How to Buy a Wedding Band You'll Love

Couples often wait until the last minute to search for bands—not the ones that play at the reception, but those you wear on your ring fingers for the rest of your happily ever-after. That kind of commitment shouldn't be an afterthought! Plan ahead; just as grooms looking for engagement rings often consider the four Cs (cut, color, carat, and clarity), when you start your band hunt, keep in mind these four Ss. 

With a ring you'll wear daily, you need to assess how much real estate it will take up on your finger. If you work with your hands, you may want something thin and simple. Or you might prefer a wider band studded with stones for every day, bringing out your engagement ring only for special occasions.

Do you want your band to match your spouse's? Will you wear it on your right hand, as women do in many parts of Europe and India, or do you want it to fit snugly around your engagement ring? Answer the big-picture question of how you plan to wear yours to determine the right style.

Next, focus on specific options. Some rings have gems, like diamonds, often in an eternity pattern. Others are simply solid metal. In fact, according to Jewish tradition, the band used in the ceremony should be a smooth, unbroken gold circle, to symbolize a pure union.

Any ring will be meaningful, but engraving the inside makes it personal. You could add each other's initials and your wedding date. Or take a cue from a couple who chose ILYMTYLTT for their motto: I Love You More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow. Nicknames or phrases from your vows are nice, too.