toasting flutes and cake server set will give the engaged couple an opportunity to celebrate in style. While the flutes are made of glass, the cake serving pieces are made of stainless steel.
To help the couple remember everything about the night they said "yes," gift them a museum grade print of what the stars looked like at that very moment.
Best engagement gifts under $100
Couples can enjoy amazing takeout from America’s top restaurants from the comfort of home. Goldbelly ships foods from across the country right to your door and offers gift cards ranging from $25 to $500.
Do your friends love to host dinner parties? This monogrammed soap and towel set will leave their bathroom picture perfect as they entertain. The fresh, clean scent that the soaps emanate will add an elegant smell to the clean appearance of the bathroom as well.
A personalized cheese board will instantly serve as a statement piece in any couple’s kitchen. This one can be customized with any number of messages and is the ideal gift for the foodies in your life.
Every couple needs a special keepsake box where they can store love letters, jewelry and more. This gorgeous option comes in several wooden finishes and can feature a custom engraved message.
It's a well known tradition to celebrate an engagement with a bottle of champagne, so why not gift them this luxe set of glasses for an elevated experience? These unique champagne glasses are designed to enhance the flavor of the beverage for a high-quality sip.
How fun is this?!? They’ll love playing this personalized version of a game night classic. They can even keep it out on display on a coffee table or bookshelf.
There’s always a blanket hog within the pair. Eliminate their nighttime tug-of-war with this practical (and hilariously genius) sheet set. The brand says this top sheet is wider than normal, splits right down the middle (but connects at the very end) and still neatly tucks into the foot of the bed, so both partners can sleep comfortably and soundly.
Forget tree trunks! This handmade piece of art brings the classic act of love indoors. It’s made by a husband-and-wife duo in Dallas who use sustainable materials to create one-of-a-kind pieces that couples and families can keep in their homes forever.
This fun personalized blanket is a great way to celebrate their soon-to-be-shared last name (if they're choosing to!). Choose from four color combos based on their *vibe* as a couple.
Best engagement gifts worth the splurge
Chances are they may need some new cookware if they’re moving in together. Our Place has got them covered with multi-functional kitchen staples like their oven-safe, cooktop-compatible Perfect Pot. It also comes with other useful cooking necessities like a roasting rack and notched beechwood spoon.
Choose between a set of two serving bowls that nest or a single serving bowl and then have them personalized with 60 characters of your choice! For recently engaged couples, we love the idea of inscribing their names and the date they got engaged, as they probably won't have a wedding date set yet.
They may also need some new furniture and decor for their first (or forever) home. The safest way to guarantee their happiness is to make sure they get whatever speaks to their aesthetic and square footage needs. West Elm offers gift cards spanning from $25 all the way up to $500 if you have the budget to splurge on the lucky couple.
An engagement is the perfect time for a celebration and what a better gift than a monogrammed wine bowl to keep the popped bubbles cold? It's offered in gold and copper finishes.
Couples who love hosting dinner parties will adore this beautiful, vintage-inspired Dutch oven. They'll be able to whip up their favorite casseroles, chilis, breads and more. The design is sleek enough to take it from oven to tabletop, and it's large enough to cook main dishes for up to four people.
Ideal for sports fans, campers and anyone who loves long hours spent outside, this spacious cooler makes the perfect group gift for a newly engaged couple. The durable, leakproof design features a tough-as-nails zipper, ultimate insulation and a roomy interior. As a bonus, the brand says it resists UV rays, mildew and punctures.
If they live or met in a big city, one of these gorgeous quilts would be an heirloom-level gift. It comes in a variety of cities, including Brooklyn (pictured), New York City, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago and Boston.
How we chose the best engagement gifts
The Shop TODAY editors and writers searched the internet to find the best gifts for newly-engaged couples. We used our own personal experiences with gifting products and brands to make shopping easier for our readers, including bestselling items that customers and reviewers loved. We also asked experts about their gifting advice to celebrate an engagement and chose products based on their guidance.
Meet our experts
- Myka Meier is an etiquette expert, author and founder of Beaumont Etiquette, an online etiquette program.
- Jackie Vernon-Thompson is an etiquette expert and author who teaches etiquette courses at Transformative Etiquette.
Don’t forget to check out Shop TODAY’s other gift guides to find the perfect present for everyone in your life including mothers, fathers, in-laws, boyfriends, girlfriends, employees, co-workers and bosses.
