How Much Should You Spend on a Wedding Band?

Nope, you’re not done shopping for rings yet. You still need to get your wedding bands. Fortunately, it won’t be as time-consuming or as stressful as picking an engagement rings. Now you won’t have to make educated guesses about what your partner likes or sneak around trying to get their ring size. You can just go ring shopping with your partner.

Choosing your wedding bands will be one of the many permanent decisions you will make as a couple. It’s not just deciding whether you want yellow gold, white gold, or platinum bands.

You also have to agree over where to buy, when to get one, and most importantly, how much to spend. Money matters are one of the most important things you will need to agree on as a couple.

How Much to Spend on Your Wedding Band

According to a 2017 survey by The Knot, Americans spend an average of $6,351 on an engagement ring, but you won’t have room to splurge (or even the desire to) when you’re planning a wedding.

Planning a wedding requires careful budgeting. You have to pay for the ceremony and the reception, which means spending money on a venue, menu, decorations, and invitations, among others. You and your partner have to take these all into consideration when budgeting for your wedding bands.

Many couples spend at least $1,000 for simple bands. Others who want diamonds or other gemstones on their rings will spend as much as $5,000 or more.

In truth, there’s no rule about spending months of your salary to buy your wedding bands (or engagement ring). Whoever said that probably doesn’t have realistic views about money (or is rolling in cash). How much spend on your wedding bands should depend on your budget first then your preferences.

Yes, your wedding bands are symbolic and very important to you both, but they shouldn’t take precedence over more important goals, such as building a home for your family.

How to Choose Your Wedding Band

Two minds are better than one. With your partner’s help, it will take less time and effort to find the perfect wedding bands. You can talk to them about what kind of ring you want, where you want to buy it, and how much you want to spend on it.

Decide if you want something simple or something with more embellishments. When it comes to the metal, you have to take into account the engagement ring. If the engagement ring is yellow gold, then the wedding ring should also be yellow gold. This is so the bride can wear both at the same time without worrying about the rings clashing.

When it comes to choosing the jeweller, you can use the same one where you bought the engagement ring. But ask your partner if they know a better one. You can browse their selection, find a design you like (within your budget range), and agree on it.

If one of you is not picky about jewelry and has no real preferences, the partner who has specific tastes can call the shots and choose for you both to save time and lessen the stress. Of course, the other has to approve of the choice before buying the wedding rings.

How to Save Money on Your Wedding Band

Jewelry is expensive, and that’s a fact. If you don’t want to be stuck paying for two tiny rings when you’re raising a family, you best stick to a budget and follow these tips to save money on your wedding band.

Set a budget. Your wedding band is hardly your only expense for the wedding. Most of your budget will probably go to the venue, the reception, and the wedding preparation. For that purpose, it’s best to set a budget for the wedding band beforehand.

You can’t spend too much on it or too little. Talk with your partner about how much you’re both willing to spend for your wedding rings.

Don’t pay for the brand. When you truly think about it, there’s no significant difference between branded wedding bands and non branded ones. As long as the rings are genuine and the marksmanship is satisfactory, there’s no need to buy from a famous jeweller. Just make sure to find a trustworthy jeweller.

Shop online. You can find many online jewellers who sell wedding rings at wholesale price, which is very good for your budget. Online jewellers can sell their products at a lower price since they don’t pay as much for maintaining an online shop, compared to a brick-and-mortar shop. Moreover, many of them get their merchandise directly from the manufacturer, which is much cheaper than sourcing diamonds from middlemen.

Look for a sale. A sale happens nearly every month, so mark your calendar for seasonal promotions. You can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars if you wait for the right opportunity to buy your wedding rings.

Don’t hesitate to check clearance sales too. There are plenty of good pieces sold for a lower price if you know where to look. Keep in mind that no matter the price of your ring, it can also last longer as long as you take care of it properly.

Buy an engagement and wedding set. This may be presumptuous and hasty. But if you’re absolutely certain your partner will say yes, just buy an engagement and wedding set. Many jewellers offer these packages at wholesale prices, so you can save on the engagement ring and the wedding band.

Of course, this raises the pressure on you to find the perfect ring to propose with, but you’ll definitely choose the right set as long as you keep your partner’s preferences in mind.

Till Death Do You Part

Your wedding bands are an important symbol of your love, and you’ll both be wearing them for the rest of your lives together. However, no matter how symbolic the jewelry, you shouldn’t spend all your savings on it.

Since you’re getting married, talk with partner, and agree on a budget for your wedding bands (and everything else). Don’t be blinded by brands and carats. Your love and your relationship can’t be measured by a tiny piece of metal or stone, no matter how precious.