Wedding Bands – The Choice of the Bride
A wedding band or wedding ring is actually a finger ring which actually shows that its wearer is actually married. It’s usually made of silver or some other precious metal, and is typically forged out of gold or some other precious metal. In many cultures, it’s a sign that the woman is married when the band is worn, but not so in the modern times. There are a lot of different types of bands for a wedding, each representing different values. For example, there are wedding rings with stones, diamonds or other gems embedded in them.
A lot of people have a tradition of giving diamond wedding bands as engagement rings. This is in recognition of the stone that represents the wearer of the band – whether the gem is a diamond, sapphire or whatever. However, a lot of people also choose not to use a diamond in their rings. This can be down to tradition or preference – though if you do go for a non-diamond alternative, then the choice is down to you. You may find that the feeling around the diamond is less “king like” than a diamond would be for a ring, so may not be worth the cost for some.
Alternatively, you can have some very simple yet meaningful wedding bands. These can include wedding bands which just have a symbolic value attached to them, or ones that represent an association or something that is important to you. Some examples of this would be nesting bands. These are actually pretty common these days, representing something like families, love and birds. They can either be worn by men (the male nesting band) or women (the female nesting band).
Another type of band which can be worn at a ceremony is the ring on a finger. Usually worn by men (although there are some women who wear a ring on their left hand as well), this is a symbol of undying love and affection. The use of this kind of wedding bands varies widely; you could get something a bit more elaborate than a simple band or something less sentimental.
One way of adding a touch of individualism to your wedding bands is by choosing a style which is slightly out of the ordinary. If you are both fairly conservative people then you might want to choose a band which you have personally designed. For example, if you were going to wear a plain gold ring during the ceremony but decide to wear white gold afterwards, then why not choose a ring which is in either gold (to match the dress and the flowers) or white gold (to make the gold ring look even more out of place)? This type of personalisation will make your ring much more unique.
Finally, there are also wedding bands which are designed for the groom. Many grooms opt for something a little more traditional than the typical engagement ring. These bands are usually worn on the right hand instead of the left hand. This is because the grooms’ ring finger tends to be slightly bigger than the bride’s ring finger. These bands can also have an additional stone affixed to it on either the left hand or right hand. This allows the couple to wear their birth stones (if they chose) on either hand together with their wedding rings.
Another type of wedding bands which can be worn on either the left hand or right hand is the eternity band. These are made from either white or yellow gold. They tend to be very sturdy compared to most other types of metal bands and are ideal for finger food catering and heavy use during the ceremony. This is also a good option if you are allergic to some of the metals which are commonly used for wedding bands (such as silver). White gold also holds its own against some of the other metals which are often used for such dishes as the cake fork.
Wedding bands are normally available for purchase separately but you may find that your local jeweler will offer a matching set of bands. You will be able to select from traditional plain gold bands, or you can opt for an assortment of colored bands which will complement your engagement ring. Wedding bands are an important aspect of your wedding day and choosing the right one will enhance your look and make your fingers look much more elegant than they otherwise would!