How much is too much to pay for a wedding band?

[MnM's Mom]

I am in need of feedback from my SC friends in BC lowermainland area. We have recently been shopping around for a wedding band to match my uniquely shaped engagement ring (band is discontinued) and I am shocked at how much they want to charge us to make the band!

Our lowest quote so far is 1100.00 and the greatest about 2000.00. I am almost certain that once they hand over the invoice it will be much more.

I feel super frustrated as we have two young children and just cannot justify most of our wedding budget on my ring. Why are they always playing on the emotions of the bride-to-be?

So here is what I need feedback on:

-How much is an acceptable amount to spend?
-Is there a reasonably priced jeweller out there?
-Where can I find other "wedding stuff" at a good price? (ie: dress, invites)

Please help me....I AM a budget bride!

[Natalka]

I'm not in BC, but am into rings!!
As for cost, it's a 'that depends' kind of thing. Usually the wedding band is way less than the cost of the e-ring, since it either is plain or has fewer diamonds on it.
But having to get it custom made would definitely up the price....

Could you post a pic of your e-ring, or a pic which has one of a similar shape? Is it because of the stone shape or design of the ring itself that you need a specialized wedding band? Like do you need a chevron (vee-shape), or notched band?

In the Tea Room, there's another wedding thread which might give you some ideas...
http://forum.smartcanucks.ca/131683-...budget-canada/

[Zonny]

Wow, that is a lot! I wanted a plain gold band for myself, something that would never be mistaken for anything else. That's what I got, they're only about $100 or so, not much more. So I don't know what to do about your wedding band problem. What about secondhand, would you object to that?

I'd also look into that route for your wedding gown. Or better yet, rent it! If I'd found a gown to fit me that I liked, I totally would have rented mine or bought it secondhand. I did sell it afterwards though, so we got some of the money back.

Invitations and thank you cards, I made my own. Did the layout on my computer, got them printed and cut at Kinkos, adding some rubber stamping in the form of Celtic knots on each corner. Yes it sounds kind of cheesey, but they came out really well. I *think* I paid under $40 for over 100 invites, including envelopes.

Our reception, we had it at a Royal Canadian Legion. The hall was only $100 I think, and the meal was less than half what the nice hotels downdown cost.

Our wedding cake came from Atlantic Superstore! Again, sounds hokey, but they did a fabulous job - it looked and tasted amazing.

Good luck!

Z

[bug]

Wow, that is a lot! I wanted a plain gold band for myself, something that would never be mistaken for anything else. That's what I got, they're only about $100 or so, not much more.

$200-500 for a plain band +/- small diamonds or embellishments

Go to the non-wedding section of the store. You might be able to find something for a better price as anything labeled "wedding" has a larger price mark-up.

The custom work is probably driving up your price too.

[daisybear]

hmmmm, we got our bands of the shelf so I'm not to sure about custom...but bands are cheap. I think we paid under $400 for both or our bands (engraving included)
I don't think that $2000 is worth it for a band when you will have so much more to pay for...but on the other hand you will be wearing it for the rest of your life, long after you have forgotten what kind of flowers you had or what you gave your wedding party.

[daisybear]

What about ebay?? Or contacting the manufacturer and seeing if any other stores they sold it to may have older stock.

[Zonny]

$200-500 for a plain band +/- small diamonds or embellishments

Go to the non-wedding section of the store. You might be able to find something for a better price as anything labeled "wedding" has a larger price mark-up.

The custom work is probably driving up your price too.

Well, my wedding was nearly seven years ago. I'm quite certain it was maybe $125, but gold has probably gone up since then. No diamonds or other embellishments for me, I wanted just the plain old gold band.

Amazing how much more important that simple piece of gold becomes, more than my diamond engagement ring now. When I first got the diamond, that was the most important!

Z

[bug]

Amazing how much more important that simple piece of gold becomes, more than my diamond engagement ring now. When I first got the diamond, that was the most important!

True. Most long-time married people I know either wear no ring or only a simple band. It's only the younger ones who wear both their fancy diamond and fancy bands.

[Insane]

In my opinion, you can't really spend too much. You have to wear it every day for the rest of your life. Splurge on it. You want to be happy with it. And don't forget to add your rings to your insurance policy.

The other place I say splurge is the photos. Cut costs in the other expenses. We did an afternoon buffet cause it was so much cheaper than an evening affair!

[Natalka]

True. Most long-time married people I know either wear no ring or only a simple band. It's only the younger ones who wear both their fancy diamond and fancy bands.

This isn't the case amongst my family and friends! Everyone wears both their engagement rings and wedding bands together, sometimes along with an anniversary band. I'm married over 20 years and wear the three together (they are modest, so they only are halfway up to the knuckle).
My sisters in their 60s who are married many many decades still wear their rings all together, too. Same with friends. Another sister in her 50s who is an ICU nurse wears a simple band for work, but otherwise wears her wedding set.

[itsjustmebub]

we got married 8.5 years ago and we paid i think around $300 each for the bands.
mine has little diamonds all across the front of it.

up to $2k sounds VERY expensive to me.

[bug]

This isn't the case amongst my family and friends! Everyone wears both their engagement rings and wedding bands together, sometimes along with an anniversary band. I'm married over 20 years and wear the three together (they are modest, so they only are halfway up to the knuckle).
My sisters in their 60s who are married many many decades still wear their rings all together, too. Same with friends. Another sister in her 50s who is an ICU nurse wears a simple band for work, but otherwise wears her wedding set.

I forgot about that. Maybe it's just the older people I know....they don't wear a lot of jewelry to begin with, and often had jobs like your sister or where it would be inconvenient.

[matrix82]

We got married two years ago, and we paid $6000 for the whole wedding, including a three course meal for 175 ppl.

-I had the wedding at my home church for the cost of a donation to the minister, organist and church (because of the rich woodwork in the church I didn't decorate the church at all, I felt that the structure was ornate enough).
-hubby's wedding band was around $80 (stainless steel and gold, its what he wanted)
-my engagement and wedding bands were around 600 total (got both during half price sales).
-photo's (done as a gift by my uncle and by a close friend- free).
cake- called local bakeries and paid $200 for a four layer cake (it was simple and elegant)
-food (local fire hall, $12 per person for salad, turkey dinner, pie, tea and coffee)
-hall rental- $100
-dj- $300
-decorations- 350
-flowers- 250 (ordered silk flowers in from the states for the bouquets, and bought some potted lilies from sobeys for the grandmothers/moms/great aunts etc to take home).
-invitations (not sure the price, bought at michaels using the 40% off coupons, printed on my home computer and I put them together).

The biggest single expense was my dress. I knew what I wanted, so I got it. Also because I am tall, I had to pay for extra length. I think the shoes, dress, veil, tiara etc came to around $1500.

Anyways, I shopped around, and I took time to search the web as well. I was able to find pretty calla lily ceramic and metal bookmarks online for about a dollar each to get for my guests as a little thank-you.

I also happened to find my thank-you notes a local dollar store, 100 thank you notes for $5.

Also the rings, it was pricey, but what I wanted. I could have just went and got a plain gold band, but I didn't want that. I wanted to have an engagement ring and wedding band.

We were also pretty lucky that my mother in law and sister in law are hairdressers so they gave their services to us as a gift. His parents also gave us $500.

My parents paid for our dinner/reception as a gift.

Our wedding was paid for by the cash gifts we recieved. It was a very fun time, and we didn't go into debt to pay for it.

We took about four years to save $10,000. That was our max budget. We had planned on about $5000. After parental gifts and gifts of services, our wedding cost about 2500-3000. I think that is pretty good considering we had a sitdown meal with 175 guests.

[MnM's Mom]

I tend to agree with everyone. Yes it is far too much to pay, but if I buy straight out of the case, I found one today for $300 that would do....but there is a big gap between the two rings because of the funny twist in the e-ring. I think that putting the whole budget down on paper (thank you for the feedback on where to spend money and where to save) will help make this decision.

We went to three places today and it seems that $1000.00 is pretty consisent throughout for the custom ring to match. So I guess at this point it's a matter of are we prepared to spend that much? Can I live with the "gap", plus once I return to work (currently on mat leave) we discussed possibly upgrading then.

Thank you for the feedback, especially on pictures. That is another great debate in our wedding day budget.

[Colsgirl]

I find what some people expect to be spent on an engagement and/or wedding ring is obscene. I would much rather use the money on a down-payment on a house. A nice sparkly ring does not put a roof over your head.

OK, if money is no object then splurge.

It was DeBeers who first advertised that an engagement ring should be at least 3 months gross salary. Who are DeBeers - a diamond merchant in the Netherlands - so of course they want you to spend silly money.

I should add that I had my wedding ring made when we were on holiday and it cost me $400. It was a combination of 3 rings that I liked in the store.