18 thoughtful gifts for newly engaged couples, from someone who recently got engaged

Whiskey is a way of life for some couples. You know the type; it's the only thing they order at bars, the drink they love to sip at parties even when the host went out of their way to make special cocktails, and the night cap they share at the end of a long day. A nice decanter set with gender-neutral glasses will make this couple very happy indeed.

It's becoming more and more common to have the top tier of a wedding cake preserved for the couple to eat on their one year anniversary. Give them something beautiful to serve it on, or to use for all their dinner parties and family gatherings in between.

They'll be getting enough bottles to fill up a whole rack, so this compact storage unit sure will come in handy.

A a Christmas gift this year, I got my partner a Grafomap of the exact spot where she proposed to me. It totally blew her away! The maps can be customized with different colors, zoomed in or out as far as you want, and you can even include a special date on your map.

Assuming they live together, they'll both be able to take advantage of this little desktop calendar to keep track of their days — but more importantly, they'll be able to reflect on all the sweet memories you chose for them to see again.

The engraving on the cake server says "how sweet it is" — perfectly apropos for a loving couple.

Date night doesn't always have to mean going out for a fancy dinner. Sometimes it's just about spending a night in with a pile of takeout, or taking the time to cook a nice meal together. Get them a cookbook that portions out ingredients for two so they know just what to make and how much to buy at the grocery store.

Shake things up a bit with a Champagne candle instead of a basic bottle (they'll be getting enough of those — I can tell you from experience!).

If wine isn't quite their thing, a gift set of loose-leaf tea might be the perfect alternative. It feels special and celebratory, but you can still operate a vehicle safely after having a few cups.

Give the newly engaged couple new sheets — and the freedom to personalize prints, sets, and sizes — with a gift card box to the internet's favorite bedding startup, Brooklinen. Senior editor Ellen Hoffman calls them one of the best purchases she's ever made.

Planning a wedding includes quite a bit of snail mail — invitations and thank-you notes, for starters — and a custom stamp can make the process go by much faster. Each gift set includes a self-inking stamper, one black ink cartridge, and one gift certificate that allows them to customize a stamp plate online.

If you've got a bigger budget, there's a beautiful copper version on Food52 from $185 as well.

If they've been living together for a while and you just can't think of anything they need at home, a beautiful bouquet of flowers are always a safe bet.

If you're looking for more options, check out the Insider Picks buying guide to the best flowers you can buy online.

Whether they travel all the time or just have big plans for their honeymoon, they'll definitely make use of this set. Either split the gift between them, or purchase one for each person — either way, you can't go wrong with a simple and useful gift like this.

Pop the Champagne ... bears, that is! They're probably going to be drinking a lot of Champagne in the upcoming months as they celebrate their engagement, so gift them these gummies for a sweet, edible change.

Candles might be a common gift, but Otherland's are among the best ones to give. That's because the scents are unique, the packaging is gorgeous, and everything down to the matchbox message — the engagement-themed one says "The Perfect Match" — is thoughtfully designed.

The fanciest DSLR can't beat the novelty and instant gratification of this Instax camera, which produces mini prints to slip in wallets and hang on the wall. Personally, we plan to pick a couple of these up for our wedding day so guests can take photos of each other and bring them home!

Their entry to the perfect smart-home setup starts with this Echo Dot smart bulb kit, which will let them turn their lights on and off or adjust the brightness with their voice.