When you’re planning a wedding, all the details matter. From the caterers to the decorations, you, your soon-to-be spouse, and all of your guests will notice the little things. So, when choosing a wedding band, it’s even more important that you do your due diligence to add just the right feel to the celebration.
Should you choose a bluegrass band? Someone who knows all the covers of your favorite artists? What about something more esoteric? For a truly memorable affair, choosing a band with no fewer than three kazoos is (and plenty of cowbell) a recipe for success.
Or, you know, you could go with the actual real article, which is below.
Unlike those earrings you bought last Christmas on a whim, your wedding band is a piece of jewelry you’ll almost certainly be wearing for years and years, if not the rest of your life. You’ll look at it every day, and every day it’ll not only remind you of your partner and the love you share, but of the special day you said, “I do.”
When your brain goes into instant replay, the last thing you want is to have a regret about the design of your band or worry that it’ll age poorly or clash with your engagement ring. Choosing a wedding band is serious business, even if it’s the big stone that tends to take center stage. The right band can set the tone of your entire wedding set.
When to Start Shopping for Wedding Bands
Planning a wedding can be a long affair, with a ton of moving parts. You have to find the right location, the right cake, the right dress, the right… everything. The problem is that in all of this hustling is that the wedding band itself is often neglected until the last minute. Although some couples are happy enough with their last minute off-the-shelf purchase, you’ll really do yourself a huge favor to start shopping for a wedding band at least a month before the big day – the more time you can give yourself, the better.
If you’re considering a custom band, you may need as much as six months to have the band designed, tweak it, approve the changes, and then allow your jeweler time to bring it to life. Ideally, when you start planning your wedding, start looking for your wedding band. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to find the right band for your ring and know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you’ve made the right choice – just like you know you’ve made the right choice about your spouse.
Choosing a “Standard” Wedding Band
There are lots of places to find and purchase a wedding band, but not just any band will do. Sometimes you can match a very plain ring with a very plain, standard band and get a result that will create a visual display far beyond what either ring could on its own.
However, more often, the right wedding band comes from considering different options, looking at current and past trends, and comparing the geometry of your engagement ring with the bands you like the best. Because there are so many different band options, though, all of this can take a fair amount of time to properly weigh your options. Asking your jeweler for their input can also help a great deal.
A Custom Wedding Band to Perfectly Match Your Engagement Ring
If your engagement ring has an unusual shape, a special cut to the main stone, or a particularly glamorous look, not just any band will do. You’ll not only need a band that will fit seamlessly with your engagement ring, but one that won’t look like an afterthought. This is where custom wedding jewelry comes into play: no matter your engagement ring’s cut or style, you can design a band that is a perfect complement.
When designing a custom band, consider these elements:
Overall Look. You’re going to have this set of rings for a long time, in a perfect world, so how they look together matters a lot. Most people wear their wedding set daily, so the overall look really matters. Your ring should reflect the heart of your personal style, not just what’s currently in fashion. Ask yourself: will the ring you have made today still hold your heart in ten years?
Shape. There are many types of wedding bands, from the most basic band to bands that curve, come to a point, or twist. The shape should cling to the contours of your stone, creating the illusion that the two rings have become one. Often a wedding band purchased after the engagement ring fails at this simple task, which is where a custom band comes into play. Using just your existing engagement ring, a jeweler can create a band that will fit like a glove.
Design. Do you want to make your engagement ring’s stone pop or add even more glam to an already glistening ring? Your wedding band’s design can hugely influence how your wedding set looks when the band and engagement ring come together for good. Even mixing metals can make a big statement – and impact!
Materials. Sometimes, there’s nothing as straightforward as choosing the right metal for your wedding ring to match that of your engagement ring. Sometimes it’s a lot more complicated. Since the band can change the look of the set, a solitaire engagement ring, for example, can be completely transformed with a playful mixed metal band. You can also help reign in the costs of your wedding by choosing a similar looking, but less expensive, metal for your wedding band.
Although you can always buy a new wedding band (or wedding set) to replace the one you use on the big day, doing it again will never have the same significance as the first time around. Don’t rush the experience and give plenty of consideration to your band so that you have a piece of jewelry that you’ll be proud to wear into your happily ever after.
Indiana University Alumni : GIA Graduate Gemologist Student