man engagement gift

[midgirl]

Hey LIW!
My bf recently hinted that he would rather have a bass than a watch for an engagement present.

I am an idiot so if anyone can help me out please do...

Do basses go out of style every few years or are they like grand pianos, classic style forever?

I don''t mind getting him a bass ($1,000) but I was also looking forward to getting him a great watch I found recently...

any suggestions or answers?~?~

 

[ilovesparkles]

Hmmm, an engagement gift cuz a man doesn''t get a ring? Never heard of that! Wow I feel a little out of the loop now! Well if you can''t afford both I would get him the bass. Think of it as the diamond you want vs a diamond you don''t want maybe?Sorry I cant be of much help.

AManda

 

[allycat0303]

Midgirl, I think you should get him what he wants. My boyfriend didn''t want a watch either (he doesn''t wear one) and I''m buying him a big screen tv. I don''t think a bass will go out of a style, an instrument is an instrument right? As long as the sound comes out of it, I don''t see how it will be out of style...But I''m not sure either...hopefully there are some bass players that will chime in

 

[Erin]

I don't know anything specifically about basses, but just like diamonds, just like anything - you can buy one that does what it's supposed to, or you can buy one that's exceptional quality. Just like a diamond, don't go to the first music store (Zales) and buy the first one you see. Do Your Research!

Better woods make for better sound reverberation, high quality strings, etc.

ETA: I've bought my bf two different watches that I loved. The first one he thinks is perfect and practically wears it to sleep. The second I bought was more contemporary and unique looking. I have to beg him to put it on when we go out because I love it but he thinks it too weird looking and he thinks it's too heavy for his wrist. If he told you a watch doesn't do much for him - I wouldn't get it. It might end up lying on his dresser 359 days a year like his second watch does.

 

[Ready2Sparkle]

This one confused me . . . I couldn''t really believe that he would rather have a fish!

Then I thought maybe it was a Bass beer (a little more understandable

) then finally I figured it out.

 

[anchor31]

If it''s a bass he wants and that''s what he''s going to play, get him a bass!! I play music too non-professionally, and I will cherish my instrument forever.

Good luck!

 

[midgirl]

Hmmm he has shown me a few really nice basses. We could get one for $400 but my budget (a secret) is $1,000-1,300. I kow I can get a wonderful instrument for that price. I am also a musician just not bass so I know not to buy the first one I see!! I just want him to tell me what he wants!

I wanted to get him a watch though

But I guess if he wanted to get me a heart shaped diamond but I wanted a round I would hope he would get me what I wanted.

Thanks guys!

 

[Erin]

Could you get the bass ''engraved'' ?

 

[AndyRosse]

Get him whatever he wants!!

 

[wedding_crasher]

Date: 3/2/2006 10:54:35 AM
Author: Ready2Sparkle
This one confused me . . . I couldn''t really believe that he would rather have a fish!

Then I thought maybe it was a Bass beer (a little more understandable

) then finally I figured it out.

This was my exact train of thought too!

I''m sure he''ll love whatever you get him...but what will he get more use out of? If you think he''ll wear the watch enough, go with that...if you think he''ll use the fish/beer/instrument more, go with that. You just don''t want to get something that will just end up collecting dust.

 

[sunkist]

Date: 3/2/2006 1:26:19 AM
Author:midgirl
Hey LIW!

Do basses go out of style every few years or are they like grand pianos, classic style forever?

I don''t mind getting him a bass ($1,000) but I was also looking forward to getting him a great watch I found recently...


any suggestions or answers?~?~

How could a bass go out of style? Basses have been around forever! They make beautiful music. They''re essential to an orchestra and some good jazz! There are some people who might just not ever like a bass, but obviously he does! So I think you should get him what he wants

I know you''re getting the ring you want

 

[argh&stuff]

Wait. Wait. Wait!!

Men get an engagement present? Is that normal?

What do you do, carry it around with you until the day us guys finally drop to our knee and ask?

I''ve NEVER heard of this. Ever.

My girl''s made no mention of it, or is it like this secret that doesn''t get mentioned?

 

[sunkist]

I never heard of it until here on PS. I'm not a supporter of the idea, but if you want to buy a gift or if he wants a gift, go ahead and get one for him!

 

[Mandarine]

It''s funny...I never heard of it either but my BF once said that men should also get something, kind of jokingly...he didn''t know people actually do this!!...

So I will get something, just to surprise him and to let him know I remembered his comment!

I don''t think I will get it before hand....I will get it afterwards and surprise HIM with my own plans

I think it will be cute and I love surprising him!

M~

 

[Diam100]

Actually the Groom can not only get an engagement gift but a grooms cake. My husband was given the engagement gift at our rehearsal dinner & had his small groom's cake served at our wedding. It's usually a themed cake meaning it's tied to something the groom loves to do. Can be sports themed ie looks like a football, putting green for a golf junkie, hunting, job or whatever. I didn't have to do it but since my husband comes from the South I figured it was something fun to do just for him & a great surprise.

So I say go for it. My husband loved his gift & thought his little cake was great.

 

[argh&stuff]

I''ve heard of the groom''s cake at the reception dinner. I want a skyline cake. That''d be nice.

Now I''m curious as to whether or not my girl''s gonna get me something.

She gives me little tokens all the time... well, this might end up being a surprise time for both of us.

Interesting...

 

[anchor31]

I decided long ago that I would give my boyfriend an engagement gift, but this was a personal choice. I figured: he''ll give me something beautiful that''ll love forever that''ll be really expensive too, so why should I be the only one getting a present? I knew he wants that XBOX and was thinking about buying it this year, so I decided to give it to him when we get engaged. I told him and he''s so excited about it! I''ve wondered if he''s not going to propose sooner just for that...

We''ll go and buy it together once we''re engaged so he can make sure he has all the gadgets he wants and pick out his game.

And let me tell you it significantly ups his budget for my ring too...

It''s really a personal choice, I don''t think a guy should be offended or disappointed if he doesn''t get one.

 

[MissAva]

He he, I feel your pain I wanted to buy V a Breitling, but instead I bought him an Alienware computer. In this case it is about knowing what they want and providing if possible. I would ask him to pick two or three he would be happy with (no ranking order) and you pick one of those. Good Luck!

 

[rainbowtrout]

well, mine is a watch geek, so anything less than a patek or random broken Soviet watches he likes to fix would be coals to newcastle. I can''t afford a patek (no kidding!) and the broken watches are a little....hm.




I''m chipping in a few (3-4) hundred to the ring, its all I can afford honestly.


Matatora---those are very nice computers though

I feel your pain!

 

[ellewoods]

I don't think engagement gifts for men are that common yet, but its certainly not rare these days. It's definitely not some sort of "secret" among women/girlfriends though....its more of a personal choice and not a engagement tradition, so for those guys who have never heard of it -- probably means your GF hasn't either and I wouldn't expect her to surprise you with a new TV or something. And out of the last 5 of my girlfriends who got married in the last couple years, I've only known 1 who gave her BF an engagement gift (it was a fancy watch).

I've heard of engagement gifts for men like plasma TVs, some sort of nice jewelry or watch, a new set of top of the line golf clubs, etc. Yes, they don't sound as romantic as an engagement ring but it seems like those types of things are what men like.

So if your boyfriend would rather have a bass than a watch, buy the nicest one you can afford and knock his socks off.

I think for engagement gifts to men, at least from what I can tell with my own boyfriend, the gift is not about the emotional commitment, keepsake heirloom type of thing, but rather a nice unexpected gift to your fiance, that recognizes that he has made a big decision and should share in some of the fun too, so its great to give him something he really likes or enjoys -- but emphasize his likes and hobbies and interests, not so much the emotional symbolism of engagement/marriage (unless your BF is really emotional like that and wants his own engagement ring or something).

I'm planning on buying my boyfriend a very nice watch for his engagement gift (whenever that happens!) -- probably a Breitling or a Rolex. But no, I'm not buying it and carrying it around until he proposes.

I will buy it after he proposes. He definitely loves nice watches and wants another and I've mentioned that I would want to get him one for his engagement gift, and he was happy about that. Although I certainly don't think he's actually expecting a gift.

But for the type of ring we've discussed.....$3,000 for a nice watch for him is a bargain for me.