After deciding to be married, choosing your wedding rings is possibly one of the biggest decisions you’ll make together. The rest of the wedding planning will come and go, but your rings will stay on your finger for 20, 30, even 70 years to come! Here we have 10 tips for choosing your wedding rings to help you make the right choice.
Give Yourself Time
They’re a big part of the wedding, but wedding rings are often left as one of the last things to organise for the day. Make sure you give them a priority so you’ll not rush the decision. You’ll also need to be sure you have enough time for your rings to be made or ordered, and resized if needed.
Budget
Make sure you have room in your wedding budget for your rings. Depending on the style and metal, wedding bands can cost anything from £100 to £1000. Doing some research into the various styles and prices early on can help you decide on your wedding ring budget.
Think Practically
If you have a hands on job, you may want to have a simpler style wedding band. Some professions even dictate the type of wedding ring you’re allowed to wear (we’re thinking of you midwives!). If this is the case, you may want to choose two wedding rings, one that you love and a second cheaper option that’s solely for work.
Decide Together
Choosing your wedding rings is an experience you can share together. Dedicating some time to look at styles online, in magazines or even shop together can make the whole experience more memorable and fun!
Your Style
While practically is important, so is your style. There are lots of shapes and sizes available for your wedding rings, so make sure it’s something you love. Try on a few styles and metals until you find something you’re 100% happy with.
Individuality
It’s traditional for the couple to have matching wedding bands, but this doesn’t have to be the case. If you and your partner have different tastes then mis-matched wedding bands may be for you. Whether you choose to have matching wedding rings or not, the meaning behind them will still be the same.
Where To Shop
Finding the right jeweller for you can be difficult, so we always suggest looking at a few. From the high street stores to independent designers, they’ll all have something different to offer. But here’s the thing: Do not feel like you can’t shop somewhere because it’s not ‘weddingy’. We know couples who have had their rings hand made just for them, and couples who found their wedding bands in a charity shop. As long as you’re happy that’s all that matters.
Talk To Your Jeweller
When you’ve chosen your wedding ring shop, talk to the jeweller. They may have a set that matches exactly what you need already, or be able to help you design something bespoke. They’ll also be able to help you choose a metal that will be right for you, and that’s in budget.
Plan Ahead
If you chose an engagement ring from a particular jeweller, talk to them about your wedding bands, especially if your engagement ring is an awkward shape. You may also receive a discount for purchasing both rings from the same place.
Think Long Term
These rings will be on your fingers for years, so make sure you know how to look after them fully. Some metals need to be re-dipped, professionally cleaned or even re-sized. Make sure you have all the information you need about upkeep when you purchase your rings, and find out if your jeweller can do this for you.
Want to know where the wedding ring came from? Find out its full history in Wedding Traditions Explained: The Wedding Ring.