Wedding rings, also called wedding bands have been a strong symbol associated with the wedding ceremony for ages. In ancient Egypt, it was a symbol of eternity. For them, the center of the ring represented the gate to the future. The Egyptians, as well as the Greeks thought that what we call today the “ring finger” contains a vein that connects the finger directly to the heart. However, in the past, it was not common for men to wear wedding bands, but it became more common in the last hundred years, when soldiers who were leaving their fiancées were given rings that served as a symbol of commitment and a motivation to return to their wife to be.
A carved wedding ring from Crown Ring
Regardless of whether you are a man or a woman, your wedding bands are an important part of not only your wedding ceremony, but of your life after that, if you choose to wear your rings.
This is why it is important that you find the right wedding bands for you and your significant other.
We have put together a checklist which you can use when you are buying wedding bands. Regardless of whether you are buying them together with your significant other, for each other or individually, these tips will help you have a better shopping experience and will save you a lot of money, effort and time!
1. Start looking early
The earlier you start looking for wedding bands, the better. Most people can’t imagine how many options there are out there and how much time it can take to find perfect wedding bands. They need to match your personality, style, tastes and, as you will see in our next points many other criteria.
A hand-woven ring for men
2. Lay out a budget
In the jewelry world, you will find everything and anything. Some people get distracted and don’t know what they are looking for when they are searching for wedding bands. One important thing to do is to lay out a budget. This way, you will know exactly where you can buy from, and it will definitely narrow your search range.
But how much should you spend on your rings? Generally, wedding planners advise couples to spend around 3% of their wedding budget on wedding bands. Once you have the budget for the whole wedding, it will be very easy to find out how much you should be spending on your wedding rings.
3. Consider your style
When you are purchasing wedding bands, think about the fact that you will be wearing them all the time. This is why they should be very versatile and go with your lifestyle, and, by extension, with your wardrobe, which should be a reflection of your lifestyle. Therefore, those who have a very active lifestyle and engage in a lot of physical activities or work with their hands a lot might want to look for a ring that featured a so-called “comfort fit”. A comfort fit design refers to a ring that features soft, rounded edges. If you have a dynamic life, a simple, solid metal ring will probably work best for you.
If you have a more relaxed lifestyle, you can opt for something that features a more complicated design.
Some couples don’t wear their wedding bands all the time or not at all. In this case, you should be looking for rings that simply match your wedding attire and of course, your personal taste and preference.
4. Check yourself for allergies
A traditional wedding ring
Many people suffer from allergies to different metals. While some are aware of them, people who are not accustomed to wearing bracelets, rings or necklaces might have a weird surprise when they put on their wedding ring for the first time. Make sure you wear another pieces from made from different metals several weeks before you start looking for wedding bands to make sure you don’t have an allergy to gold or other metals. If you don’t have enough time to do this, opt for platinum as its purity makes it hypoallergenic for most people.
5. Get a professional sizing session
Before you buy your wedding rings, make sure that you get a professional sizing session. Most jewelers offer this service for free, so there is really no excuse not to do it. The last thing you want to happen is for your ring to fall off from your finger on your wedding day.
Moreover, the reason why you should do this beforehand is because most times resizing your rings will cost a lot of money, so finding out your sizes before you go shopping is a great way to save on money.
6. Think of engravings
7. Make a list of stores
Before you start shopping, make a list of the stores you want to check out. This is a very good way to save time. You can check online reviews of these places and see what others had to say about them on local-based forums. Moreover, you can always add more stores to the list, which you will be checking out later. Sometimes asking a vendor about other stores might be helpful, but often you won’t receive much help, as they are not interested in advertising for their competition.
Make sure you always buy jewelry from authorized dealers or you might find yourself getting ripped-off.
Your wedding bands should be an expression of yourself as a part of a couple, which is why you should make sure you find one that speaks to you and that is a reflection of who you are, your lifestyle, your preferences and taste.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. How are you buying your wedding bands? What step do you think is the most important one? Do you have any other tips or advice? Share your thoughts, questions or feedback on the article in the comments below! For more style advice and fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!
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