The economy is tight these days, and money just doesn’t go as far as it used to. But a bad economy won’t stop you from meeting that special somewhere, and nobody wants to postpone a life moment like a wedding just because you don’t have as many resources as you’d like.
Certainly, there is a wide spectrum of possible wedding costs. You can get hitched in Vegas or at your city hall for nothing more than the cost of a marriage license, or you could arrange an extravagant destination wedding in a four star hotel overseas. But for those of us who fall somewhere in between, the goal is to keep costs low without making your special day seem like a low-budget affair. Here are some ideas:
Defer the Ring Cost
I know, we all want to have nicest and most dazzling jewelry possible. We want black diamond engagement rings and gold wedding rings to wear when we’re at the altar. But rings that are nice require a good chunk of money – money that may be better spent on your wedding or your honeymoon. For cash-strapped couples, a good alternative is to buy cheap (and temporary) wedding bands which they can wear during the wedding, the honeymoon, and even for several months afterwards until wedding expenses are in the past and more money starts to come in.
Cut Some Guests
If your guest list is already small and exclusive this may not seem like a sacrifice-free budget cut, but most of us invite at least a few people to our weddings that we’re not particularly thrilled to have. Maybe they invited us to theirs, maybe they’re a friend of a good friend, or maybe – for whatever reason – we simply feel obligated. Ultimately there are people who cannot be invited to any given wedding, and it’s up to you to decide where to draw that line. If money is tight, draw it more rigidly. It’s your money and your special occasion, and a distant friend will probably understand.
Skip the Open Bar
Some of your guests may not approve, but an open bar is one wedding cost that adds up quickly. Instead of obliging those people that want to drink freely, you can provide wine at each table or maybe a limited selection of beer. It’s hard to have even a modest wedding without providing some food, but alcohol is no marriage necessity. If you’re choosing between downsizing your venue or making it harder for guests to get drunk, cut the beer cooler – you won’t regret it.
Depending on your specific situation, there are many other ways to cut wedding costs without sacrificing too greatly. Before just assuming that certain costs are obliged, think about whether you really need them on your special day. If you and your fiancé don’t need the expense, all your guests will handle its loss just fine.
Your bride will probably want to have a ring that complements her engagement ring when you go to choose your wedding rings. Often, well decorated platinum wedding rings may look good on but detract attention from the engagement ring so you may need to try a number of rings to see which suits it best. Wedding rings are still used in many societies as an expression of two people’s love for each other. Many customs actually view the giving of the ring as the last in a number of gifts given to each partner.
A more modern approach to this custom is the bestowing of an eternity ring to the bride as the last gift. More and more couples are now having them engraved with a personal message that is special to them and also makes them more unique. While platinum wedding rings that are essentially plain bands are still beautiful, they do not appeal to everyone so it is could be an idea to have the edges engraved if time permits. There really isn’t any right or wrong here providing you are both happy with your choice.
Unlike some jewelry you may buy during your life, these are very special and should be treated with respect as they probably won’t leave your fingers very often. The quality should reflect how important you feel you marriage is going to be. Never make the mistake of thinking that wedding rings can be bought for a discount price when they are something special that will be worn for many years; you will only regret it. Platinum wedding rings will be expensive anyway ad being a hard metal, it should last; however, they really need to fit well otherwise they will not look their best.
At the same time you both choose your rings, have your finger measured by the jeweler and don’t leave the fit to chance. This should save the potential embarrassment of having wedding rings that fall off when they are placed on the finger at the wedding ceremony. Adjustments aren’t usually done ‘over the counter’ so allow plenty of time for them to be adjusted before the big day. You can guarantee that if you do not choose you platinum wedding rings as soon as you have organized the wedding there will be problems so do this right away; then the adjustments can be carried out in good time.
With the range of styles available these days it could take some time to choose. Don’t forget that just because you have a great platinum wedding ring design today, it doesn’t mean you will feel the same way after you have worn it for a year or so choose wisely. Such a commitment demands that you buy rings that you love and will enjoy wearing for the rest of your life.
If women can wear engagement rings to announce their status, why can’t men? Well, there really is no reason. The wearing of men’s engagement rings is more common in other countries than in the United States and Canada, but the tradition is becoming more popular in North America as more couples want the man — as well as woman — to wear evidence of their engaged status.
Some choose to buy a traditional man’s wedding band as an engagement ring, for later use as the wedding ring. Others prefer a more interesting ring so choose a man’s diamond solitaire (which can also serve as the wedding band) or other unique design. When the couple becomes married, the engagement ring then becomes a right hand ring and is replaced on the left finger by the wedding band.
Choosing a ring with gemstones
A man’s engagement ring with gemstones can still have a very masculine feel. While large diamond solitaires are a bit extreme, mens engagement bands are often set with a small diamond or cubic zirconium. Another way to signify commitment is an Irish Claddagh ring, which doesn’t look like a traditional wedding or engagement ring but conveys the same message. Vintage rings, signet rings, and tungsten or titanium rings with unique detailing — with or without gemstones — are also excellent options.
When she proposes to him
Proposing is no longer the exclusive province of men. In fact, more and more women are popping the question in today’s modern world. If a woman presents an engagement ring to a man, what does he do? Well, it depends on how avant-garde he is. Many men don’t think twice about accepting both the proposal and the ring. Others are more reticent. Women often want to choose their engagement rings; he may want to do that as well.
If he out-and-out rejects the idea of wearing an engagement ring, the bride-to-be may give him some other personal gift as a token of their mutual commitment. A dress watch, jeweled cuff links, a gold money clip, a masculine bracelet or neck chain are all appropriate symbols of engagement. What matters is his preference, of course. While men’s engagement rings look nothing like the women’s rings, they both signify the same idea: mutual love and commitment to each other.
Men’s Promise Rings
A promise ring, given to a man by the very special woman in his life, is a symbol of friendship, caring, and connection. It is not so much a promise of her intentions as it is the promise of the potential for a deeper romance to develop between them. The tradition of giving promise rings for men has evolved over the years, as have so many other traditions associated with love and romance. In the last century, women sometimes gave promise rings because the man was not yet ready to become engaged. The gift was usually a surprise, and the recipient had the right to decline if he wished. Refusing, while it is an option, had to be handled with great diplomacy; but then that’s a challenge women have faced for centuries.
The important thing to remember is that “the times, they are a changing,” and styles in men’s jewelry are changing right along with them. Gone are the days when women demurely sat by waiting for the man to make decisions. Today’s couples are equal partners in all regards — including the proposal.
