How to Select Wedding Bands

Congratulations, she said yes! Now that the stress of finding the perfect engagement ring is over, you get to focus on the wedding bands, which are the real focal point of both of your jewelry collections. You may find that this decision is even trickier than selecting the engagement ring, but with just a few tips in mind you should be able to find wedding bands that you and your future spouse will truly look forward to wearing for the rest of your lives together.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide whether you and your future spouse will be sporting matching rings or if you would like to select your own individual wedding band. Though most couples feel that wedding bands are supposed to match, many will opt to have different styles if their tastes are very dissimilar. This strategy allows you both to get exactly what you want without losing any of the symbolism.

2. Determine the ideal width for your wedding bands. Generally, wedding bands come in widths from 2 mm all the way up to 12 mm, but not all styles will have this range of width. Women would usually prefer smaller bands from 2 to 6 mm while men often prefer wider bands from about 4 to 10 mm.

3. Choose the metal for your rings. You're not limited to just yellow gold bands any more. Now you can choose a metal from white gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, titanium, sterling silver or steel.

4. Discuss whether you will have purely metal bands or if you would like to have them set with diamonds, stones, enamels or other precious materials. Diamonds are always popular, but technology in jewelry making has advanced to where you can inlay just about anything into a ring.

5. Develop a budget for your wedding rings. Finding the perfect rings can be heartbreaking if they are considerably outside your budget. To avoid this disappointment, stick to a price range and only search within those price parameters. If you inform a jeweler of your budget they should restrict their presentations to rings for you to select from that are at or below your set price.

6. Ask your relatives whether there are any heirloom rings in the family that you and your betrothed might be able to have. This could start a lovely family tradition where you can pass these rings on to your children.

7. Design your own wedding rings if you are unable to find anything that you really love. This may cost a little more than a standard ring, but having something that is uniquely yours will surely be worth the price.

8. Consider purchasing "starter" rings if you can't find something perfect, or just don't have the budget to buy what you really want. Simple, inexpensive bands are available for less than $100 from just about any retailer. Later when you and your spouse are able to spend more on new rings--perhaps your first or fifth anniversary--you can select something you wouldn't have been able to afford before your wedding.

Tips & Warnings

• If you can't find exactly what you want within your budget, take some photos to your jeweler and ask whether they can make or find something similar with a smaller price tag. They may actually be able to find something within your budget that you love even more than the rings in the photos.
• Shop early for your rings. It's rare for the jeweler to have exactly the ring you want in stock and in the right size, so they will need some time to order it for you. You'll also want as little pressure as possible so you're not stuck with something you will hate later on just because the wedding was approaching fast.

Resources

• Meteorite rings at Furthers
• Meterorite rings at the Fossil Cartel
• Wooden Rings from Touch Wood Rings
• Wood and metal combined at Wood-Ring