Wedding Rings

Much thought is given into choosing an engagement ring, but what about the other piece of jewelry that you'll wear forever and ever, your wedding ring? Where the engagement ring is the symbol of the promise to be married, the wedding ring is the symbol of actually being married. Exchanged during the wedding ceremony, your wedding ring will tell the world that you're someone's "other half."

Because your wedding ring will be worn for the rest of your life, you want to choose it carefully. Picking your wedding ring will be much easier if you have some helpful hints to guide you. Read on to learn the top wedding ring buying tips and shop for your wedding ring the smart way.   

The Top Wedding Ring Buying Tips are:

Set a Budget

Before you and your fiancé set foot in a jewelry store, you should have a budget in mind for your wedding rings. A general guide is to set aside 3% of your wedding budget for wedding rings. But because wedding budgets differ for every couple, you don't have to stick to that standard percentage. If you already have a figure in mind, go for it. Having a pre-set budget will make it much easier for you once the shopping begins and it will also narrow down the choices for you.

Price will vary depending on what metal you choose and if you want extras like diamonds or custom embellishments. A typical gold wedding ring generally costs about $150 but a platinum band with embellishments starts at about $600 and goes up from there.

Know Your Metals

Wedding rings come in several different materials. The most common metals for wedding rings are gold, white gold, platinum and titanium. Gold, white gold and platinum are traditional standards, but titanium can be a good substitute if you're allergic to certain metals or if you're looking for a lower priced alternative.

Besides the obvious different looks of wedding ring metals, varying metals will also compliment your skin tone differently. Try on wedding rings in a range of materials so you can see which metal looks best on you.

Shop Around

When you first go shopping for your wedding ring, check out a couple different stores before you buy. Compare selection and price at a few different stores and determine which store has the right ring for you.

Because you and your fiancé both need wedding rings, stores may give you a discount if you both buy your wedding rings at the same place. But, if you and your fiancé like rings at different stores, buy your rings where you like. It's more important that you're happy with your ring than to get a minimal discount for a ring that you're not thrilled about. Beware of shops that pressure you to buy on the spot. Purchasing your wedding ring is a big deal and it shouldn't be a hasty decision.

Give Yourself Time

After you get engaged it's easy to become immersed in planning your wedding reception and ceremony. Between planning all of the details for your wedding, buying wedding rings can fall by the wayside. Do yourself a favor and don't leave shopping for wedding rings until the last minute.

Start shopping for wedding rings at least 2 months before your wedding date. If you want something specific or you're interested custom features like engraving, start shopping 4 months before your wedding date.

Style it Right

Wedding rings come in a variety of styles. You'll find rings that are thin, thick, plain, studded with diamonds, rounded, squared and in a wide array of metals. Pick a ring that suits your personal style and make sure its something that you'll feel comfortable wearing every day.

If you're laid back and like to dress very casually most of the time, select a ring that will blend in with your casual wardrobe. If you wear suits most of the time and tend to dress up often, pick a ring that is a bit more formal. Brides will also want to make sure that their wedding ring will compliment the engagement ring that they've already chosen.

Shopping for your wedding ring can be a task that is both simple and fun. Don't wait until the last minute and keep these wedding ring buying tips in mind. If you do, you'll have no trouble finding a wedding ring that you'll be happy to wear always.