Wearing matching wedding bands is a romantic way for a couple to show the world their continuing love. It’s easy to find matching rings if the bride and groom have decided on simple, precious metal bands, and many wedding band sets for the bride and groom are easily found. However, fancy or ornate wedding bands “for her” may not be suitable wedding bands “for him”. There are many ways around that problem, though – because matching doesn’t have to mean identical.

Wedding bands are often an afterthought for couples planning a wedding, but there’s no reason for that to be the case. They can – and should – be beautiful, meaningful pieces of jewelry which will be worn for a lifetime. With a little advance planning, they can be one of the most precious reminders of both a special day and a precious relationship.

One of the least expensive precious metals, silver is often considered by couples looking at wedding rings. Since you’ve probably owned at least one sterling silver ring in your life, you already know the potential drawbacks, though: the finish is unlikely to last long, and the metal gets dinged and dented easily. There’s a large assortment of silver wedding bands available, but they should primarily be considered as a budget or short-term option.

We’ve spent quite a bit of time discussing metals, but a precious metal wedding band doesn’t have to be plain or ordinary. Different borders, finishes, inlays, engravings or ridges can turn a simple metal band into a one-of-a-kind ring with special, personal meaning.