Cheap wedding bands may be inexpensive but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality, beauty or style. Finding the perfect wedding band doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. Here are 9 tips to help you avoid the most common mistakes made when buying wedding bands.
(1) Know your budget. The first question to ask yourself is how much you can afford to spend on your wedding bands. Knowing how much you can spend for your wedding bands will save you a lot of time. It’s much less confusing for you to choose from a smaller selection of wedding bands you can afford then to try on every piece in a jewelry store. Don’t be tempted to bust your wedding budget on a more expensive wedding band you can’t afford now, you can always upgrade today’s cheap wedding band into an exquisite anniversary ring later in life.
(2) Just your style. It’s important to figure out what you want in terms of style and quality. It’s always easier if you do your homework first. You’re going to have to make a lot of choices. Consider choosing something that would best work with your style and the other jewelry you usually wear. Many times, you’ll want to match your wedding band to your engagement ring. Also, don’t forget your significant other. Many couples want to wear a matching set of wedding bands. Do your styles match or clash? To avoid trouble, most couples now shop together for their wedding bands.
(3) Metal matters. Like the look of platinum? It’s the most expensive metal and about twice the price of gold. For the same look, why not go with white gold at half the price. For a little more than gold, you may want titanium. It’s very durable, ultralight and the choice of many active couples. Going for more traditional wedding bands? Yellow and colored gold remain great choices. For the cheapest wedding bands, silver is the most inexpensive way to go.
(4) Designer brand or not? Most jewelers agree that there is no difference in quality between the designer label and generic wedding bands on the market today. Unless you want the status of a designer brand, why spend extra? You’ll save yourself several hundred dollars by getting the exact same looking cheap wedding band and can use the difference for more fun things like your honeymoon.
(5) Shop around. Do not buy the first wedding band you find. Look around several places to compare styles and prices. It can get confusing when shopping alone. Try taking your significant other, trusted family member, or good friend to stay sane and avoid the impulsive buy.
(6) Think small. The chain jewelry store at the mall may not be the best place to find your discount wedding bands. Try the smaller jewelers in your area. Ask for recommendations from you family and friends. Recently married coworkers are also a great resource. For the truly adventurous, antique stores, estate sales, and even pawn shops can lead to terrific deals.
(7) Buy Online. The internet has become a great place to buy cheap wedding bands. By buying online, you can expect to save 30 to 50% below the prices you would pay at a regular jewelry store. Mondera
and Jewelryweb
are two well-respected online retailers known for their wide selection and deep discount prices for wedding bands. For very inexpensive mens titanium wedding bands, try Justmetal.
(8) Be safe. If you’re not sure, ask questions. Is there is money back guarantee? What happens if your wedding band needs repairs or resizing? What is the store’s return policy? Answers to these questions may save you headaches later.
(9) Finally, plan ahead. Your wedding bands may not ready right away. If you need to have engraving done or do a custom design, it could take a few weeks for you order to arrive. The earlier you start working on your wedding bands, the better off you’ll be on your wedding day.
For more ideas on making the most of your wedding budget, check out these amazing “Wedding Planning Secrets.”
