1. Narrow Down Your Choices
Since this is one of the few pieces—if not the only piece—of jewelry you'll shop for together and wear every day, it's smart to make some preliminary choices before you even hit the stores. Do you want your band to be the same metal as your engagement ring? Does he want his to match the metal on his watch? Are you interested in something simple, over-the-top or unique? Would you like your bands to include diamonds or gemstones? Do you want them to match one another? Work out these kind of questions beforehand so you can zero in on exactly what you're looking for before you start shopping.
2. Consider Buying Your Ring and Your Bands Together
If you prefer to be surprised by the engagement ring, or you already have it on your finger, this may not work, but knowing what bands go with the engagement ring can help you make a decision. For example, a unique engagement ring (like a pear-shaped diamond) calls for a simple, no-fuss band, whereas a classic solitaire goes great with the added sparkle of a diamond pave band. Also think about how the rings touch. If you're planning on wearing your ring and wedding band together 24/7, look for a contour or shadow band designed to interlock with the matching engagement ring. If you're planning on wearing your wedding band alone, you may want a more intricate style that will look great with or without your engagement ring. Talk to your jeweler about finding a band that works with your ring (some can even create both at the same time).
3. Start Your Search Early
Once you have a basic idea of what you'd like, it's time for the fun part: trying on rings! Give yourselves at least two to three months before the wedding date to ring shop. You'll need this time to browse, research prices and revisit rings that catch your eye. If you have your heart set on a custom ring, you'll probably need even more time. And keep in mind: Extras, like engraving, can take up to one month.
4. Mix It Up
Don't fret if you like platinum and your partner likes yellow gold. There's no rule that says you have to choose the same metal or even style. You could compromise with braided bands that blend the two metals together or just be totally different—the key to finding something you both love is picking wedding bands that reflect your individual styles. But whatever you decide, some aspect of your rings (and it can be as simple as a mutual inscription) should match to make it feel like a true pair.
5. Set a Budget
Shop with the assumption that you'll spend about 3 percent of your total wedding budget on the rings. Depending on the retailer, a plain 14-karat gold band starts at about $330, while a simple platinum band can cost around $1,000. Adding embellishments, like diamonds or engraving, will quickly add to the cost, so factor that into your budget if you plan to personalize your rings with any of these extras. The price of engraving is usually based on the number of characters, the font used and whether it's engraved by hand or machine. On average, machine engraving is $25 for 15 characters, while hand-engraving, which adds a special hand-forged feel, is usually pricier at $75 for 8 characters.
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