The Rules of Engagement (Gifts)

The holidays are nearly upon us and couples everywhere are sure to take advantage of the magic of the season by getting engaged.  So ,with all these upcoming engagements, sooner or later you're going to be invited to your first engagement party and, like us, will have no idea what to get the happy couple! The bridal shower covers the couple's domestic needs and the wedding gives them some cash to build their life on, but what does an engagement gift mean? Well, for starters, it's not meant to break the bank. As we've already discussed, you have plenty of gift giving opportunities coming up, so let's keep the present giving at a reasonable level. Next, think of things the couple may want or need in their wedding planning. Finally, have a little fun with it. Take the couple out on a wild night out, give them monogrammed towels, treat them to a spa day -- your gift doesn't have to fit in a box! Here are some engagement gift ideas that we think you'll find helpful.

We're not going to lie, we got this idea from the movie 21 Dresses. A membership to the International Wine of the Month Club is a great gift for the happy couple to unwind with. You can specialize your gift package based upon type of wine and duration of the gift. This gift may be a little pricier, but definitely a great gift for the right couple.

This gift is a little more practical and affordable, and perfect for the busy bride. A wedding planner, such as the one pictured above from The Knot, will help the happy couple in planning their pending nuptials. The Knot Ultimate Wedding Planner comes with worksheets and check lists, as well as money saving tips and a FAQ section.

Get some wedding art to commemorate the big day. Something simple like this customized print from lollieland would be a nice gift for any couple. Personalize it with the couple's wedding date and colors (if known) and you have an intimate and affordable present to celebrate the couple's big day.

A restaurant gift certificate is a great idea when you're looking for a last minute gift or are unsure of what to get someone. Everyone loves going out to eat, and for some reason a restaurant gift certificate feels a bit more intimate than a regular gift certificate. Just pick a nice place that the couple either frequents or would like to try, and make the budget large enough to include drinks, appetizers, coffee and dessert as well as dinner.

We love this personalized doormat by damngooddoormats. It's a great gift for your nerdy friends, and will make a nice addition to their home. Just double check that the bride intends on changing her name, otherwise it can result in an awkward conversation!

One of our favorite gift ideas is purchasing a fully stocked picnic basket. Bed Bath and Beyond has a bunch of different styles for different prices. Most baskets come loaded with plates, napkins, glasses, and cutlery, but there's always room to throw in a bottle of wine, some jams and spreads, and chocolate to give the gift a more personalized touch.

Or, chip in with some friends and get them an "Experience Day".  There are a variety of adventures and lessons to choose from, such as a Philly Food Cart Crawl, Dolphin Watching, or even a lesson in Ballroom Dancing to get them prepared for their first dance as husband and wife!  Whichever you choose, it's sure to be a fun time.

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Real Engagement: Mike and Sheryl

Perhaps you remember back in May, when we had written about how we were desperately searching for dresses to wear to our good friend, Mike's, wedding. Well, Mike and his new bride, Sheryl, are so important to us that we've decided to feature them in a multi-post "Real Couple" series!

Sheryl and Mike met back in April of 2004 at NJIT, in Newark, New Jersey, and have been together ever since. Introduced by a mutual friend (who would later become the charming best man), they began chatting online, dining at the campus cafeteria, and watching the latest episode of The O.C. (oh how we miss it...). Their relationship continued to grow, they began dating officially, and eventually Mike and Sheryl graduated college and moved in together.  
Then one day Mike, being ever so sneaky, created a romantic candle lit path in a park in Sheryl's hometown and lured Sheryl there saying they were having ice cream. Sheryl never did get that ice cream... but, she did get a ring!  This particular ring meant a lot to Sheryl, and she wrote to us with the story behind the ring that was so sentimental and sweet that we had to share it with you as well.  Sheryl writes, "Mike proposed using my grandmothers diamond set on a setting I had pointed out a few months before. She had been sick for awhile and had given it to my mom for me or my sister to use. The day after he proposed we went to visit her to tell her the good news, and she passed away the next day."  

So, with Grandma's blessing, they began their wedding planning and decided they wanted to work with Wayne Yuan, of Wayne Yuan Photography, for their engagement and wedding photography.  We asked Sheryl why they picked Coney Island and she said they loved the colors and industrial feel. She went on to add, "there is something about that place that makes it eerie and amusing all at the same time, and there is so much to offer in such a small area that allows for a lot of great photo opportunities." Coney Island was an exciting, entertaining, and bustling spot during the early 19th century and to this day its allure is still apparent.  Maybe it's the smell of cotton candy and funnel cakes, maybe it's the history and romance wondering how many couples had courted there before them, or maybe it's just genuine love for one another, but whatever it is, these photos really capture Mike and Sheryl's joy in being together. We think Wayne did a brilliant job capturing the moment, and we love the bright colors, sweet poses, dramatic lighting, and composition. Take a look for yourself!  

Thanks, Mike and Sheryl for sharing your engagement with us!  And thanks to Wayne Yuan for the beautiful eye candy!  

Check back next Friday for Mike and Sheryl's Wedding!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira

Engagement Photo Session

When you're in love, you want to share it with the world! That's why many couples like to announce their pending nuptials through an engagement photo shoot!  We browsed theknot.com for some unique photo shoot inspirations, and here are our favorite picks:

We love this cute beach motif captured by Leigh Miller Photography. The grainy pictures and vintage styling give this a wonderful retro feel that really reflects the couple's personal style.  Plus the matching outfits are too cute!

These photos by Caroline Tran are sweet and whimsical, with a great use of color.  We love that the couple is dressed simply in white, causing the vibrant red balloons to really pop! 

Engagement photos can be used to tell a story, like recreate how the happy couple first met and fell in love! We love this approach, as photographed by Jesse Leak Photography, because it recreates a real life fairytale, complete with eating pizza and walking into the sunset. 

Don't be afraid to play dress up! This photo shoot by Punam Bean Photography creates an eclectic look, pairing vintage fashion with the gorgeous Redwood Forest. We love the couple's unique style and their fun poses, plus they look so happy together!

Strike a pose, dolls!

XOXO,

Jen & Saira