Ideas for engagement gift

[AquaGirl]

Many of you are so creative, I thought I'd ask this question. A friend of ours just got engaged (never been married before.) She is in her 40s and from the Middle East (follows some Muslim customs, but not a strict Muslim). She is very big on giving and receiving gifts. She and her fiance both have their own homes and stuff. She is having several friends to dinner to celebrate her engagement and I want to bring a gift. She loves to cook. I was thinking about a really nice quality photo album with "Our Engagement" on the front. I will probably spend $40-60.
I would really appreciate some ideas.
THanks!

[chrisn]

What about something from Things Remembered? I've bought quite a few gifts from there when I can't think of anything else and it always seems to be well received.

This way you can personalize it with what you want or their names or date etc.

[Maryanne]

I'm noticing that many people aren't using albums anymore, but instead are ordering photo books of their prints instead....

just a thought....

but along that line, I wonder how she maintains recipes? I keep big three-ring binders with removable pages so that I can organize all my recipes. One Christmas, my sister gave me a beautiful leather one, personally stamped with a message, and I use it to maintain my favorites....

[liamsaunt]

Hi Bill,

Your idea sounds really nice. My only thought would be to wonder about buying more "stuff" since you say that they both have homes. They will probably be consolidating what they already have into one residence.

You say she loves to cook, what about something edible that they could share together? Obviously a gift of wine is out--that would have been my first thought. What about really good gourmet chocolates? Like Richart, for example:

http://www.richart-chocolates.com/

[djmom]

I am a huge Williams Sonoma fan for these sort of things, and the best thing is you can return.

What about salt and pepper shakers- you can never have enough of those- at least nice ones anyways!

There are some lovely blue ones here--really unique looking. I don't even like blue that much and I love these!!!


http://www.williams-sonoma.com/shop/coo ... Ftype=lnav

[Joshie]

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[canucknyc]

How about a good pre-nup software package?

-j

[loria]

do they both love to cook? do you know her cookbook collection? or her kitchen collection--one of the best gifts i ever got was a really great knife--(a henkels--that is still running after 16 years)
though knives as presents can be a bit weird for some cultures--
but you mentioned her cooking--so i was thinking cooking stuff--

[flip-flop]

I find cool stuff at www.redenvelope.com for occasions such as this. You can shop by occasion, not sure if engagement is an option but I am sure the wedding stuff would be on target.

[lprof]

I am simple...I like simple.

A small crystal bowl...nuts, candies, olives, sauces, flowers, even a candle, perhaps...pretty displayed empty.
Something like this:
http://www.crystalclassics.com/orrefors/orion.htm
depending on their tastes.

[Chickadee]

As you said, these two people will be coming together trying to combine their well-established separate lives. How about trying to find something that would celebrate their "togetherness" rather than their "separateness"? I don't really have any specific ideas in this vein....

A plant or tree for their new house / new life - something they can watch grow over the years?

A wedding keepsake box

Monogrammed aprons

I saw a pop-art picture where they "warhol-ize" a photo of the couple

[bevm]

How about a good pre-nup software package?

-j

LOL! How about a marriage survival kit? I would start with ear plugs, Advil, a bottle of Scotch and build from there...

[byado18]

A really nice picture frame!

[Pia]

I love the tree idea

Pia

[byado18]

A donation in their honor to their favorite non profit!