questions about engagement announcement dinner?
A very dear cousin (the groom-to-be) is getting engaged to a woman who lives out-of-state. They have invited a small group of family (about 15 people) to come to dinner at a nice restaurant in celebration of their engagement.
They are not billing this as an engagement party. Some of the family has not met the bride-to-be because she lives out of state, so this is their chance to even meet her. My husband & I have met her and like her alot.
I don't know if this matters or not, but both are established adults, the groom-to-be is a widower with no children, the bride-to-be is divorced with 3 children from her marriage.
I'm definitely getting them a congratulatory card, but really want to do something extra for them -- because they are established, they don't need typical stuff. So I was thinking flowers, a gift basket (fruit/tea/cheese), or something like that -- basically something that they will use up, rather than some knick-knack that they don't need.
Would it be inappropriate to bring a gift to the dinner?
If it is not inappropriate, does anyone have any tips on what might be a nice gift for them?