After getting engaged, you’ve got lots to do. From choosing a wedding date, venue, caterer, designer, wedding attire and more, there’s a lot on your plate. But, there’s one thing that can creep up on you if you’re not careful: buying your wedding rings. You might think purchasing wedding rings is a simple enough task you can do very close to your wedding date. However, we’re here to tell you waiting too late to purchase your wedding rings can be a potential for disaster! There are many considerations you should make prior to purchasing your rings, which is why it should be done sooner rather than later. One of the many things to consider is price. You’ll want to have a game plan for how much you want to spend on your wedding rings. But, how do you make that decision? Ultimately, the amount you choose to spend on your wedding rings is entirely up to you, but let’s walk through some things that will guide you through determining your budget for your rings. When You Should Purchase Your Rings You shouldn’t purchase your wedding rings any less than four months away from your wedding. If you wait until six weeks or closer before your event, you run a variety of risks, such as: Shipping delays: There are lots of reasons shipping could be delayed. From weather to major accidents on roadways (and even low materials available to create your rings), there’s no guarantee you’ll get your rings by your wedding date. Wrong sizes: If you order your rings online, you have to measure for yourself. Sometimes this works out well, but even if you get your finger sized in a jewelry store and the rings are shipped to you, if you wait too late, there might not be enough time to get them resized if they don’t fit as well as you expected. Different rings of different sizes can fit different ways, so you’ll want to have them early enough that you can try them out for a bit before your wedding. Missing stones or damaged: Even if you purchase your ring in the store and have it shipped there, if it arrives damaged and needs to be returned or replaced, you’ll have to wait another few weeks for that. By waiting to order your rings until the last minute, you’ll find you unfortunately will be without wedding bands at your event. Are you less than four months away from your wedding and still need wedding rings? Maybe you’ve ordered your rings but got the heartbreaking email that shipping’s been delayed and they won’t be to you until after your wedding. Order a set of silicone wedding bands as a backup! We have a variety of styles in stock great for every style, and the total time between processing & shipping is about 10 days! So, even if you’re right around the corner from your wedding, you can get a set of silicone bands in no time! They’re also great for everyday use, protecting your diamond bands from damage. Whether running to the grocery store or in a marathon, a silicone band is perfect for everyone. Average Wedding Ring Prices There are a lot of factors that influence the price of your wedding ring. The total average prices for women’s wedding bands tend to hover around $900, while men’s can hover around $500. Together, that’s $1,400 – the price of a DJ! If that number makes you sweat, you’re not alone. But, when you consider the average cost of a wedding is around $30,000, it makes sense. If you’re wondering why traditional wedding bands cost so much, here are some factors: Price of metals: Precious metals, such as gold, are expensive. The price of gold changes every day, but it can typically hover around $50 per gram of gold. Precious metals are always more expensive than regular metals, but the cost can be offset by choosing to get a ring that isn’t made of 24k gold (pure gold). Instead, consider getting a ring that’s 14k or even 18k. Those rings have a large amount of gold, but they’re also forged with some other metals that help to offset the cost. Browse Our Options for Silicone Wedding Bands for Men Diamonds and gemstones: The diamonds and gemstones you elect to place in your ring will have a large effect on the cost. Turning a simple gold band into something more intricate might be a beautiful way to show your love, but it will probably come with a hefty price tag. Even small diamonds around the entire band can add an additional $200 or more to the overall price. Factory-made gemstones might help cut the cost, but your trade-in value will plummet because you didn’t have real stones. Engraving: Engraving is a sweet way to make your wedding bands more personal. From dates to inside jokes, your wedding bands can serve as an intimate reminder of some of the most important things in your lives. However, engraving is an additional cost. You have to pay for the labor to engrave the band, plus there’s typically an additional shipping time. If you’d really like engraved wedding bands but don’t want to wait for three months to get them, consider ordering silicone! Our silicone wedding bands for men are a great choice for guys who are about to tie the knot. We offer engraving on some of our bands as well, and the total time between shipping and processing will take less than a month! Choosing a band made of alternative material, such as silicone, is one of the best ways to cut costs and put money in your wedding budget elsewhere. Our bands cost less than $30 each, so you can get your entire set for less than $100! With the amount you’ll save by getting a set of silicone bands, you can instead put extra money towards your honeymoon or even upgrade some services you’re getting at your wedding. Another additional cost many people don’t consider is ring insurance. Having separate insurance for your ring is essential if you purchase a precious metal with diamonds or gemstones. You might think your home or renters insurance is enough, but where will you turn if you lose your ring while traveling or it’s stolen from you? Ring insurance typically covers that, but it’s for an additional price. There are many factors that influence the cost of ring insurance, such as the amount of coverage or the location the ring will typically be. Learn more about how to insure a ring and make the decision for yourself if you still want a diamond wedding band. Alternatively, opting for silicone means you don’t need to insure it! While we strongly feel our rings are irreplaceable because they mean something special to everyone, we also know life happens, so we’ve made it easy and affordable for you to replace your ring should you lose it or it gets damaged. Deciding How Much You Should Spend There are a variety of factors to consider when deciding how much you should spend on a wedding ring. Here are some of the top ones: Finances: What does your financial situation look like? If you don’t think you can accrue any more debt, then you shouldn’t go out looking at rings that have diamonds over half a karat in weight. Really sit and consider how much you can afford. Some jewelers will ask you to consider financing while shopping for rings. And, while it might seem tempting, remember financing your wedding bands will go against your credit because it’s another open account. If you have the funds to pay out of pocket for your rings, do it. Check Out Our Collection of Silicone Wedding Bands for Women How much the engagement ring was: Engagement rings aren’t cheap. Many can easily cost over $1,000, with averages rounding out at $4,000 to $5,000. If you’ve already spent this much on an engagement ring, you’ll probably want to spend much less on the wedding bands. To balance the cost, consider ordering a silicone ring. We have some silicone wedding bands for women in white that will go great with your wedding dress! Our stackable rings are the most popular because you can swap out your diamond engagement ring for a silicone one. That way, you don’t run the risk of breaking a prong and losing a diamond while grocery shopping, working out or filing paperwork at the office. Save the diamond for special occasions, such as anniversaries or important dinners. The message you want to send: Some people just like the look of fancy things – and that’s okay! Ordering a band that’s more expensive is your prerogative, as long as you have the funds available to do it. Think about what message you want to send with your wedding band. Simple? Deeply personal? Innovative? Edgy? Your wedding ring is an opportunity to show who you are and what your style is. If you’re looking for edgy wedding bands, a black band is always a good idea. Innovative bands can have a variety of options, such as cut-outs or intricate patterns. Your occupation: The job you work will also determine how much you’ll spend on a wedding ring. There’s no point in spending hundreds on a wedding band if you’re going to end up damaging it. If you work as a first responder, medical professional, mechanic or even with wildlife, it’s a good idea to opt for a less expensive wedding ring. Many professions will also warn against wearing your diamond engagement ring as well. That’s why a silicone band is such a great idea! You don’t have to worry about it getting destroyed by materials because you can easily wash it in the dishwasher cycle or scrub it with some soap and water. Metal rings, on the other hand, require a specific chemical formula and professional cleaning tools to dissolve any grime or buildup. Using soap and water to clean metal can actually wear it out and make it more susceptible to cracks and degradation. What your partner wants: Your partner is a big deciding factor in the type of ring you purchase. Do you both want rings to match, or do you each want to choose your own? There are lots of questions you both need to answer together. Some partners are fine with choosing their own rings, while others will want to surprise you and purchase your band without you. Some will also want to go shopping together. Regardless of where you shop, it’s important you at least check with each other and give information about what you’re looking for. If you both want a matching set, it’s important you shop together! It’s a great experience, especially if you didn’t shop together for the engagement ring. Consider it one of the first decisions you make together as an almost married couple! Silicone Wedding Band Ideas If you’ve decided to nix the traditional metal and choose a silicone band, here are some ideas to make your band stand out! Stripes: A striped silicone wedding ring has just enough design elements to make it interesting enough to stand on its own but simple enough to be paired with your engagement ring. We have striped silicone bands for both men and women, so you and your fiance can get a matching set! Stackable: Like we mentioned earlier, our stackable women’s rings are great for wedding bands because they come in a variety of colors, designs and textures! With so many options, you’ll have stackable rings for each month of the year. You can also add a ring for each milestone, such as your first child or even your 10th anniversary. Reversible: For a simplified way to switch up your ring, consider getting a reversible ring! Depending on your mood, or the occasion, you can flip the ring inside-out to wear a different color! Image Credits: LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com TabitaZn/Shutterstock.com Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock.com Jarhe Photography/Shutterstock.com AlexLB/Shutterstock.com