The hope chest

My mom has my grandma's hope chest in her bedroom! It was given to my grandmother by my grandfather when they got engaged.

I think I will get mine if they have a shower for me. I guess it could have just about anything in it. My mom has hers in her bedroom but didn't realize it had stuff in it for the wedding.

I'm familiar with the concept but I don't personally have one. They used to be used as part of the dowry in some cultures. My parents have one in their basement. It's full of different heirlooms from past generations.

We're using a miniature box modeled after one for our card box and are having a custom metal plate engraved to put on the top.

@Raegin I love that idea!

I have a hope chest it's sitting in the living room. My FH and I already went through it to see what we already had in order to put together a list for our registry. I also have 2 other cedar chest holding all my shoes and more bakeware lol I really like the way they look.

My FMIL made a hope chest for our "future son" that has not been conceived. We have never talked about wanting a future son. It creeped me out so so bad. BUT if the kid has already been conceived/born, I think it could be a sweet gesture to keep family momentos and such.

ETA: Waiiit what is this hope chest you speak of? The one my FMIL made has like prayers for our "future son" and toys and clothes for him. Is this more like a gift of housewarming stuff for a new couple? That seems nice.

@Lyla this is kinda like a big shower gift but it doesn't go to the shower. It could have anything from handmade linens to plates I guess. It is supposed to be stuff the bride needs to start married life. I kinda hope she made me a wedding towel set for my bread and salt and to stand on during my wedding. That would be so special to me.

My great grandfather built one for me when I was born (64 years and it still looks great). I started putting things in it when I was a teenager. I am not aware that anyone else was supposed to put anything in it. The whole point is that what's in it is something YOU "hope" to use in your first home.

My husband has built every grandchild a toy chest similar to mine. Maybe when the girls outgrow their toys, I will explain what one is and maybe they will decide to use it for that. Currently mine holds all the photo albums passed down to me from 3 generations and all the mementos I keep of my parent's families. Every once in a while I will catch one of the older grandchildren looking through it and it always makes me smile.

My mom has my great grandmother's hope chest. Unfortunately, that tradition did not continue in my family. But the chest is a beautiful antique now!

My FH made one for me before we even got engaged haha! Since then, family has given me things to put in it. And I have been slowly accumulating things as well.

My Aunt did this for me but gave it to me when I moved into my first apartment. It was just house stuff. Keep us posted on what it in yours.

@Midwest May that is a wonderful tradition your husband does. The only think my grandmother said was the boys are going to have to carry it out of the bedroom when our house is finished. If I get anyone of her wonderful hand made stuff I will be thrilled.

Nobody ever made one for me, but I stole (i.e. she gave it to me) my grandma's when she had to move into an assisted living home and couldn't take it with her. My great grandpa got it for her when she was born. I had wanted a cedar chest for years. Sadly...it wasn't in its original condition...someone painted it a really ugly brown in the 70s instead of keeping it stained. So I repainted it grey and white. I have my living room blankets stored it in.

Yes, I've heard of these. I have something similar for my daughter. Keepsakes- letters I wrote to her when I was pregnant-

The other thing I've done is every year I let her pick out 1 or 2 Christmas ornaments I put the year on them with her initials- all of these will be hers when she has her own home. I started this with her first Christmas (baby's first Christmas of course! Lol)

@Svetlana. That sounds so sweet! I hope good stuff comes in yours. That would be very special.

My mom used to talk about a hope chest for me, but I dont think it survived the years. After a while she started calling it my hopeless chest.

@Jamie not hopeless. Lol

I got mine for my 16th birthday but I started receiving things for it much earlier.

My hope chest has moth balls in it! Lol. My grandmother knew better than to start one for me. My father didn't want one of my goals to be "get married", so it went to one of my cousins.

I am in my 40s. I had one, but was almost in my teens when it was started. I knew about it and added to it myself at times. My first wedding it came in handy when I moved in with my ex, we had dishes and cutlery. I kept blankets in it for years after, but lost it in a fire.