You are invited to the PACS of a friend or family member and are wondering if you should bring a gift? Are you looking for a gift idea for this occasion?
You’ve come to the right place.
As a wedding and civil union planner, I help couples prepare for a partnership that reflects who they are and what they want. While some civil unions are seen as a purely administrative step, others are considered by the future partners to be a real wedding, which means you should bring a gift when you’re invited.
Today, I’m sharing my methods and tips for finding the perfect gift, based on the type of civil partnership and your relationship with the future partners.
First of all, I recommend checking to see if there will be a PACS ceremony and any celebrations planned. If so, you can give a gift similar to what you would for a wedding. If not, you can still give a gift if you wish, especially if it’s friends or close family members who are entering into a PACS. To delight them according to their tastes, you could offer a shared experience (like a meal, getaway, or activity), a decorative item (such as art, a plant, or a stylish piece of furniture), or a romantic and symbolic gift for this special occasion (like a preserved rose or a rose-shaped bear…).
Want to learn more? Keep reading to discover:
- Is it necessary to give a gift for a civil partnership?
- How to choose a gift that the future partners will appreciate
- What type of gift to give based on your relationship with them
- A selection of gift ideas for this occasion
Do We Give Gifts for a Civil Partnership?
Increasingly recognized, unions established through a civil partnership, also known as PACS, often differ significantly from one another.
This really depends on the personalities of the couple entering into the civil union and how important the signing of this contract is to them.
Your friends or loved ones have decided to enter into a civil partnership, and you’re wondering whether you should give them a gift for this occasion? To help answer this question, there are several factors you can consider, which I will detail in the following lines.
➡️ While for some people, the PACS (Civil Partnership) is merely an administrative formality, for others it represents a true little wedding. If you’ve received an invitation and are invited to a celebration, you’re likely looking at the second scenario. In that case, it’s expected that you will give a gift just as you would for a wedding.
➡️ If you are part of the immediate family (parents, siblings, etc.) of the couple getting domestic partners, I recommend that you consider giving a gift for this occasion, even if there is no celebration planned.
➡️ If no ceremony is planned and the couple wishes to remain discreet about this event, you can still give them a gift if you like, but you might consider doing it during a shared moment together (a dinner at home, an outing, a meal at a restaurant), without making it too formal or official. They will surely appreciate it!
What Gift to Choose for a PACS?
Are you looking to give a gift to celebrate this union? To help you out, here are some tips to help you choose a perfectly suited gift that will truly delight the recipients.
Find a Gift That Matches Their Taste 💖
To find a gift that they’ll truly appreciate, I recommend asking yourself what the soon-to-be married couple enjoys doing together every day.
For example, if your friends or loved ones aren’t the type to enjoy the outdoors, it might not be the best time to treat them to a weekend in nature!
Don’t forget that this is a gift for both partners: for this type of occasion, activities, vacation getaways, or even home décor items are all great options, as they cater to the couple and allow them to share a special moment together.
Choose Your Gift Based on Your Relationship with the Couple 💑
To avoid creating discomfort for the couple entering a civil partnership and for their loved ones, I recommend that you adjust the value of your gift based on your relationship with the partners:
- If you are colleagues, neighbors, friends, or distant family: I recommend a gift valued at under fifty dollars, such as a decorative item or a plant.
- If your brother, sister, or best friend is getting a civil partnership: in this case, you could give them an experience, a meal at a restaurant, or a beautiful symbolic item that they will cherish for a long time.
- If your child is entering a civil partnership, as a parent, you have the freedom to celebrate. If you want to treat them to a trip or a nice meal to commemorate the occasion, this is the perfect opportunity!
👉 If you’d like, you can also team up with others (friends, family members, colleagues, etc.) to make a group gift! This way, you’ll have a bigger budget to put together a lovely present for everyone.
Adapt to the Type of Ceremony 🎉
If the couple who are entering into a civil partnership has chosen to unite in a rather informal way, without a traditional “wedding” ceremony, I recommend giving them a small gift if you’d like, while avoiding an expensive gift that you would typically reserve for a wedding.
In this situation, avoid giving jewelry or other family heirlooms: many couples get married a few years after entering into a civil partnership, and a wedding is the perfect opportunity for such gifts.
👉 If the couple doesn’t get married later, it will also be possible to give them these gifts on the occasion of the birth of their first child, for example.
Get Inspired by the Theme Chosen by the Couple! 🎁
If there are festivities happening, you can draw inspiration from the theme that the couple has chosen for the event when selecting your gift.
For example, for a rustic and nature-themed PACS ceremony, you can offer bohemian décor!
If the theme is more about a specific era (like the 1930s or 1950s), it’s a great time to find a beautiful item from that period to gift to the couple who is getting civilly partnered.
A Small Selection of Perfect Gift Ideas for a Civil Partnership
Finally, I’ve put together a short list of gift ideas that are perfect for celebrating a civil partnership.
In this list, you’ll find gift ideas ranging from the most classic to the most unique, tailored to suit the tastes of the recipients.
A Home Decor Item 🏠
It’s a perfect gift for a young couple who are getting engaged.
Indeed, this is meant for both partners and will enhance their everyday life. If you’re not a fan of useless items, you can gift them a beautiful clock, stylish chairs, or an elegant mirror to put in the entryway. The possibilities are endless!
A Fun Activity to Share 🏄♀️
While it can sometimes be challenging for a couple to find time to spend together due to work, studies, home maintenance, and leisure activities, this can be a great opportunity to create lasting memories.
Here’s a short list of moments to share, ranging from the classic to the most unique:
- A meal at a restaurant
- A day of sports: rope climbing, kayaking, and more…
- A spa or massage session
- A workshop to explore a creative or craft-related profession (woodworking, leatherworking, etc.)
- A round of escape room
A Vacation Getaway 🏖️
In the same spirit, you could give a vacation stay as a PACS gift.
Like a honeymoon, these few days spent discovering an unknown place make for a wonderful gift idea that will surely be cherished by those who get to enjoy it!
A Grape Vine Sponsorship 🍇
This is about providing a wine and vineyard culture sponsorship experience: this type of gift will usually allow the couple to visit a winery, receive a few bottles with their names on them, and track the growth of the vines throughout the year.
This is the perfect gift for those who appreciate French cuisine and fine wine. Plus, it’s a gift that can be easily booked online, which is super convenient!
A Symbolic Plant or Tree to Grow in Your Garden 🌳
If the couple getting a civil partnership owns (or will soon own) a home with a garden, you can gift them a tree or a plant that they can plant in the ground and watch it grow.
It’s a beautiful symbol of the moments of happiness that they will share over time as a couple.
A Video or a Photo Album Memory 🎞️
This is typically a homemade gift from friends and family of the couple, meant to surprise them!
Thus, during weddings, a portion of the celebration is often dedicated to the viewing of a slideshow featuring photos, memories, and more. This is something that can certainly be done for a civil partnership celebration as well!
If you’re not in the mood to create a slideshow, you can also make a DIY photo album either by hand or using an app on your phone (like Monalbumphoto, Fizzer, etc.).
A Romantic Gift to Celebrate Their Union 🌹
For a meaningful gift that reflects the love shared by the future spouses, you can also consider floral decorative items such as eternal roses or rose bears.
These trendy gifts perfectly express the feelings shared by a couple entering into a civil partnership. They are ideal for giving to close family members, friends, or even your partner if you are the one getting partnered!
Looking to gift a cloche with an eternal rose or a floral teddy bear? Explore a wide selection of quality floral gifts directly from our online shop!
I hope this article has helped you find the perfect gift to celebrate a civil partnership.
If you’re also wondering what outfit to wear for this occasion, feel free to check out the dedicated article on this topic that I wrote on this blog!