One of the most exciting parts of the wedding planning process is the selection of the wedding rings. She may have vetoed your flower selection, and he might have won the battle of band vs. DJ, but this is the time when you two can work together and have fun with it.
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Step 1: Go Together
The first perk of this process is that you two can go together. Although times are changing, traditionally the selection of the engagement ring is done by the male as a gift and a surprise. Therefore the bride-to-be is not commonly present for the purchase. However, this trip to the jeweler is all about the two of you as a couple, there are no wedding planners or family members on hand to offer their two cents, and you two can relax and enjoy your time alone.
Step 2: Go Together, Think Separate.
One major misconception about wedding rings is the idea that they must come as a matching set. They certainly can, and often are designed to match. And while the wedding rings are a symbol of your love as a couple, that doesn’t mean you have the same tastes. Gold might be too old fashioned for you, platinum too flashy for him. There are plenty of different styles of ring to satisfy both halves of your soon to be new whole, whether you are of the same mind or not.
Step 3: Consider Your Lifestyle
Planning a wedding and being a bride can often feel like your living in a fairytale, but make sure to keep your day-to-day life in mind when choosing your wedding ring. If destruction, or a rough and tumble lifestyle is not a concern of yours, by all means, choose a wedding band with diamonds adorning the sides. However, if you’re an out of doors type of person or you work with your hands, a simple metal band with rounded edges is probably your best bet.
Step 4: Choose Your Metal
There are three main metals that are commonly used in the crafting of wedding rings; classic gold, flashy platinum, and trendy palladium.
Traditionally gold has been the metal of choice for weddings, but one downside is often its more delicate nature. In its purest form, yellow, it can be dented easily. And to achieve a white gold, it must be mixed with other alloy metals such as cobalt. Often people who have nickel allergies develop skin irritations when wearing white gold and are better off opting for platinum.
Platinum, once dubbed the only metal fit for royalty, is by far the strongest and most durable choice. Despite its durability, platinum can scratch easily, but since no metal is lost, it can also be buffed out just as easily. But like all things in life, quality costs money, and platinum is also the most expensive choice of metals. Lately when cost is an issue, couples have been turning to a similar metal called palladium.
Palladium comes from the same family of metal as Platinum, and like platinum it has become popular because its natural white color. However, if you’re looking for the same sparkle of white that you get with platinum, look again. Palladium can often become duller over time, requiring a special chemical polish to retain all its luster. And while it is valued for its strength, often this metal is harder to work with when creating your perfect ring.
Mix or match, traditional or trendy, just make sure the ring you choose will suit your individual style. Trying to mesh as a couple could leave you wishing to take a second trip to the jeweler. Much like love itself, we all would rather get it right the first time.