There’s so much talk about How to Choose a Wedding Ring engagement rings that sometimes, wedding rings don’t seem to get the attention that they deserve. After all, a wedding ring will be worn every single day for the rest of your life! It signifies the greatest commitment that you have made and is a enduring visible symbol of your marriage.
Throughout history, wedding rings have symbolised love, loyalty and faithfulness. This tradition springs from ancient times and is widely found in almost every culture. Wedding rings are often considered a sacred piece of jewellery that is highly valued.
When buying a wedding ring, the approach is quite different to an engagement ring. Most couples buy their wedding ring together and there is no element of surprise attached to this. It is a sensible, practical decision that is made by both parties. What’s more, often it is the most important piece of jewellery that you both will buy together and is an exhibition of your love, style, personality and values.
How To Pick a Wedding Ring?
Start early
Many couples make the mistake of waiting too late to purchase their wedding rings. They overlook production times and don’t give themselves enough time to have their ring completed.
Generally, allow about a 3-4 weeks to have your rings sized and ready.If you are having your wedding rings custom made, allow even more time. Certain styles can take longer, and retailers may require about 3-6 weeks to custom make your wedding bands.
The recommended time to begin the search is about 6 months before the wedding to ensure that you aren’t under pressure or rushed. If you leave it till the last minute, you might not have time to get that perfect ring and will have to make do with second best.
Choose your budget
Choosing your budget at the start can help you decide on your rings and not get side-tracked when shopping. It is generally recommended to set aside about 3% to 5% of your total wedding budget for your wedding rings.
To make your budget stretch, you can play around with the ring metal and styles. For example, choose a half eternity rather than a full eternity band as it will cost less yet won’t make a big difference to the appearance of your ring. Another example would be to choose white gold over platinum, as they both look very similar but white gold is more affordable.
Consider your lifestyle
While this may seem like an obvious point, many people forget to remember that the wedding ring they choose should suit their lifestyle. Considering that this is a piece of jewellery that you will wear every day for a lifetime, it is very important that it fits your lifestyle to ensure that it lasts a lifetime.
The ring you buy should be stylish but also practical. For example, if you have a very active, outdoorsy lifestyle or are exposed to lots of chemicals, your ring should be tough enough to withstand that sort of exposure. Take this into consideration when deciding on your metal and style and make sure you check this with your jeweler before you buy.
Choose your metal
The typical metal for wedding rings has been gold, although today you can purchase your ring in a variety of different metals. For a matched look, it is a good idea for the bride and groom to choose the same metal. While the styles can be different, having the same metal gives the two rings a subtle yet beautiful connection.
Having said that, some brides and grooms prefer different metals to suit their tastes. For example, rose gold is a feminine soft color and is perfect for a bride, whereas the groom might wish for something sturdier and more masculine. This is totally fine as well.
Choose your style
There are so many wedding ring styles available on the market that choosing one can be overwhelming! However, most wedding rings fall into two categories: Traditional or modern.
To match or not to match?
When it comes to matching, there are two aspects to consider:
- Firstly, do you want your wedding ring to match your partner’s? Although traditionally matching or complementary wedding bands were worn by the bride and groom, there is no hard and fast rule regarding this. A connection between the two rings is always a nice touch, and this can be achieved in other ways. For example, a heart-felt engraving could be a personal touch between the two of you even though the outward appearance of the rings doesn’t match.
- The other aspect is whether you wish to match the wedding ring with the engagement ring. Again, there is no rule for this. However, the two rings should look good together and complement each other. Experts say that having the same metal is a crucial way of achieving this unified look, but it depends on whether this look is what you are after.
How and where to shop?
Shopping for wedding rings can take time, because there are two people involved. The best way to go about this is to first be familiar with the various styles, metals and designs available to you on the market.
Grab a cup of hot chocolate, cozy up and together browse through the endless online wedding ring options! Narrow down your choices as you discuss what you like and don’t like. You can then decide whether to purchase from a brick-and-mortar store or buy online.
But you won’t have the advantage of actually trying on the ring to see how you feel about it. One way to get around this is to check at a physical store, decide on your preferences and ring size and then take that search online.
