If you're planning a wedding, your engagement ring will get a lot of attention. But your wedding rings deserve just as much thought. Yes, an engagement ring signifies the start of your bridal journey and is likely to be the biggest, fanciest gem you will ever own… But you will be wearing your wedding ring for the rest of your life, too. It's definitely worth starting a Pinterest board to inspire your decision, particularly as weddings continue to evolve into a new era of freedom and fun.
From the gowns we wear – or not, because trouser suits, high street wedding dresses and mini-lengths are all of the moment – to how we are proposing, who we’re celebrating with... and how we’re doing it (our round up of all the 2023 wedding trends is here), weddings of late have had a shake up. But the most traditional element of any wedding ceremony - read: the wedding ring - remains a constant. (Hey, we’ll take any excuse to add an accessory). Of course, just because it’s traditional, doesn’t mean it has to look old-fashioned.
The days when plain yellow gold bands - or platinum ones - were the only option are a distant memory. Brides can now have as much fun choosing their wedding ring as their engagement ring. Sprinkle on as many diamonds as you want or choose other precious gems instead. Go for twisted, pinched or hammered finishes. Mix up your metals. There are so many incredible wedding rings to choose from, look beyond the trends and choose something you love just as much as the person you’re marrying. Overstatement? We think not...
Some of our favourite wedding rings can be bought online instead of IRL so once you’ve worked out the ring you want, make sure you measure your finger properly - read our guide for advice.
There’s also nothing in the new bridal rulebook that says your wedding ring has to be basic. Yes, you need to think about how it sits with your engagement ring but that's it!
And on that note, you'll need to consider the hardness of the metal you choose. If you're going to wear your wedding ring and engagement ring together, you'll want to choose similarly hard materials to stop too much wear and tear from a tougher metal. That's why so many rings come as sets and brides often return to the jeweller that made their engagement ring…
What are the best metals for wedding rings?
Platinum is a tough metal, which will never tarnish, and it's cool silver-y tone looks modern and minimal while titanium is hypoallergenic, super-strong yet lightweight. It resists corrosion and tarnishing, too. Mejuri's black titanium ring is a fashion forward choice.
Any colour gold, whether white gold or yellow gold is measured in carats. The purest form is 24ct gold but this is also the softest, meaning it's more prone to dents and knocks and not suitable for jewellery. 18ct gold is often used for rings as it's lightweight and durable but still strong enough for everyday wear. Messika's 18-karat white gold ring also includes a dusting of diamonds while David Yurman's Cable Classics 18-karat gold ring is a twist on the tradition, which we love.
Rose gold is the ultimate romantic choice and is usually made by mixing yellow gold with copper, which adds strength to the pure gold metal and bestows that lovely pink glow (which suits every skin tone.) Check out the Ice Cube Pure 18-karat rose gold ring from Chopard if you're planning on adding a touch of pink to your bridal look.
Silver can look bohemian and minimal and has the prestige of being a chosen material for jewellery for actual millennia. Decisions, decisions…
If you want more wedding content check out our wedding channel and see more inspiration for engagement rings right here. For more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton, follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton.
Now you know how to choose, scroll through the 19 beautiful wedding rings in our edit… and congratulations!
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