CALLING ALL MEN: What''s YOUR dream engagement gift?

[reena]

Help! i need ideas for a nice engagement gift to give to my honey! he''s spending so much $$$ on a ring for me, and I want to get him something to be excited about, too.

The obvious answer here is a nice watch--but he already has a pretty nice one and I doubt he''d wear anything flashier than the one he has. (he''s fairly low key.) i know this isn''t at all sentimental or a keepsake, but he''s been DYING for a plasma screen TV (lol), and i know that that would make him SO much more excited than any other gift. whaddya think--lame? i know, i know, i would prefer to give him something that he''ll have forever, etc etc, but let''s be honest, he''s a guy, and he''d be about 100 times more thrilled to have a big cool new TV to show off to the guys and watch the game on than some cufflinks or something.

thoughts? other ideas?

 

[sevens one]

Have you check out boone rings?
Cool titanium rings. Lots of choices.

 

[Bethanying]

My BF (hopefully soon to be fiance) is a total no-frills kinda guy and a watch or any ring besides a wedding ring in out of the question. I know he wants a plasma tv or an x-box (I promise he's a grown man). I also was thinking about a nice engraved money clip or something like that. Any suggestions from males are appreciated here too!

Bethany

 

[lsmathis1]

Reena - I was just thinking of this as well! I want to give something to my sweetie as well...at least a keepsake, I wish I had the $$ for a plasma, but...yeah, can't do that right now, althought I would love to be able to.

I have to be discrete here because he sometimes reads PS.

I'd love to also hear of some good ideas

 

[lindsal]

Reena - I got my fiance a new IPOD (he already had one, but it was one of the orginial ones and was starting to loose battery life etc.)

He nearly tackled me and sent me down the stairs when I gave it to him. Just a thought if he a) doesn't have one and b) is as music obessesed as mine is.

 

[alexah]

My guy has a new iPOD, a new I-Mac, a new powerbook(he has two laptops), just got a new big screen TV - he loves 'em all...
If your guy's *that* kind of guy, then those kinds of gifts will probably bring him the most enjoyment!

Oh- here's another idea - i got my fiance a gift we could both enjoy - 6 days in the tropics on me... he was v happy

And sports tickets always come to mind - a block of tickets to see his favorite hockey (if there's a season), football, basketball or baseball team...

 

[noobie]

My dream engagement gift cannot be publically posted

.




Seriously, this may seem strange, since I don't wear jewelry, I asked for and got a super deluxe BBQ. I was tried of throwing away the cheap ones every couple of years. (Remember Tim on Tool Time) I still use it today. I probably would have even liked power tools, but I had more time for stuff like back then.




Now watches are nice gifts, I got a Tag as a wedding gift, but a nice self winding one in a nice wooden automatic winder would be good. Rolex and Breiting are mainstream, but something like an IWC is a little more unique.




Plasma is an EXCELLENT idea! Keep in mind the average life of a plasma is less than ten years. If you are serious about the plasma check out www.avsforum.com in the plasma section for what to buy. You'll get lots of help there.




Pool table if he likes pool and have the space for it. Other than that, a "him centered" vacation, such as a trip to Daytona 500 if he's a Nascar nut or a trip to the SuperBowl or Final Four etc are also good ideas.




Let us know what you get!

 

[Carmel]

reena ~

Boy, I must have really blown it when I got engaged. I thought I was the gift when I said yes.

And if you don’t believe that for yourself – you should. I’m going to take the traditional route and remind you that if you accept the proposal – you’re offering to give your husband a wife that he yearns to come home to everyday - for a lifetime. That’s a big deal. I’m talking about atmosphere, ambiance and your moods. It took a while for me to get it, too, but I’m incredibly happy that I did. I know I sound like a dried up old prune dishing out my moralizing advice here (and who on Earth would enjoy coming home to that!?!), but believe it or not I’m still fairly young and vivacious – and from time to time even a hoot.

So, take some anxiety off yourself, woman! You’ve got a stake in setting the tone here…Let your guy revel in the experience of giving you the engagement ring. Just let him ride on the symbolism for a while. Appreciation is most likely all he wants. Matching with a return engagement gift would only serve to distract from this significant event. Save gift giving to commemorate birthdays, Christmas and the like. It’ll be hard enough to figure out what to give him on those occasions five years from now. At the risk of sounding crude, this isn’t a swap meet. A man usually isn’t even concerned about getting something in return for an engagement ring – and if he is – well then…

Now before you all say it…Yes, I agree that I could use more tact. But after all, this is an opinion board. I just couldn’t keep this one to myself.

~ Carmel

 

[bar01]

Great Questions !

As a guy let me say I agree on the computers, TV's and electronics. I think plasma TV's are overated and expensive. If he does not want a huge HDTV this is a good model

Sony 34inch HDTV

If you want recommendations for any TV's or home theater go here:

Sound and Vision Magazine


Okay watches are always very nice. Seiko makes a nice priced kinetic series.

Seiko


Finally - if your man is a professional (business, engineering, finance, lawyer, doctor, etc...) I always like fine pens. Mont Blanc has a number of fine pens - but I like this top of the line model (it runs about $440 dollars).

Mont Blanc Silver Pen


Have Fun !

 

[BigDs2002v6]

My dream engagement gift would be, HMMMMMMMMMMM
Stainless Steel Mens ROLEX DATEJUST w/ MOP Dial Diamond Bezel & Lugs
HMMMMMMM

 

[wonka27]

The gift my g/f is giving to me...is paying off all her CC debt and adhering to my new structured budget for her.

She is actually doing quite well with it too. I'm proud of her, and more importantly she feels good about it too!

 

[moremoremore]

Ummm, Wonka....is that you? (my husband?)...lol

I was just going to write that seriously, my husband's favorite gift is the UN-GIFT...of not spending any money- especially on him. God, I love my low-maintenance guy!

 

[moremoremore]

We decided to not even do wedding gifs for eachother- it's really from the same pocket...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Reena,

Your husband is like mine. He's not into jewelry and sentimentality and would love a plasma TV, so. . . in consideration of this, I'd say YES, get the TV!!!

You need to keep you future husband's desires/likes in mind, not the gifts others would like. The biggest failure in gift giving, IMO, is buying somebody a gift that YOU would like rather than what they would like

Sounds like you already know the perfect gift, so why blow the idea for something that would leave him *pretending* to be pleased over.

Michelle

 

[verticalhorizon]

I'm not much of a jewelry person and I don't wear a watch, so if my FW were to get me something, then I would want it to be timeless. An iPod is nice (and surely I want one, so no disrespect), but it will eventually die or become out dated and who wants to hold onto a dead MP3 player for sentimental value? Although it is cool that you can engrave them.

But as it were, like some others here, I requested that I receive no gift in return. But, were money not so much of an issue... this is what I always would have wanted. Something that gets better with age, and will last a lifetime.

Vintage Gibson Les Paul 1959 (or 1960) or alternatively, the modern equivalent reissue at least!

 

[verticalhorizon]

Perfection.

 

[strmrdr]

nothing and dont want a material goods wedding day gift from her either.
It cheapens it.

 

[wonka27]

----------------
On 8/27/2004 1:32:02 PM moremoremore wrote:

Ummm, Wonka....is that you? (my husband?)...lol

I was just going to write that seriously, my husband's favorite gift is the UN-GIFT...of not spending any money- especially on him. God, I love my low-maintenance guy!

----------------

That's me...low maintenence! I have a hard time buying things for myself! I can never justify it. She is making me proud paying her debt down the way she is. All I want is to be in the best financial shape we can be in when we get a house and get married. I don't think that is too much to ask for!

 

[noobie]

----------------
On 8/27/2004 2:19:56 PM strmrdr wrote:





nothing and dont want a material goods wedding day gift from her either.
It cheapens it.

----------------

Sorry storm I don't agree with you. While I neither expected nor requested anything, only responded to a request to get me something, I would not deny the opportunity of a loved one to express their feelings. It really depends on the couple and their personal situations and preferences. Had it been nothing or something, it would not have changed anything and I don't believe exchanging gifts cheapens it. I was happy to receive something and would have been just as happy with nothing. I know the joy it gives me to give gifts (doesn't have to be material) and even though I am a huge PITA abour receiving gifts, I don't think it's fair to deny others that joy should they wish it.

 

[MelissaSue]

i got my b/f a new exhaust for his car for his "engagement present". However, he's had that now for about 2 weeks.. and I still don't have a ring.. NOT FAIR. No, in actuality i don't consier it an engagement gift at all, just something I felt like buying him at the time because we were getting a good deal on it and i felt like being nice.. but we semi-jokingly called it his engagement gift and I threatened to hold it for ransom til I got my ring.. but.. I gave in..

So.. he has his engagement gift.. but I feel like I'll never get that ring

 

[moremoremore]

Wonka- OK- you ARE my husband. I don't know any other 30 year old, full time professionals on an allowance. lol.... Maybe your girl though. I'll get a phone call...."So, what'd you buy at Macys today for $54.72"...He always sneeks peeks at my online banking. But THANK god I have him to keep me in check. At least your gal cooperates...Bills? What are those?

And strmrdr- it has nothing to do with cheapening anything. A gift never cheapens anything. We just chose not to do it.

 

[alexah]

VH, how much is that Les Paul??

 

[verticalhorizon]

Alexah,

Ah... vintage instruments, esp. guitars, almost rival diamonds, b/c they have a definite aftermarket appreciation. I'm not even sure how much an actual 1959/1960 Les Paul would cost.

A brand new 2004 Gibson Les Paul Classic, which is basically a repro of the 1960 model retails for around $2,500, but could probably be had for $1,700-1,800.

So I could guess a vintage one would run anywhere from $5,000-10,000 depending on it's condition. But that's just a guess. If it was signed, fuggitaboutit! EDITED: I take that back... after looking a bit... new Les Paul Standards are between $5k-9k... so a vintage one would be way more than that!

If anyone is interested in buying a guitar for an engagement present, even a new one would be ok. You can find a lutheir (someone who makes/services guitars) in the phone book (if anyone uses those anymore) and maybe have some custom inlay work done on the fretboard or headstock. That would be cool. I wouldn't recommend modifying a vintage instrument though. Eeek!

I'm also fond on mandolins. I don't have one at all at the moment, and after seeing Nickel Creek's Chris Thile in action... I definitely need one now!

 

[Robyn12]

I agree with the people who have said not to give him such an extravagent engagement gift. I have never heard of that... I think it's a special thing for a man to do, to give an engagement ring. Let him give... I feel by giving him such an extravagent gift, it may make him feel he gave less, somehow...

I think it'd be nice to be generous with him for future gifts, if you feel you want to spoil him back -- but I would let the engagement just be about him offering you a ring and asking you to marry him, and you saying yes. That is what you're giving.

If you wanted to have something small and symbolic, that could be nice --

Just my two cents.

Good luck!

 

[alexah]

I think everyone's going to feel differently about whether or not the guy *deserves* a gift too...
If he had a budget & ya blew it cuz ya *had* to have a certain stone/ring, I'd definately get him a present for how much $ over he'd gone & i'd do it gladly... but that's just me.

I didn't actually go over budget at all but i still took him on a trip to celebrate our engagement because i felt it was the right thing to do, for me / for us

just my way of sayin *THANKS!*

 

[alexah]

VH, thanks so much for all that terrific info!! I've always wondered how much those babies go for when ma'love's droolin all over their pics

I would probably do a poor job of picking out a guitar for him anyway since he's v particular... oh- and he has 5 already (2 electric & 3 acoustic). He was talkin about gettin a mandolin a few wks ago tho........ hmmm...........

 

[Dancing Fire]

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On 8/27/2004 11:03:56 AM reena wrote:

Help! i need ideas for a nice engagement gift to give to my honey! he's spending so much $$$ on a ring for me, and I want to get him something to be excited about, too.

The obvious answer here is a nice watch--but he already has a pretty nice one and I doubt he'd wear anything flashier than the one he has. (he's fairly low key.) i know this isn't at all sentimental or a keepsake, but he's been DYING for a plasma screen TV (lol), and i know that that would make him SO much more excited than any other gift. whaddya think--lame? i know, i know, i would prefer to give him something that he'll have forever, etc etc, but let's be honest, he's a guy, and he'd be about 100 times more thrilled to have a big cool new TV to show off to the guys and watch the game on than some cufflinks or something.

thoughts? other ideas?----------------

reena,
if you decide on a watch, you must take a look at Lange & Sohne line, they are made in germany. they are very low key watches. i bought a Lange 1 two years ago, and since then i've stop wearing my rolex.

 

[reena]

holy mother of g*d! really busy day at work today so this is the first i've been able to check my post, and wow! so many responses. you guys rock--can't wait to read what you all wrote later on this evening. (gotta get out of the office before i go batty!)

thanks in advance for the advice . . .

 

[Jennifer5973]

Think about his hobbies/what interests him and maybe find something cool and unique that shows you really thought about what he'd like/use/enjoy most.

My husband is a big poker player so I recently got him his own green felt poker table and real casino chips, plus a year's supply of fresh cards (you have to open a new pack for each game). I also encourage him to have his friends over for poker nights and I make all kinds of food and set it all up for him. In fat, he's having one tongiht (I am so bored!

) I know he appreciates it.

I'm rambling but what I am trying to get across is more than a gift at one time, always show him how much you appreciate him by doing little things he likes. Men love that stuff just as much as women do.

Congrats again to you--I wish you guys all the happiness!

 

[websailor]

Let's see, maybe I can say one thing....

At least once per week, while being close to each other (like while watching TV), very casually and slowly play with the top button on your blouse...eventually make it come undone. Let your fingers drift down to the next one down.....


I read that in Cosmo one time...seemed like a nice gift!