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Picking out your wedding bands is a lovely thing to do as a couple as part of the wedding planning process, and should be organised around five months before the wedding. This important jewellery can be a great way to show your personalities, both individually and as a couple. Here are five things you might want to think about before going shopping.
1. What do you do for work?
If you work with your hands on a daily basis, you might want to consider the density of the metal that you are choosing. If you are a trades person then silver may not be the best choice as it is a very soft metal. In order of strengths from strongest to weakest, popular metals are as follows:
Titanium
Platinum
18 ct Gold
14 ct Gold
9 ct Gold
Sterling Silver
2. Does it go with your engagement ring?
If you have an engagement ring and intend on wearing both rings together then it is important that they sit nicely together. While some people like to buy a matching set, others like their rings to be different but complimentary. You should also consider getting rings of a similar metal density so that one doesn't scratch or wear the other down. Contoured or curved rings are fashionable right now, but make sure you like how your wedding ring looks on it's own, as chances are once the novelty has worn off, you won't wear your engagement ring every day.
3. Choose something that reflects your personality
There are so many alternative designs, there is no need to go with a plain traditional wedding band these days if that's not what you want. You might also consider the role your culture or heritage will play in your choice of wedding ring.
Not a jewellery person? There are alternatives! If you're not going to feel comfortable in a ring, how about a watch, cufflinks, or even a tattoo on your ring finger! Having said this, do think about how the future you will feel about your choices and consider how styles change through the ages.
4. Comfort
The idea is that your wedding band will stay on your finger 24/7, so check that there are no protruding embellishments that are likely to get caught on clothing. You also might not want a chunky wedding ring if you are not used to wearing rings.
If you already own rings in a variety of metals then it might be worth wearing some for an extended period to check that you don't have an allergic reaction. For the first few months of wearing my rose gold engagement ring, my finger went black! After a while my body must have gotten used to it though and it came right. It is also normal to fiddle with your wedding ring for a wee while before you get used to it which may cause discolouration.
5. Consider supporting a small business
The selection of rings at a large chain jewellers can be enticing, but you might find something beautiful and less common at a boutique. My husband and I bought our bands on the Isle of Skye in Scotland (where we got married) at a small jewellers called Love from Skye. His depicts the Cuillin mountain range on the island, and mine is a Celtic design "cridhe", meaning "heart".
Hopefully there are a few useful tips there to think about. At the end of the day, a lot can be said for just choosing what feels right and going with your heart. Enjoy the process and I hope you love your gorgeous new piece of jewellery, or non-jewellery!
With love, Amanda xoxo