Both women’s and men’s wedding rings come in many styles and metals. Some couples even design their own rings. Some families have a tradition of passing either wedding or engagement rings or the stones down through the family. These stones can be reset or the rings can be worn as is as a sentimental gesture.

Most men’s wedding rings are wider than women’s wedding rings, although wedding rings for women are very wide – often when the bride does not plan to wear both an engagement and a wedding ring. Most couples choose rings that either are similar to each other’s rings or match each other’s rings. Metals that are often used for wedding rings include gold (either yellow or white), platinum, stainless steel, titanium or tungsten. Some couple choose the two latter metals as symbols of the strength of their love for one another. Yellow gold is the most common metal from which wedding rings are crafted. Most often, the wedding ring is the same metal as the engagement ring. It is important to remember, when choosing a wedding band, that is meant to be worn for the rest of one’s life.

Some couples prefer wedding bands that are patterned – braided, carved or engraved. An embossed design or a Celtic design is a possibility. Some people choose claddagh rings – the Irish symbol of love that is a heart held by two hands with a crown on the top. It symbolizes love, loyalty and friendship. Many couples have a short saying carved inside a wedding band or perhaps their initials and their wedding date.

Both men and women can choose rings that hold precious stones. Some women wear a wide band with a diamond or other stone as both a wedding and engagement ring, rather than two separate rings. Or they may choose a ring that has small diamonds all around it to symbolize the eternal nature of love. Some men have a small precious stone embedded in their wedding band. It could be their birthstone or their wife’s birthstone or a small diamond like the diamond in their wife’s ring.

Try not to get too caught up in trying to find and afford the ‘perfect’ wedding ring. Why? Because what is perfect for one person may be distasteful for someone else. It all comes down to personal preference. Shop around and do not overspend – that is the best advice!