Rings and things: How to choose a wedding ring

Why do we have wedding rings?
The endless circle of a wedding ring symbolises eternity—all the more reason to make sure yours is built to last.

Doing the maths
There was once a general rule of thumb for working out how much to spend on a wedding ring: one month's salary was roughly the correct amount for an engagement ring, while the budget for a wedding ring took a bit more working out.

Nowadays it's simply how much a couple can afford—less expensive wedding rings are just as acceptable as glitzy bands and in some ways even more romantic.

Off the shelf or off the charts?
If you're happy to window shop, visiting a couple of jewellers should do the trick when it comes to choosing a wedding ring. Browse through some magazines to get an idea of what you want before hitting the shops.

If money's no object, you could get a jeweller to make a bespoke wedding ring for you. This way you can be truly sure that no one else has your wedding ring.

Precious metals
Yellow gold was always the colour of choice for traditional wedding rings, but silver, platinum and white gold are now popular options too. Think of your usual jewellery—a wedding ring should stand out, but it also needs to look at home with the rest of your things.

The meaning of carats
Carats are the measure of purity of the precious metal. Pure gold is 24 carats; 18 or 9 carats are the standard UK measurements. The higher the carat the better the colour—but the higher the price.

Stone love
Engagement rings are often studded with a diamond or two, so you might want your wedding ring to stay plain in contrast. Times are changing, however, and with it styles. When Jennifer Aniston married Brad Pitt, their famous white gold wedding rings had diamonds studded all the way around.

Words are all I have
Brad and Jen's bands were also inscribed with their names—inscriptions in wedding rings are an increasingly popular choice, with initials, dates, pet names, even simple messages. But choose your words carefully: space is at a premium, so it depends on the size of your rings—and how big your fingers are.

Timeless style
However glamorous you want to be, you're best going for something that won't date. A timeless plain band could be the way forward if you want your wedding ring to go the distance in terms of style.

Who gives what, and when?
The best man holds the wedding rings during the first part of the marriage service, and hands them over just before the vows are made. If you want ringbearers, you could choose children of couples who have not yet tied the knot—or even a favourite pet.