One of the most important and long lasting symbols of your marriage, your wedding rings are likely to be one of the most thought about aspects of your day. Though most of us have a good idea of what we like and what we don’t like when it comes to jewellery, choosing a ring you’re going to wear everyday is no easy task. Like Wedding Ideas Magazine says, “Your wedding ring is something that you’ll want to wear for the rest of your life, so it’s got to be perfect”. To help you find that all important wedding band, here’s our mini guide to choosing the perfect ring.
Budget
Once you start looking at rings, it can be easy to get carried away. This can quickly push up the price tag and could put a serious hole in your wedding budget. To help narrow down your choices and prevent too much damage being done to your bank balance, set yourself a budget before you start your search.
Metal
One of the first things you’ll need to consider when buying a wedding ring is the material it’s going to be made from. If you intend to wear your engagement ring alongside your wedding band, it’s a good idea to match metals.
If you’re not tied to a certain metal, the elements are your oyster. Gold is a great choice for traditional brides. You’ll find 22ct gold is too soft to wear on a daily basis. Opt for 18ct, 14ct, or 9ct gold, if you want a ring that will withstand the hazards of everyday life. White gold and silver are also ideal for wedding rings, or if you want to go for something exclusive, hardwearing and stylish, choose a platinum wedding band.
Photo by Lavenham Photography
Shape
Though a lot of couples decide to keep things simple and stick with a minimal band design, you can personalise your wedding ring by giving it a unique shape. If you’re planning on wearing your wedding and engagement rings side by side, you might want to consider a shape that will let them sit together more snugly. Even if you don’t want to wear your rings on one finger, you could add a shape or profile to your ring to help it stand out from the crowd.
Gemstones
Once you’ve decided on a metal and a style, it’s time to decide whether or not you want your ring to be embellished with diamonds, or other precious gemstones. Often, wedding rings for men have fewer stones than those for women, however there are no set rules – so feel free to choose as many, or as few stones as you like. Diamonds are the most popular wedding ring stones by a long way, with brilliant cut and princess cut being the two most popular styles.
If you need help or inspiration for any other part of your wedding day, we can help. Take a look around our site to find out more.
