Wedding Rings - How Do I Choose One?

Picking out a wedding ring is an exciting but also overwhelming decision - you are going to have your ring forever, so you want it to be the perfect ring that you can cherish for the rest of your life. With so many factors coming into play when it comes to wedding rings, the choices can be daunting. The following are a few tips and things to take into consideration when choosing a wedding ring:

Budget

You can find rings to fit any budget. Most of the time, the majority of your ring budget will be spent on the engagement ring, but remember when budgeting for wedding rings to take the band into consideration as well. Wedding bands can be inexpensive, depending on their simplicity, or very expensive if they are adorned with more diamonds. A woman's rings will typically be more costly than a man's.

Metal types

The type of metal you choose will most likely be yellow gold (the most traditional), white gold (the most popular), and platinum (the hardest but most expensive). Gold can be 10k, 14k, 18k, or 24k. 24k is the purest but it is also the softest, so it is more prone to scratches. Some rings are also two-tone, meaning they may have both yellow and white gold mixed in. This is particularly popular for men's wedding bands.

When it comes to choosing the metals, many couples opt to match the wedding ring with the engagement ring as well as their significant other's; for example, if the bride has white gold engagement and wedding rings, the groom would as well. This is entirely a personal preference, but tradition typically matches them. The same goes for matching the wedding band with the engagement ring; most will feel that a yellow gold wedding band would look out of place with a platinum band, but again, this is an entirely personal preference.

Styles

There are a number of styles you can choose from. Popular wedding rings include small inlaid diamonds, diamonds that circle the entire ring (called "eternity bands), or plain and simple matching bands. The width ranges from very thin to thick; as a general rule, men's rings will be thicker in diameter. Popular styles for men include two-tone rings or rings with diamonds inlaid. If you can't find a style you like, however, there is always the possibility of having a ring custom made. Talk to your jeweler and tell him what you have in mind, and he will either locate a ring or make one custom for you.

Themes Another thing to take into consideration when it comes to wedding rings is the theme. If you have a particular heritage you'd like to honor, you can do so through such rings as Celtic wedding bands, Native American wedding rings, Jewish, or whatever heritage or theme that is meaningful to you.

There are a number of other things you might want to take into consideration when choosing a wedding ring, including lifestyle and any limiting factors, such as finger size or allergies. For example, if you work with your hands, you might want to get a hardy, sturdier metal like 14k gold or platinum.

When it comes down to it, your own personal tastes and preferences are all that matter; after all, it's your ring, and you are the one who will have it forever.