Inspired by the voluptuous clean lines of the orchid plant, this ring plays with color and shape to create a truly unique statement piece.
Got my wedding band!!!
I got my wedding band last Saturday! It is 14K White Gold, white diamonds and pink sapphires! 12 stones! So pretty! My fiance’ got a Tunsten wedding band.
Choosing a wedding ring – also known as a wedding band – might seem a more straightforward task than selecting an engagement ring, but it still involves many important and exciting decisions!
You will be wearing your wedding ring for the rest of your life so it’s important to choose a design you’ll be comfortable with. Consider a variety of metals, shapes, thicknesses and styles in order to find the perfect choice for you. Wondering where to buy your dream ring? You’re not alone. Here is some helpful advice from www.weddingpath.co.uk
Metal
The choice of metal for the bride’s wedding band is usually dictated by her engagement ring. The groom’s ring will often follow suit too. However, if the bride and groom have different preferences there is nothing to stop the groom opting for gold while the bride goes for platinum. In any case, here are the most popular options:
A yellow gold wedding ring is the traditional choice. 24k is the purest but also the softest variety, so is not generally recommended for wedding bands. 14k and 18k gold are less pure but harder and therefore more likely to make a durable wedding ring.
A white gold wedding ring will complement any silver or platinum jewellery you may have already. However, a white gold wedding ring is often plated with rhodium to enhance its appearance, and this plating is likely to wear off with time.
A platinum wedding ring is another popular choice. This silvery metal is highly resistant to damage. It’s much rarer than gold and is therefore more expensive, but a platinum wedding ring will last a lifetime.
A titanium wedding ring is a more modern choice since it is only relatively recently that this striking greyish metal has been used for jewellery. It is extremely durable and can be carved without losing its strength. A titanium wedding ring is a real talking point.
Shape
When it comes to the shape of the bride-to-be’s wedding band, the main consideration is how it sits with her engagement ring.
If the engagement ring is straight-edged, a classic, straight-edged wedding band will sit snugly next to it. However, the gemstone setting in some engagement rings will not accommodate a straight-edged wedding band. In this case you could either wear your engagement and wedding rings on different hands, or opt for a curved wedding ring, sometimes known as a fitted wedding ring or a shaped wedding ring.
Many curved styles can be bought off the shelf. Otherwise, a good wedding-ring jeweller can custom-design a wedding band to sit perfectly next to your engagement ring. You might find this a rewarding and symbolic process in itself.
© Photo by Shona Fidget
Band style
You will probably never have considered this before but if you turn a ring on its side you will notice the style – or profile – of its band. The most common band shapes for wedding rings are:
Rounded-edge wedding ring: this gently curved style is the most subtle and traditional option.
High-domed wedding ring: with its more pronounced curve, this style is slightly taller than the rounded-edge design.
Flat wedding ring: this design has quite square edges for a more modern look.
Other terms you might hear when it comes to wedding-band shapes include D-shape wedding ring, court wedding ring or concave wedding ring. Don’t be unnerved by all this terminology; find a jeweller you trust who is prepared to give you plenty of time and who will answer your questions patiently.
Other considerations
Nowadays couples often favour jewel-set wedding rings. If you like this idea you should consider the harder stones (such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, topaz) as time takes its toll on softer varieties. Diamond-set wedding rings are the most popular option.
Couples often want to have their wedding date engraved on the inside of their wedding rings and sometimes there is room for other sentiments too. If you are doing this, make sure you write down exactly what you want inside your ring – including use of capital letters etc – and ask your jeweller what font or style (eg italic) will be used.
Be sure to check out how long it will take for your wedding bands to be ready. Allowing at least eight weeks is a good rule of thumb. Ask your jeweller, and if the rings will not be ready in time, don’t panic – ask them about a ‘loaner’ ring. Also be sure to get advice on sizing – a common mistake is to order a size too big.
Families often pass down wedding rings as heirlooms so this may be an option for you. If so, you probably will want to leave any original engraving inside the ring. It might also be appropriate to note in your will who you would like your rings to go to.
The trick is to choose rings that you and your partner are happy with. Don’t worry about other people’s choices, but do ask around and look in jewellery stores, in magazines and online for inspiration.
http://www.kliqweddings.co.uk
Third/Last Picture is my engagement ring. I honestly can’t decided between a plain band or the pink gemstone one (Pink = October = The month we met, got engaged, and will be getting married in)
So should I have a plain wedding band (first) or should I have a pink gemstone wedding band (middle)??? What do you guys think???
If you’ve ever wondered why Americans put the wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand, it’s because of an ancient Greek belief that a vein in this finger ran directly to the heart. And if you’ve ever groaned at having to buy both an engagement ring and a wedding ring, you can blame Pope Innocent III, who instituted a waiting period between engagement and marriage in the 13th century and also insisted that a ring be used in the wedding ceremony. Before that, rings were used to seal an engagement only (as well as other important agreements).
(Source: weddingflowersandmore.com)
Why the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger:
The Chinese give a beautiful explanation to this.
- The thumb represents your parents.
- The index finger represents your siblings.
- The middle finger represents yourself.
- The ring finger represents your life partner.
- The little finger/pinky represents your children.
Hold your hands together like the picture. Join your middle fingers back-to-back, and the remaining fingers tip-to-tip.
Now, try to separate your thumbs. They will separate because your parents are not destined to live with you forever.
Rejoin your thumbs and separate your index fingers. They will separate because your siblings will have their own families and lead their own lives.
Rejoin your index fingers and separate your little fingers/pinkies. They will separate because your children will grow up, get married, and settle down.
Rejoin your little fingers/pinkies and try to separate your ring finger. They will not be able to separate because your life partner is meant to be with you throughout your entire life, through thick and thin.
(via hallelujah-weddings)
