Your wedding bands are special, just like your love. When it comes time to celebrate such a love, every tiny detail matters. What symbolizes your relationship should be tailor-made or, at the very least, carefully chosen. After all, it’s not every day that you buy wedding bands.
To help you navigate the maze of options, we have prepared this guide, so you and your better half can come out the other end with a pair of rings you can truly call yours.
Find Your Inspiration
Start with a collection of ideas and create a mood board before you begin searching. It doesn’t have to be limited to jewelry. Look at architecture, nature, or vintage patterns. Get a feel for what you’d like to wear every day for the rest of your life.
You can also start with your engagement ring. Take elements from it that you love and want to replicate in your wedding band. Maybe you want a complementary style. Find something meaningful that inspires you both, and that should guide the design of your forever wedding rings.
Assess Your Styles
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Consider your and your partner’s personal styles to draw inspiration from what both of you already like. Obviously, there may be some differences. Maybe you are drawn to minimalistic aesthetics, while your partner gravitates towards bold details.
You’ll need to find a balance here. Some of the most beautiful couples have contrasting styles.
You could start by asking what your relationship would look like if it were a ring. With some creative out-of-the-box thinking and some help from your consultant/designer, arriving at a decision shouldn’t be too difficult.
Practically Consider Lifestyles
Think about how your wedding bands will fit into your daily lives. If you are both active and hands-on, you need durable, low-profile rings. If you both work at desks, you can go for classic gold or platinum rings. These practical considerations affect everything from metal choice to ring style.
A healthcare professional might prefer a sleek band that won’t interfere with gloves. An artist might choose a ring that withstands paint and clay. A couple who loves travel and adventure might opt for diamond alternatives with a strong titanium band.
If you are going to wear your ring for life, you might as well make sure it is built for your life.
Choose Meaningful Materials
The metal of your wedding band decides how long it lasts, how nice it looks, and if it’s a pain to maintain or a dream. That’s why choosing the right metal matters. Classic metal pairs, like gold and platinum, create a cohesive look, but mixing metals is a very popular trend right now.
You can combine different shades of gold, or add a brushed or hammered finish to your band. If you and your partner have different preferences in metal types, try a two-tone band. Some couples even opt for wood inlays or meteorite accents.
Remember, you want something that stands out while still being elegant and timeless.
Prioritize Values & Heritage
Your ring should reflect what matters to you.
You can use recycled gold and platinum. If you are using diamonds, you can make sure they are ethically sourced, or even better, choose lab-grown, simulated diamonds.
You can also incorporate materials that are meaningful to both of you. Select a gemstone that represents a special memory, or use both of your birthstones in the rings.
You can also incorporate heirloom materials, like family gold or gemstones, which is a nice way of making your past a part of what you carry into your future.
Customize Unique Details
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Sometimes you may not be able to find exactly what you’re envisioning. That’s when you should go for custom designs. Consult expert artisans and designers at your chosen jewelry store to make wedding bands that tell your story and add meaningful elements.
That’s what makes unique men’s rings or women’s bands truly special.
Some of the most popular ways to customize your rings are with engraved dates or quotes with a special meaning that represents your love story. Some couples even incorporate a shared design element, such as intertwined initials. It’s all about giving your bands a personal touch.
Fit Perfectly To You & Yours
Your wedding bands will be the most-worn pieces of jewelry in your lives. In order of importance, choosing engagement or wedding rings comes only next to choosing your life partner. Not every decision in your life will stay with you forever, but this one might, so you need to make this choice wisely.
A life built together should incorporate both of your voices and choices, as should the rings both of you wear. Hopefully, with the help of this guide, you will be able to choose or create rings you’ll love wearing for decades.