But then, amid all the giddy and glee, a bomb drops: What? I now have to pick out another ring. That’s right—the wedding band looms over you like another impending deadline in your bridal planning chaos. Sure, some ladies are lucky in that a matching band comes with their engagement ring. But for the rest of us? It can be a daunting task.

I was one of the unlucky ones. Winning my gorge Simon G. Jewelry ring in a contest was fantastic, but my fiancé thought it was such a pretty ring/big enough that really I didn’t need a wedding band. Say what? (I knew the truth. He was just being cheap).

While this approach works for many ladies and there’s nothing wrong with it, I really really really wanted a wedding band separate from my ring. But he was right. It wasn’t that my ring was BIG, per say, but the band for the setting itself was significantly wider than most engagement rings. I set out on a mission to find a perfect wedding band—so much so, that a friend and I would drive miles upon miles to shops all over the state in search of the perfect band to accompany my beloved ring.

I started each attempt the same way. I didn’t mess around and always approached a sales person with my plight, asking for them to expertly match my ring. What I got was a mixed bag of crazy. One person recommended a plain band—however, next to my ornate setting, it looked…off. Another recommended a diamond eternity band, which I loved—but the thickness next to my ring was way too thick and heavy on my finger. Oh and that sad sad lady who tried to convince me I should do an entirely black diamond band—I’m still not sure what she was on,  but her suggestion looked awful.

At one point, I thought maybe my husband-to-be was right. Maybe there wasn’t a ring meant to go with my engagement ring. But then, on one of my quests asking a salesperson, she took one look at my engagement ring and instantly knew. It was a simple, half braided diamond band. The tiny ring was perfect and love at first sight.

For many ladies, this is the only ring you get to pick out 100% on your own. So make sure you invest the time. Remember, picking out your wedding band is an art form. Seriously, just remember these three things to keep you going on your quest.

Ask experts for their help
Research different prices, designers, styles and even custom work
Try as many different combos as you can to get the right feel

Not feeling like much of an artist? Then plan ahead. Rings that come with their own wedding band that matches are AWESOME. But of course, you’ll have to drop extra hints to the man. Feel free to leave your latest copy of Engagement 101 magazine on his coffee table the page open to the perfect one. He’ll get the picture, and it’ll save you a shopping trip in the future.

By Nikki Roberti
Photo Credit: Kirk Kara