Wedding Rings: Choosing the Perfect Wedding Ring

Perhaps one of the most important types of rings that you will have to purchase is a wedding ring. Besides engagement rings, wedding rings are probably the most crucial of all ring purchases. The symbolism behind a ring of this type is so great that choosing a perfect ring is a very important task. There are many decisions a couple needs to make with regard to choosing wedding rings. Things such as metal type, style and size are part of this decision-making process. Another factor couples consider when purchasing wedding rings is price as they are often paying quite a bit on other wedding necessities. This article will provide an overview on various choices that come into play when choosing the perfect wedding band.
Type of Metal

Using the term metal alongside the word wedding band is not the most romantic thing in the world; however, the ring is indeed composed of a metallic material and one has a wide range of options when looking to purchase a particular type of wedding band. Gold is one type of material that a couple may choose to have their wedding rings made of. Rings made of gold come in either white gold or yellow gold in a variety of karats, i.e., 10 karat, 14 karat, or 24 karat. Another popular type of metal that wedding rings are composed of is platinum. Platinum wedding bands have become increasingly more desirable in the past few years. Platinum rings tend to be pricier than gold ones; however, it is a beautiful metal type that is strong as well. If it will not empty your pocketbook or wallet, platinum is a great choice for a wedding ring.
Size and Style

Couples in pursuit of the perfect wedding rings will also find that they come in a variety of sizes and styles. Almost any wedding band can be sized to adequately fit the finger of any individual. If you can find the perfect-sized ring without having to alter the size thereafter, then that is your best bet as frequent sizing of a ring may alter the strength thereof (this is usually only true if you have the ring sized more than once).

There are also a number of different unique and exquisite styles of wedding rings for both men and women. If you go to a jewelry store, you may be surprised at just how many different styles of wedding bands are available to the general consumer. You can have the rings engraved or even embedded with diamonds and other gemstones. Baguettes are becoming increasingly popular for women's wedding rings and these beautiful additions add so much to a basic ring. Some wedding rings will have various types of gems inlayed in them and individuals may sometimes choose to have their birthstone as part of their wedding ring to add a little something extra to it. There is so much that you can do to make your wedding rings unique and special.
Price

Another less romantic factor that couples need to consider when purchasing a wedding ring relates to pricing. As individuals are oftentimes on a strict budget while planning their wedding, they may have to set a limit of how much they are able to spend on wedding rings. There are a few ways to get the most bang for your buck when shopping for wedding bands.

End of season sales are a great way to take advantage of large discounts and still get the ring that you want. A lot of times a jewelry store or department store will have an end of season clearance sale on various types of jewelry, including wedding rings. By taking advantage of these types of sales, you may find the perfect ring at a great price. It is always important to keep an eye out for retailers who are having clearance sales.

Utilizing coupons is a second way to keep the total price of your wedding ring purchase to a minimum. Department stores will often print coupons in their mail circulars that may give you a good percentage off of the price of jewelry and since many department stores stock wedding rings, this is a great thing to take advantage of.

One last way to get a good price on wedding rings is to use the internet to find the perfect ring. Since shopping for a wedding ring over the internet may not appeal to all individuals, it is important to be aware of a certain little trick that will enable you to get a good price over the internet but choose your ring in a retail store. If you are in a particular store and see a wedding ring that strikes your fancy, try it on, find the perfect size and then go home and see if that store has a website. If they do, take a look online and see if that particular ring is offered at a lower price via the web. Sometimes you will get lucky, other times you won't. Regardless, it never hurts to take a peek and see.

These are just a few things to consider when trying to find the perfect ring. If you know what your options are prior to securing wedding rings, you will be more informed and feel better prepared in your quest for the most spectacular wedding ring.

Expressions of Devotion: Buying Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings, and Wedding Bands Online

Ritual symbolism abounds in everything we do; this is particularly the case when an individual commits their love and devotion to another and offers a promise of marriage. The custom of offering and exchanging engagement rings and wedding bands is a time honored tradition rich in symbolism and meaning that has been carried on for centuries.
As time has changed so have consumer traditions and buying patterns. The rich tradition of exchanging vows as a symbol of love and devotion is still a traditional time honored ritual practiced in many cultures. Certain aspects of engagement and marriage have changed with time however. Whereas in times of old a couple might take several outings together in search of the perfect engagement rings or wedding bands, in modern times more and more couples are buying engagement rings, wedding ring and wedding bands online.
Thanks to the internet and the resulting access to a global marketplace, couples are realizing they have more options available to them all from the comforts of their living room. Some couples are even going to the extreme, not only buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online, but also purchasing wedding gowns, flowers and even participating in virtual marriages.
How have these changes come about? What can today's modern couple expect when planning a walk down the aisle?
The Engagement Ring
The practice of a groom offering his bride to be an engagement ring as a promise of love and affection began nearly 2 centuries ago in the United States; many associate the giving of engagement rings with a need to express implied commitment and understanding forever. The term "A Diamond is Forever" was in fact used as a means of reinforcing the notion that an engagement ring is a commitment from one fiancé to another to live a life together in marital harmony forever. The phrase is also a popular advertising catch phrase that reinforces the notion that love and devotion are part of everyday symbolisms that require an outlet for expression.
The use of engagement rings as a token of love and affection is a norm that instilled in the hearts and minds of most people, in part due to heavy marketing and advertising from diamond ring and other jewelry manufacturers, and in part based on the needs of mankind to project symbolism into everyday living.
Wedding Rings
Once a couple has decided to walk down the aisle together, the next step is often purchasing wedding rings together. Because there are so many different kinds to choose from, it helps to know what distinguishes one wedding band from another. There are several tips that you can follow to ensure that you purchase wedding bands that suit your individual preferences and budget.
First and foremost consumers should keep in mind that it certainly pays to do their homework. The best advice for wedding ring shoppers is patience. Couples should take the time to shop around and look at several different wedding bands, and have in mind an idea of what exactly they are looking for. Far too often customers compromise because they feel they can't find exactly what they are looking for; chances are you can find what you are looking for at a reasonable price, if you give yourself plenty of time to research wedding rings thoroughly before purchasing.
An article in Today's Summer Bride in Summer of 1989 suggested that consumers be patient and shop wisely, but also have faith that they will find what they are looking for. The article was referring to purchase of a wedding gown, but buying wedding rings follows the same logic. You probably didn't bump into your partner overnight, and likewise you should expect it to take some time to find the perfect wedding rings as symbols of your love and devotion to one another.
Marriage represents a commitment and shared love between two people. Wedding ceremonies are often shrouded in symbolism, among the most significant of which is the exchange of wedding rings between husband and wife.
Buying Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings and Wedding Bands Online
Society is ever changing, and with the advent of technology and access to a global marketplace, more and more consumers are buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online rather than shopping for these ritual symbols of devotion in a traditional store. Buying online affords consumers the luxury of perusing the widest selection of rings available from the convenience of their home.
Some people have infused the process of buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online with romanticism. New rituals and traditions are being built in the face of modern technology. In fact, some couples are planning entire wedding ceremonies through their computers. A virtual ceremony can be broadcast to friends and family members the world over!
What advice can we offer the couple interested in shopping for wedding accessories online? Here are some suggestions for a successful venture:

• Keep an open mind. Know what type of engagement rings (diamond, gemstone, bands) or wedding rings you are looking for, but consider looking at many different varieties. You may change your mind about what type of ring best symbolizes your relationship and love.
• Make shopping online romantic! Place some candles around the computer, turn on your song and have some wine! Buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online can be just as fun and exciting as buying them in person... and even more fun when you create a loving and warm atmosphere.
• Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time perusing different styles and makes. There are an incredible variety of engagement rings and wedding bands available: titanium, platinum, white gold, traditional gold, silver, gemstone, diamond... the list goes on and on. Once you have reviewed a fair number of styles be sure to compile a list of your favorites to narrow down your search.
• Know your size! Nothing is more obnoxious than having to have a ring re-sized before you wear it. There are several websites that offer jewelry sizing online. Typically women wear between a size 5-9 and men between sizes 8-12. The average for men: a 10; the average for women: a 7.

A Symbol of Your Love and DevotionRitual symbols such as the exchange of engagement rings and wedding rings are time honored traditions that will likely continue through the next two centuries. Though the manner in which people shop and commit themselves to one another is changing, the time honored tradition of exchanging vows and bands as a symbol of love and devotion will not likely change in the near future.
Take advantage of modern technology, and consider buying engagement rings, wedding rings and wedding bands online. You'd be surprised the variety available, and pleasantly surprised by how exciting it can be shopping from the comforts of your living room, office, or bedroom...

Men's Wedding Rings - Should a Man Wear One or Not?

Strange as it may seem the use of a wedding ring by men was not common until recently. Whereas women have worn wedding rings for eons, men have not. The use of rings as a symbol of everlasting love enshrined in marriage can be traced back thousands of years. But not so much for men.
It was, in fact, during the second world war that the use of wedding rings by men became more common. (Note that mens wedding rings and men's wedding bands are interchangeable, both meaning the same thing.)
It became the custom for US soldiers going to war to publicise their marital status by the wearing of a man's wedding ring. They were happy to make public their commitment to their wife by the wearing of a public symbol that declared that commitment to all. Given that this habit of wearing men's wedding bands was reasonably new it was all the more creditable that these men were willing to forego the marital obscurity available to them from not wearing a ring and actively chose to make a public statement about their choice.
Men's wedding rings have become increasingly more common since that time. Today it is probably as common for a newly married man to wear a ring as not. This may be due to several factors. The modern man may consider it his duty to choose to make the same public marital statement as his wife will. And his wife may well consider it a condition of the marriage that he do so. After all, in these days of equality, if she is prepared to make a statement then should he not do so as well?
Despite the fact that the wearing of a ring by a woman is a matter of choice, it is in fact almost obligatory due to the fact that it is so common. Many women do not even consider the possibility of not wearing one. Often, however, a man usually considers the wearing of a man wedding ring very carefully.
There are a number of issues to consider. Firstly, is he concerned about a public display of his marital status? Some men, whether rightly or wrongly, are threatened by this. Others are not in the least concerned.
Secondly whilst the wearing of jewellery by women is so common as to go unremarked that is not necessarily the case for men. For many men the wearing of mens wedding bands is just a case of being asked to wear jewellery. Men often do not feel comfortable wearing jewellery and in many cases have never done so before. Whilst some men see their wedding band as different to wearing ordinary jewellery, others feel just the same as if they were being asked to wear ear rings. "It's just not done by men". The author, for example, wears a man wedding band, but would never consider wearing any other form of jewellery.
And as many men have never worn any form of jewellery before they have no idea what it will feel like to have something permanently on the finger. Is it heavy? Does it rub? Silly as it may seem to women this can be of concern to some men.
(If this genuinely is of concern it is quite possible to find a cheap jewellery shop, buy the cheapest ring available and wear it for a while. See exactly what it feels like. And find out your size at the same time.)
Men's wedding rings are, in the eyes of some men, effeminate. "Real men" don't wear rings or jewellery at all. This is becoming less of an issue as the wearing of a man's wedding ring becomes more common, but is still an issue with many men.
Culture is also a consideration. In many cultures the wearing of wedding rings by men would never be considered. Men must think about how their particular culture, and also their religion, would view the wearing of a wedding band.
There are also practical considerations. Many men are engaged in trades where the wearing of a man wedding band would be downright dangerous. Although unlikely it is quite possible for a ring to get caught in machinery. In some jobs a ring cannot be worn on the job, and must be removed. This can also apply to women.
Ultimately though, the wearing of a men's ring is just one of the many choices the man will have to make once he makes the commitment to marry. And it is often a choice made by the couple together, maybe one of the first they make in conjunction about their wedding.
Which finger is the ring worn on, and why?
Generally a man's wedding band is worn on the ring finger, the same as for women. The ring finger, for those unmarried men not familiar with the concept, is the fourth finger of the left hand. This is considered to be the finger closest to the heart.
This notion came originally from the ancient Greeks who believed that this finger had an artery which flowed straight to the heart. Whilst anatomically incorrect this makes for good fable.
So you have both decided that he will wear a men's wedding ring!
Once the man or couple have made the decision to purchase a men's wedding ring for him there are still choices to make. Do they want to wear a matching set? Or does he prefer that his ring looks quite different to his wife's. It is perfectly possible for a couple to buy a ring set where the style of the rings match perfectly, or even with matching engraved messages of love.
Generally though, even where the couple are to wear a matching ring set, the two rings are different. It is more common for the man's wedding ring to be wider than the woman's. This is because men's hands and women's hands are different. A woman usually has narrower finer fingers, and so a narrower band suits her hand. A man on the other hand has wider chunkier fingers and so a wider man wedding band is more suited.
This often results in the mans ring costing more than the woman's ring even with matching styles, as the mans ring uses more, often expensive, material.
There are many innovative styles available now. Many men prefer a simple unadorned band, however others enjoy highly decorated styles which make a loud statement. The wearing of, for example, very wide and highly adorned Celtic rings is becoming much more common.
When considering the styles of men's wedding rings it is well worth thinking about the personality of the individual. While different men have very different personalities different rings will suit different personalities as well. A loud outgoing man, for example, can wear a loud outgoing unique men's ring.
There are many different ring materials which also reflect the personality of the individual. Titanium or Platinum are both becoming much more popular. Whilst diamonds are not, of course, as popular with men as with women, they do make a clear statement which pleases some men who choose them. Diamond men's rings clearly say "I can afford it" or at least the big ones do. But it can be a brave man who chooses to wear a large diamond band.
Ultimately there are no rules about choosing a man wedding band. It is up to either the man or the couple together to make a decision. Will he or won't he. There are a variety of considerations. First, will he wear one? Once that decision is made in the affirmative then there is a whole world of choice about styles, widths, materials and the type of statement the ring makes, both for the man and the woman.