Is it normal to have an Engagement Gift Registry?
No…in fact, it is not necessary for anyone to even give you an engagement present! Some people, like close friends or immediate family members, may choose to give you a small gift when you get engaged, but don’t plan on any big-ticket items until at least your bridal shower. Go ahead and register now so people can buy you things off the registry for whatever they feel comfortable with- the shower, the wedding itself, or both. I got a couple small engagement presents- one friend bought me like 5 bridal magazines the day after I got engaged so I could start geeking out, LOL, and another friend bought me a book called Bridal Bargains, and a co-worker thoughtfully gave a me a book filled with essays on love and marriage. But I never really expected anything.
I had one for my engagement party, and I’m so glad I did. 1) You get the gifts you really want 2) You save time later by beginning your registry now, as opposed to a few months before the wedding when you have a million things to do on your list! Definitely do it. You won’t regret it. And most people will appreciate it, because they won’t know what to get you.
No it is not normal and should not be done. I do realize stores offer “engagment registries” but that of course is another piece they can suck the life out of people when the word wedding appears. Engagements are to celebrate the promise of two people getting married. They are for the two families to meet and start plans. They are in no way shape or form a gift giving occasion. That is reserved for the bridal shower if someone chooses to throw you one.
No – as everyone else has said it’s tacky. And greedy. I find the concept of registries tacky altogether – telling people what you want them to buy you and how much you want spent on you. I think gifts should come from the heart, not from a list. I know it saves getting mutiples of the same item but really, you are asking people to buy you gifts for your engagement, shower and wedding because YOU have chosen to get married. If you ask for engagment presents you are just going to cause resentment of your guests because you are asking them to keep shelling out $$$ because of a choice you made. BTW, congrats on your engagement!
No, it it not done separately. You keep engagement parties and showers in mind when you select your gifts. Choose large and small gifts to give people ideas for all the events. The stores would have you believe that you should have two, but don’t. It is not common, it is tacky and rude and greedy. The wedding industry is in the business to make money, and will suck you dry if given the chance to do so . You guests are not stupid, they know about wedding vs. engagement gifts, they will get you what they want to, in the price range of their choice, and choose traditional gifts if they want.
