Shopping For Wedding Rings? The Key Questions to Ask Before You Complete Your Purchase
So, you've found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Congratulations! But the window shopping doesn't stop there, we're afraid, because just like you window-shopped for your person, you will have to window shop for their next favourite accessory: their engagement ring.
Like a house, car, or any other significant investment, your engagement ring will likely be one of the most important purchases you'll ever make. These classic symbols of your love and commitment to one another will be worn daily for the rest of your lives (so you'd like to hope!) as a reminder to yourselves and everyone around you of the vows you'll take.
However, as every marriage is different, so is every engagement ring. With its own significance, meaning, and symbolism to the wearer, choosing a ring for your soon-to-be husband or wife involves much more than finding something aesthetically pleasing, so it's crucial to ask several key questions before you complete your purchase.
So, if you're starting to feel the pressure of finding your partner's perfect engagement ring, don't fret! In this article, we outline all the key questions you need to know while shopping for wedding rings that reflect your budget, taste, lasting value, etc. and are ultimately as perfect as the person you intend to marry.
What Is Your Budget?
While we'd like to think that a price couldn't be put on love, this question is one of, if not the most important, questions you must ask yourself during your engagement ring shopping experience. Let's face it; we'd all love to surprise our intended with the flashiest engagement ring to symbolise our love and appreciation for them.
But with the average wedding ceremony costing around £18,400, according to research from last year, soon-to-be weds have many financial decisions to make. So, before you start looking at custom rings, carats sizes, shapes, and brands, you'll need to determine how much you can realistically set aside for a ring while being able to afford everything else for the ceremony.
As a rule, it is thought that you should spend at least two to three months' salary on an engagement ring, but this is flexible! So long as you're able to work out your finances before you make a purchase, it shouldn't matter how high or low your budget is, only that you are purchasing something that your partner will fall in love with as soon as you slip it onto their ring finger.
Which Style Will Your Partner Like The Most?
Engagement rings are just as versatile as the person you're planning to marry, meaning they come in many styles, finishes, textures etc., and no two are the same. Some rings have diamonds, while others have other precious stones such as emeralds, sapphires, rubies etc. Some are made from rose gold, while others are crafted from white gold.
While you'd like to think that you'd be the best judge of what your partner would like, it doesn't hurt to do some snooping to ensure that the ring you have in mind is the perfect fit for them. Ideally, you don't want them to catch onto the fact that you are snooping and ruin the surprise, so instead of going straight to the source, why not consider asking your loved ones, close friends/family for advice, pay attention to their interests, consider the rings they usually wear etc.
It also helps if you find a high-quality jeweller like Lorel Diamonds, whom you can work alongside to source the perfect wedding band style for your special person. For more inspiration, consider visiting their website to browse their range of wedding rings, look at their helpful online resources, read customer reviews etc. and see how they could help you find the perfect engagement ring today.
Should I Get Matching Wedding Rings?
Oh, so you're one of those couples? Kidding! While some couples love to match each other, others couldn't think of anything worse and prefer to express their individuality. But, regardless of what kind of couple you and your partner are, while you've been shopping for engagement rings, the consideration of matching wedding bands might have entered the equation.
So, should you and your partner get matching wedding rings? The answer largely depends on whether you'd prefer a more traditional, cohesive look or whether you'd prefer a piece of jewellery that reflects your personality. Either way, having matching wedding bands doesn't determine the extent of your love, and whether you decide to get them is a personal choice.
However, if you are going back and forth trying to decide, consider sitting down with your partner or a close friend/family member and discussing it with them, whether it's something that is unnegotiable and if it's something that you can compromise on in favour of a set of wedding rings that you're both in love with.
What About The Ring's Quality/Certification?
Like a house or car, a wedding band is a significant investment, so you want to ensure the quality and authenticity of the ring you're going to surprise the love of your life with. Suppose you're leaning towards a traditional wedding band with a diamond. In that case, it's a general rule to consider the four C's – cut, carat, colour, and clarity – as this will allow you to understand better what your jeweller is saying.
Ideally, you want a ring that will last your partner a lifetime, so looking out for quality factors such as high-quality metals, hallmarks, luxury gemstones, and much more is essential. Providing that you enlist the services of a good jeweller, they will be able to answer any questions you have considering the quality/certification of the ring you're looking at – but if they can't, stay well away!
What Is Your Soon-To-Be Fiancé/Fiancée's Ring Size?
Imagine getting all your family together, choosing a unique location, and getting down on one knee, only to slip the ring on your partner's finger to discover it doesn't fit. To prevent this, it is essential that you find out your partner's ring size before completing your purchase, which is easy enough if they're going to be ring shopping with you but lesser so if you want it to be a surprise.
Thankfully, you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to discover this information; all you need is a close friend/family member to do a little digging on your behalf or to borrow one of your partner's existing rings and get it sized by a jeweller or at home.
Although you can get away with not knowing your partner's ring size, this piece of information does help make the buying process more manageable as you can rule out styles not available in their size straightaway. And prevents the awkwardness of returning the ring to the jeweller and getting a smaller/larger size!
