Broken Engagement Gift Etiquette

A “hope chest” is also known as a “glory box” or “cedar chest.” It is a very traditional piece of furniture, which was historically used by young, unmarried women to collect household goods, linens, and more, all in anticipation of marriage. Handcrafted versions are still produced today and are often made from solid wood like cedar or cherry.

When You Don’t Walk Up the Aisle…

Dear Mrs. Post: When an engagement ends before the march to the altar, what happens about the hope chest? That is, my fiancé or, I should say, my ex-fiancé, gave it to me last Christmas, and I have been storing my linens in it. Am I supposed to make some attempt to send it back to him?

Answer: I think that this is one thing that you might be expected to keep. He can hardly give a left-over hope chest to another girl, and it has really become more personal to you, than to him, since you have been filling it with things made and collected by you. However, ask him whether he would like it. If he wants it, then send it back to him. — Emily Post, 1941

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of  The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Fashionable Gilded Age Bridal Chests

“… These the up to date girl holds in disdain. Her chest must be really antique, of carved oak of English or Flemish make, or elaborately inlaid with marquetry of colored woods and dated or initialed with figures and characters eloquent of other times and manners.”

The Dower Chest

In Holland, the dower chest once formed a part of every bride’s equipment. Less portable, but more sightly than the Saratoga trunk, it fulfilled its purpose with grace and dignity, passing down as an heirloom from generation to generation. The modern chest is an easy thing to secure, but these the up to date girl holds in disdain. Her chest must be really antique, of carved oak of English or Flemish make, or elaborately inlaid with marquetry of colored woods and dated or initialed with figures and characters eloquent of other times and manners.There are very few of the genuine old fashioned dower chests to be seen on this side of the Atlantic. One of them in this city is a very massive affair, weighing several hundred pounds.—Buffalo Commercial, 1894

💍Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia