What part of the wedding planning process has been your favorite thus far? Is there an upcoming one that you’re particularly looking forward to? Maybe you can’t pick just one and have loved every single aspect of the entire experience. If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone! As we often do here on our wedding blog, we like keeping the content fresh while jumping around from topic-to-topic. Whether that be wedding venue tour tips, knowing how to put together a jaw-dropping send-off or anything else wedding-related, you can probably find it somewhere on our blog! 

This week, however, we’ll be discussing yet another component which simply has to be included in any wedding celebration. From the engagement ring setting off the entire process to the wedding bands themselves, this is one of those things that just about every couple looks forward to. While you can definitely get into quite a bit of detail when it comes to specific diamonds, cuts and what not, we’re going to take a look at a few of the items you’ll want to consider prior to even heading over to the jewelry store. 

Photo on the thumbnail is courtesy of Mustard Seed Photography.

Engagement Rings

We’ll kick off this blog by discussing a few frequently-asked questions in regards to engagement rings specifically. While some of the material-specific questions can be applied to both, there are certainly a handful of points that particularly pertain to engagement rings.

Do you have to abide by traditions? There’s no doubt that the wedding industry is filled with traditions that have seemingly been around forever. As an engaged couple though, just remember these are traditions, not rules. It’s your wedding day and as such, you’re the one who can craft the different aspects of it. After all, just look how popular first looks have become! When it comes to engagement rings, traditionally the ring is selected as a surprise to one’s partner prior to the proposal. Nonetheless, nowadays, some couples are simply tossing this tradition aside and letting their soon-to-be spouse select a ring they love. Now…can you still let them pick out a ring they love AND have the proposal be a surprise? Of course, consider utilizing a temporary ring to truly achieve the best of both worlds!

Can I get an engagement ring resized? When it comes to rings, there’s always going to be the possibility of them needing to be resized. This is even more so the case if you’re going for the element of surprise with your engagement ring. So, while your partner probably knocked it out of the park with the actual ring, it might not fit perfectly. There is nothing to worry about here though, as this has surely happened to plenty of couples over the years. While ring resizing sounds like it would be difficult initially, your jeweler should definitely be able to do it! Generally speaking, most jewelers say it’s easier to make a ring smaller, as opposed to making it larger. In addition, while ring resizing is possible, there are limitations to it. Both in terms of making it bigger and smaller, you can only resize it so far without damaging the ring. Long story short, you can resize rings, but it would be wise to discuss this with the jeweler ahead of time to learn of any potential limitations. 

Are you planning on getting insurance? Insurance might be the last thing on your mind when you’re getting ready to propose, but that doesn’t mean you can completely ignore it. While you would prefer to avoid any situations where you lose this precious piece of jewelry, having reliable insurance can help limit the overall pain. Whether that be from potential theft, damaging it at work or anything else, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Wedding Rings

Much like many other aspects of the wedding industry, there is no shortage of ideas for wedding rings in 2022! If you’re struggling to find one you like, browse through Pinterest and chances are you’ll find something that piques your interest. Just as we did above with the engagement rings, it’s also safe to say that couples have more than a few wedding ring-related questions as well!

When is the right time to start shopping? As we’ve mentioned a few times before, you’ll have plenty on your to-do list leading up to the big day. With this being the case, it’s important to have a timeline to utilize to ensure you stay on schedule. In terms of wedding rings, it’s a good idea to start the shopping process at least 4-5 months out. Keep in mind that you’re more than welcome to browse around Pinterest or Instagram in the months before that, as you get an idea of the style you would like. Remember, the wedding ring is something you’ll wear forever, so you definitely don’t want to rush the decision either! As for actually ordering the rings, make sure to have this completed at least 2-3 months before the wedding.

Finalize all of the basics between you and your fiance. As you can likely imagine, there are quite a few variables when it comes to ring shopping. After all, you may or may not be familiar with the 4 C’s that help determine a diamond’s quality and value. They are clarity, cut, color and carat if you were curious! However, while this will certainly help determine the exact value of the diamond ring, there’s undoubtedly a handful of points you and your fiance will want to ask yourselves before heading into the jeweler.

• Budget – I know we touch on the budget-topic quite often here on the blog, but it is certainly an important one to be mindful of. Just as you would establish a budgetary number for any other wedding vendor, you’ll want to do the same for the wedding bands as well!
• Matching Rings – Here, we find ourselves with another item that often gets discussed as a wedding tradition. Looking back on history, it has always been a tradition for couples to get wedding bands that matched. However, that is certainly not a requirement. After all, you’ll be wearing this ring for quite some time, so you might as well get something you each love, right?!
• Style – As we’ve mentioned before in this blog, there are no shortage of styles for both the engagement rings and wedding bands. Take some time to browse around online or even in the jewelry store to see if anything catches your eye. Even if you don’t purchase one at that particular moment, you never know which style might be the one!

Have You Already Selected Your Wedding Venue?

Without a doubt, rings have long been a staple in the entire wedding experience. From the engagement ring to the wedding bands themselves, it is the perfect way to symbolize your love for one another! In between selecting the two different types of wedding-related rings, you’ll need to tour and finalize a wedding venue to host your celebration! If you’re searching for something near Houston or The Woodlands, we would love to show you around our wedding venue, Madera Estates. To get started, we always encourage engaged couples to schedule a tour through our online booking calendar. After that, you’ll have the opportunity to see the venue in-person, as well as discuss any pricing or availability questions you may have. Cheers to having fun while ring shopping!