You got the perfect engagement ring. You made that elaborate proposal. Now you’re finally getting ready to tie the knot. It’s the start of wedding season, and if you’re one of the lucky people getting hitched in the next few months, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed with the million things you have to plan. There’s the venue, the catering, the photographer, but just as important is making sure you get the perfect wedding rings to symbolize this big next step in your lives together. We want to help you make your rings the perfect statement of love that will last your whole lives.

The tradition of exchanging rings to signify marriage may date as far back as ancient Egypt, but this ritual in the Western world derives from ancient Roman and Greek culture. The ring’s circular shape represents wholeness, perfection, and timelessness, and rings are classically made from noble metals (metals that resist corrosion and oxidization) like gold or platinum, representing the permanence of marriage.

The first thing to consider when selecting your wedding rings is what type of metal you want for your bands. You’ll want to choose a color that matches your taste and goes well with your skin tone. Americans use 17 tons of gold in wedding bands every year, but maybe yellow isn’t your color. If you’re looking for a white-colored band, platinum is more expensive but will retain its color over time, while white gold is less pricey but will need to be re-plated eventually as its plating fades to a yellowish color. Rose gold is also a striking option that pairs beautifully with any color of center stone.

You’ll also want to think about if you want your rings to match. When you’re selecting an engagement ring, it’s not a bad idea to already be thinking about what style of wedding rings you’ll be going with and how the two will go together. Is it important to you that the two rings sit flush with one another? Are you okay with a curved band that would curve around your engagement ring? Or, do you prefer a stand alone piece?

As custom jewelers, we can talk to you about making the rings complement each other in different ways. For instance, if your engagement ring has a more simply-designed band, you may want to balance it out with a more elaborate wedding ring.

Some couples want their wedding rings to match one another, but that’s not absolutely necessary if you and your partner’s tastes differ. You’re going to be wearing these rings for the rest of your lives, so the most important thing is that you’re both happy with them.

You may also want to think about different colors of stone and/or mixing and matching different colored metals. The white diamond is a traditional classic and there ain’t a thing wrong with it, but if it’s not your style, we love the deep blue hue of the sapphire, a really classy gem in its own right. We also like black diamonds, particularly for men, as an accent that goes beautifully with a white metal band.

If you want to speak to any of Ingwer family, email info@leoingwer.com. Browse our website for some examples of wedding band styles we offer: http://www.leoingwer.com/product-category/wedding-bands/.