Wedding Rings for Women and Men: Shopping Tips for Couples
- Written by News Co
You and your partner have finally decided to take your relationship to the next level. Congratulations!
The next few months will be hectic, with all the planning, coordination, and shopping that you need to do when you and your fiance finally say "I do" to one another.
In the flurry of ticking all the things off your to-do list, shopping for wedding rings for women and men should not get thrown at the bottom of your list. After all, your wedding bands symbolize your undying love for one another.
But how do you go about shopping for wedding rings? Here are a few helpful tips that can help minimize the hassles associated with shopping for wedding bands.
The earlier, the better
As with most things in life, the earlier you shop for a wedding ring for you and your future spouse, the better.
Aside from finishing one task from your to-do list, buying your wedding bands at the soonest time possible is critical for a few reasons.
For starters, you need to be aware of production times. That can vary from one wedding ring shop to another. At the earliest, you can get your wedding bands within three to four weeks. However, production time can run longer if you are planning on getting custom-made wedding rings.
Apart from that, you may also have to take into account your chosen style for your wedding ring. Some styles take a longer time to finish.
When's the best time to shop for a wedding ring? If you have ample time, give yourself at least six months to look around. At the very least, give yourself two to three months.
Create a shortlist
With many styles and materials to choose from, buying wedding rings is no simple task. As much as possible, you should narrow down your choices to a shortlist, taking into account a couple of things.
Select your wedding ring material
For decades, gold has been long considered one of the most popular metals used in the fabrication of wedding rings.
However, today's brides and grooms have more metals to choose from, making it easier for them to choose a material that suits their tastes and styles.
Here's a brief rundown of some of the more popular wedding ring materials.
Rose gold
Rose gold is a wedding band material that has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. And rightly so.
Apart from its exquisite color, rose gold is quite durable. The addition of copper in making rose gold makes the material retain its color and resist tarnishing.
White gold
White gold is another wedding ring material that is fast gaining popularity among brides and grooms for its beauty. But be warned, white gold requires repolishing once the rhodium plating wears off.
Yellow gold
If you are looking for a classic look for your wedding ring, be sure to have yours made out of yellow gold.
But be aware that yellow gold purity can directly affect the durability and appearance of your wedding rings. If the purity of your wedding bands goes over 75 percent, they will be too soft and will scratch easily. Going for a lower karat trades off appearance for increased durability.
Platinum
If durability is your primary criteria, you can never go wrong with a platinum wedding ring. Platinum is resistant to scratches and tarnishing, making it excellent for couples with an active lifestyle.
Other popular metals
Apart from the aforementioned metals on this list, you might also want to check out tungsten, titanium, cobalt, silver, and stainless steel.
Pick a style
Once you have chosen a material for your wedding rings, the next order of business is choosing a style. Wedding rings can be broadly classified into two categories: traditional and modern.
Traditional wedding bands
There are three types of traditional wedding bands: the channel set, comfort fit, and the half-round.
Modern wedding rings
Modern wedding rings include the pipe, pave, prong set, and wide wedding bands.
Matching rings
One consideration that should be included in your search for the perfect wedding rings for you and your partner is whether to have matching rings.
Traditionally, women's rings were matched with men's wedding rings. But today, it is not unusual for couples to have unmatched wedding rings. The choice is entirely between you and your soon-to-be spouse. If you opt for unmatched wedding rings, you can add a special touch to connect the two rings, like having both engraved.
Another important decision ladies need to make is whether to match their engagement rings with their wedding rings. Again, the decision is entirely up to you. If you intend to wear both rings, you might want to consider choosing a wedding ring made out of the same metal as the engagement ring.
Getting the right size
Your body is constantly changing. Factors like pregnancy, the changing of the seasons, diet, exercise, and lifestyle can all change your body, including the size of your fingers.
As such, you should get the right size for your wedding ring. The best way to do that is to get your wedding ring fit later in the day. Do not get your wedding rings fit if you or your partner just went to the gym or during times when there are extreme weather conditions.
A few other considerations
Most probably, you have a specific style and material that you have in mind for your wedding rings. But before you settle for a final choice, consider the following.
Lifestyle
If you are keen on wearing your wedding band daily, take into account your lifestyle, especially in choosing a material. For example, if your work entails getting your hands dirty, consider a durable and scratch-resistant material.
Maintenance
To keep your wedding rings in great condition, you have to clean and maintain these regularly. For wedding rings with stones, you will need to wash them with warm soapy water, brushing the stones carefully to prevent prying them off.
If you want a wedding ring that is easy to clean, consider buying a gold or platinum wedding ring which can be just wiped off.
Shopping for wedding rings for women and men
You have always dreamt of having the perfect wedding. For that to happen, you have to cover all your bases, ensuring that you make the proper preparation and choices before you actually tie the knot.
Do not wait until the last minute to shop for a wedding ring for you and your spouse. Start exploring all available options, taking into account the factors listed above.
Once you have ticked-off wedding ring shopping off your to-do list, you have one less major thing to think about, allowing you to focus your attention and energies toward other critical tasks that you need to complete before your nuptials.
The next few months will be hectic, with all the planning, coordination, and shopping that you need to do when you and your fiance finally say "I do" to one another.
In the flurry of ticking all the things off your to-do list, shopping for wedding rings for women and men should not get thrown at the bottom of your list. After all, your wedding bands symbolize your undying love for one another.
But how do you go about shopping for wedding rings? Here are a few helpful tips that can help minimize the hassles associated with shopping for wedding bands.
The earlier, the better
As with most things in life, the earlier you shop for a wedding ring for you and your future spouse, the better.
Aside from finishing one task from your to-do list, buying your wedding bands at the soonest time possible is critical for a few reasons.
For starters, you need to be aware of production times. That can vary from one wedding ring shop to another. At the earliest, you can get your wedding bands within three to four weeks. However, production time can run longer if you are planning on getting custom-made wedding rings.
Apart from that, you may also have to take into account your chosen style for your wedding ring. Some styles take a longer time to finish.
When's the best time to shop for a wedding ring? If you have ample time, give yourself at least six months to look around. At the very least, give yourself two to three months.
Create a shortlist
With many styles and materials to choose from, buying wedding rings is no simple task. As much as possible, you should narrow down your choices to a shortlist, taking into account a couple of things.
Select your wedding ring material
For decades, gold has been long considered one of the most popular metals used in the fabrication of wedding rings.
However, today's brides and grooms have more metals to choose from, making it easier for them to choose a material that suits their tastes and styles.
Here's a brief rundown of some of the more popular wedding ring materials.
Rose gold
Rose gold is a wedding band material that has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years. And rightly so.
Apart from its exquisite color, rose gold is quite durable. The addition of copper in making rose gold makes the material retain its color and resist tarnishing.
White gold
White gold is another wedding ring material that is fast gaining popularity among brides and grooms for its beauty. But be warned, white gold requires repolishing once the rhodium plating wears off.
Yellow gold
If you are looking for a classic look for your wedding ring, be sure to have yours made out of yellow gold.
But be aware that yellow gold purity can directly affect the durability and appearance of your wedding rings. If the purity of your wedding bands goes over 75 percent, they will be too soft and will scratch easily. Going for a lower karat trades off appearance for increased durability.
Platinum
If durability is your primary criteria, you can never go wrong with a platinum wedding ring. Platinum is resistant to scratches and tarnishing, making it excellent for couples with an active lifestyle.
Other popular metals
Apart from the aforementioned metals on this list, you might also want to check out tungsten, titanium, cobalt, silver, and stainless steel.
Pick a style
Once you have chosen a material for your wedding rings, the next order of business is choosing a style. Wedding rings can be broadly classified into two categories: traditional and modern.
Traditional wedding bands
There are three types of traditional wedding bands: the channel set, comfort fit, and the half-round.
Modern wedding rings
Modern wedding rings include the pipe, pave, prong set, and wide wedding bands.
Matching rings
One consideration that should be included in your search for the perfect wedding rings for you and your partner is whether to have matching rings.
Traditionally, women's rings were matched with men's wedding rings. But today, it is not unusual for couples to have unmatched wedding rings. The choice is entirely between you and your soon-to-be spouse. If you opt for unmatched wedding rings, you can add a special touch to connect the two rings, like having both engraved.
Another important decision ladies need to make is whether to match their engagement rings with their wedding rings. Again, the decision is entirely up to you. If you intend to wear both rings, you might want to consider choosing a wedding ring made out of the same metal as the engagement ring.
Getting the right size
Your body is constantly changing. Factors like pregnancy, the changing of the seasons, diet, exercise, and lifestyle can all change your body, including the size of your fingers.
As such, you should get the right size for your wedding ring. The best way to do that is to get your wedding ring fit later in the day. Do not get your wedding rings fit if you or your partner just went to the gym or during times when there are extreme weather conditions.
A few other considerations
Most probably, you have a specific style and material that you have in mind for your wedding rings. But before you settle for a final choice, consider the following.
Lifestyle
If you are keen on wearing your wedding band daily, take into account your lifestyle, especially in choosing a material. For example, if your work entails getting your hands dirty, consider a durable and scratch-resistant material.
Maintenance
To keep your wedding rings in great condition, you have to clean and maintain these regularly. For wedding rings with stones, you will need to wash them with warm soapy water, brushing the stones carefully to prevent prying them off.
If you want a wedding ring that is easy to clean, consider buying a gold or platinum wedding ring which can be just wiped off.
Shopping for wedding rings for women and men
You have always dreamt of having the perfect wedding. For that to happen, you have to cover all your bases, ensuring that you make the proper preparation and choices before you actually tie the knot.
Do not wait until the last minute to shop for a wedding ring for you and your spouse. Start exploring all available options, taking into account the factors listed above.
Once you have ticked-off wedding ring shopping off your to-do list, you have one less major thing to think about, allowing you to focus your attention and energies toward other critical tasks that you need to complete before your nuptials.
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