There really isn’t a “right” way to choose wedding bands. Wedding bands, at the end of the day, are simply representations of the wedding, and cannot replace true faithfulness and marriage. Here are some things to consider:
- What are you and your spouse comfortable with? I have friends who are gym-buffs and don’t wear their wedding bands to the gym, but I also have friends whose partners don’t feel comfortable with them not having a ring on. Are silicone rings an option? Do you want two rings – a traditional metal ring, and a silicone ring? There’s no right or wrong answer, and the conversation may be different from couple to couple.
- What is your budget? Make sure that you aren’t breaking your wedding budget on rings. I know that I will get some hate on this – especially since engagement rings tend to cost a pretty penny – rings are easy to lose. This is especially true if your partner are not accustomed to wearing rings on a daily basis. In fact, 40% of American men end up losing their wedding bands.
- There are wedding bands that come in a set, and they tend to be more cost efficient. A majority of these sets are for heterosexual couples, but that’s not to say that there aren’t matching sets for couples of all dynamics. Also consider that not all matching sets have to look exactly alike, especially when made for couples of the same gender.
- There are also wedding bands that come in a set with engagement rings. This is ideal in terms of getting a wedding band that matches well with the engagement ring. A plus is that like #3, this tends to be more cost effective.
- Even if you did not purchase your engagement ring with a matching set, it doesn’t hurt to return to the jeweler where the engagement ring was purchased to ask if there is a matching band. Sometimes, even if there isn’t a specific wedding band created to be matched to the engagement ring, buying a wedding band from the same collection is an option! Plus, it allows room for haggling, depending on where your ring was purchased from.
- Are you looking for rings that match exactly? Or do you want complementary styles? Rings can complement each other without being exactly the same, so that you can still show off differences in your styles!
Please remember to keep an open mind whilst shopping for a wedding band, because every couple has different things they are looking for. Be gracious with one another, and accepting of differences in perspectives and lifestyles. After all, there’s a lifetime more of compromising, communication, and celebrating ahead!
