A Peek into our “Newly Engaged” Box

Written by Alex, with comments from Abby. Note, this box has sold out.

Alex had made it seem like we were just taking any old photo… then slowly turned to me and got down on one knee! This still makes me choke up—heart full of surprise and elation.

ALEX
You never forget the excitement of first getting engaged. I was nervous as heck before proposing to Abby. I thought about proposing one way, then changed my mind, and proposed a different way 24 hours later. There was a rush of joy and relief after she said yes.

ABBY
Haha, so cute that you say “relief”—like I’d ever say no to you. I’d say “yes,” again and again. Or, to more accurately reflect what I said in the actual moment: “REALLY?!”

ALEX
12 hours after I proposed we were looking at wedding venues. It was a ridiculously fast turnaround from proposal to wedding planning without any period to enjoy the moment, but to be fair, the proposal happened on Cape Cod, the same place where the wedding would be held, and since we’re from Texas, we had to make use of our time there.

ABBY
HAHA! This is so true. Literally—12 hours! My best friend, Wendy, who has known me since infancy, called us the next morning, excited with a plan to drive to multiple venues with her son, Oliver, in tow. Oliver and Alex bonded over the fact that all they really wanted to do was run around and play. If I recall, we bribed both boys with Oreo cookies.

Wendy and her family :) Also, an accurate depiction of how passionate Oliver is about playing on the beach, rather than searching for venues.

ALEX
Nonetheless, the time between engagement and being in the throes of wedding planning is something to be cherished as best as can be. Abby and I certainly wish we had more time in that sweet phase of our relationship.

We developed this engagement gift box with all of that in mind. We wanted items that would remind a couple of that special, life-changing moment, help them to to plan for their BIG day, and entice them with ideas of what the future holds.

The first item in this gift box is from Brummel & Bivvy, an Austin candle company that hand pours each and every candle and uses soy wax, wooden wicks, and recycled glass/corks. They have an extremely refined sense of smell, and their candles will transport you in time and space. You’ll find yourself obsessing over the scent, coming back again and again to smell, and, for a moment, go to a faraway place.

We chose the Water’s Edge scent due to its incredibly pure, clean scent with earthy undertones. The candle features bergamot, redwood, and bay leaf scents. We also found something poetic about the name “Water’s Edge”, imagining a couple standing at that edge, about to embark on their new journey together.

ABBY
Yes! Love that romance it brings to the box. The scents pair so well together… and the crackle of that wood wick—it’s addicting.

ALEX
Next up in the gift box is the Farmhouse Piggy Bank. If someone could pay for their entire wedding using only these piggy banks, I would love to meet that person. Less of a practical gift, these serve as a reminder that weddings cost money. Sometimes (usually) BIG money. But even small weddings require saving. These cute piggies will remind the lovely wedding couple to keep saving, every day, for that one special day.

ABBY
Wendy, who I promptly asked to be my “Best Woman,” used to call us—checking in on how the wedding planning was going. Something she told us frequently was “it’s just one day,” which always made me feel better. Yes, it’s a super special day, but it’s also only ONE day. So whether the couple uses the piggy for wedding savings, honeymoon savings, house savings, or just as a rainy day fund, we hope the sound of their change clinking into the hollow belly will bring them joy.

ALEX
We also wanted this box to have something living in it that would grow with the newly engaged couple. That’s why we included Air Plant Hub’s Kolbii 2” Air Plant.

ABBY
The best part? These are super easy to take care of (which is crucial for a newly engaged couple, since there’s so much else to fill their minds). Simply submerge the plant in water for 30 minutes once a week, then hang upside down to dry for a few hours before putting it back in a sunny window.

ALEX
We thought these key tags from Towne 9 based in Seattle were perfect for this gift box. We loved their uplifting messages that would remind couples, especially those stressing about wedding plans, to enjoy the small moments and that it’s all worth it.

ABBY
And that when the planning gets to be too much, a drive to an ice cream shop can cure almost any petty argument.

ALEX
Finally, it’s hard to plan a wedding when you don’t know where to start. Every engaged couple, even if they feel they have an idea of how they want their wedding to go, will get overwhelmed at one point or another.

ABBY
For us, it was our first dance… we stressed SO hard over that! I love that we took lessons though—hopefully we’ll remember those steps forever.

ALEX
Abby created this guide to help couples knock items off their to-do lists with ease. Instilling your friends with this info is a gift unto itself.

ABBY
Congrats to the happy couple you know!