Budgeting For Your Wedding Rings
Before you decide on your wedding bands, you and your future spouse should have a talk about how much you both feel comfortable spending. How much couples spend by no means reflects the depth of their commitment. What really matters is that you are each able to wear rings that are meaningful to you and represent your eternal love for one another.
If youre looking to save money without sacrificing quality, consider buying yourwedding bands as a matching set, or purchase engagement rings and wedding rings online where savings can be better compared to a regular store.
Couples are increasingly turning toward custom wedding rings and non-traditional materials which are generally more affordable, not to mention unique, beautiful and finely-crafted. If you do decide to go the custom route, it’s best to start planning as early as possible and it is recommended that couples start looking at wedding rings 3 to 4 months before the wedding day.
At Rustic and Main, we take pride in making wedding rings that are not only bold, unique and meaningful, but also affordable. To help you find the perfect wedding ring that matches your unique style and fits within your budget, we’ve designed a quick ring style quiz. Check it out or message our live chat team with any questions you might have!
Save Money By Shopping For Your Wedding Ring Online
The last, but certainly not least, myth to debunk is the one that claimsYou cant find beautiful diamonds by shopping online.
Shopping for diamonds online can be difficult because diamonds of a lower price usually have an element of lesser quality but are harder to recognize for the untrained eye.
Cost Of A Wedding Band
The average starting price for a reception band performing for three hours after dinner, including sound gear and light production, is $4,000 plus a 10% tip. Pricing varies widely based on four main factors:
Ask for a band’s “rider” before booking to avoid the surprise of hidden costs. The rider usually covers things like dressing rooms, meals, travel and lodging charges, and any other accommodation for the band.
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What To Consider When Purchasing A Wedding Ring
So if you cant base your price solely on the carat of a ring, what do you think about? Youll want to consider the stones overall qualities and the bands material. And then, as you look at prices, you arent limited to diamonds. You can also consider other types of jewels as well.
Ahead well outline key considerations to look at as you purchase your dream ring.
Budget Wedding Bands Vs Engagement Rings
Wedding bands are the more affordable choice of the two. Typically, these rings are made of metal and have no stones. The wedding band is usually designed to match the bride’s engagement ring.
Wedding bands are exchanged and the bride and groom often choose matching bands. Whether or not wedding rings match each other or an engagement ring is less important than the fact that they are a reflection of the characteristics of the two people who will be using them.
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Where Can I Buy Affordable Engagement Rings
If you donât have your own family heirloom, consider snagging someone elseâs. Ask your jeweler if they have a selection of estate jewelry. âEstateâ is a fancy way of saying second-hand. Itâs better to buy these from a reputable jeweler than an estate sale â unless youâre an expert, itâs impossible to assess a gem on your own.
Reputable auctions also often sell gorgeous second-hand jewelry that has been appraised by a professional.
Consider Your Lifestyle And Style Of Your Engagement Ring
How much you should spend on a wedding ring will also depend on your lifestyle and the type of work you do. If youre a personal trainer, for example, and youre used to lifting heavy weights, youll want a flatter wedding ring, as opposed to a raised one that could easily get scratched or dented. Your lifestyle will help you determine what type of material you need, too: Gold is more malleable, whereas platinum is more durable.
For people who also wear engagement rings, you want your wedding ring to match, or at least compliment its style. Some people opt to have their wedding ring made by the same jeweler who designed their engagement ring so that they are the same material and aesthetic. This is also a popular option for people who have uniquely shaped diamond engagement rings, and who want their wedding band to fit within its curvesalso known as enhancers.
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Are Live Wedding Bands More Expensive Than Djs
Typically, yesa wedding band cost is more likely to be higher than a DJs. On average in the U.S., a wedding band cost is $4,500, while a wedding DJ cost averages $1,000. Remember though, that with a wedding band you are paying for multiple professional musicians to perform on your wedding day, while a wedding DJ is usually a single pro.
More Top Tips For Finding Your Perfect Wedding Band
1. Choose your style before you start your search.
The function band industry has come a long way in the last few years. You dont have to settle for a dodgy band in dodgy matching suits playing the same old tired tunes any more.
Theres incredible wedding bands out there that will match up with exactly the kind of music you love. But it really helps to hone that in a bit, first.
Think about the kind of music that gets you and your mates dancing at a party. Is it classic Motown? Try a Soul & Motown wedding band like Soul Supreme. How about indie bangers? indie rock band 8-Ball have got you covered. 90s classics? Give Sega & The Boombox a listen. We even have club anthem bands that turn your big night into an Ibiza nightclub. Whatever youre into, theres a band out there for you.
Once youve narrowed that part down to one or two possible styles. You can move on to phase two
2. Be realistic with your budget.
For some people, the choosing the perfect wedding entertainment is one of the most important parts of their wedding day. For others, its a nice addition to your reception.
Whichever side you sit on, set yourself a suitable guide price and use that as a yard stick for any band you check out. But remember if you think the bands price point sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Spending that little bit extra may mean you get better value for money. Trust us, you wont regret it!
3. See what other couples have said.
4. Check out the bands social media.
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The Origin Of The Two
Why do we think we need to spend thousands of dollars on an engagement ring? Easy: Marketing.
International diamond titan De Beers controlled most of the diamond market in the early 20th century. Following the Depression, they promoted the idea that a diamond ring was an important investment. This helped to justify the price at a time many Americans were down on their luck.
In the 1930s, DeBeers suggested a diamond engagement ring should cost a monthâs salary. They upped the ante a few decades later. One ad from the 1980s featured a photo of a glamorous woman wearing a diamond ring, above the words: âYou canât look at Jane and tell me sheâs not worth two monthsâ salary.â
Donât fall for it! You canât put a dollar amount on your future spouse. Buy a ring that you and your fiance think is beautiful, and then start saving for the wedding.
Ring Costs By States:
Just like any type of budget, wedding ring costs will vary by region. Trends, economies, and demographics will affect ring budgets.
In 2019, online jeweler Ritani released the average amount customers spent in their shop and broke it down by state. The average Ritani ring goes for $7,750, so their costs are higher than other national averages. But their ranking still reveals trends in wedding ring costs by state.
- California Californians come in second when it comes to shelling out big bucks for engagement rings. The average California customer spent $9,482 on an engagement ring from Ritani.
- New York Couples in New York also land on the higher end of the spectrum, spending an average of $8,785 on their engagement rings.
- Texas Everythings bigger in Texas, though engagement ring costs there are simply on the high end of average. Ritanis data indicates couples spend an average of $8,063 on their ring.
- Florida $8,809 is the average cost of a wedding ring in Florida
- Illinois Illinois couples are dropping an average of $9,197 for their proposal bling.
- Pennsylvania Wedding ring budgets are a bit lower in Pennsylvania, where $7,552 is the average cost.
- Ohio Ritani reports that Ohio residents spend an average of $7,796 on their rings.
- Arizona In Arizona, engagement rings cost an average of $6,684
- Washington Washington boasts the highest average, with couples spending around $10,109 on rings from Ritani.
- Michigan $8,535 is the average wedding ring cost in Michigan.
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How Much Should Be Spent On Wedding Bands
Because of the individuality of tastes and resources, there is no universal answer to this question. A wedding ring can range from a plain diamond ring to one studded with expensive diamonds.
Furthermore, many couples select bands that feature an engraved initial or a special metal with sentimental value. Wedding rings are one place you may save money on your big day. Stylish bands can be purchased for a few hundred dollars or less.
Event Catering Bakery And Bar Service
No wedding would be complete without a reception. And no reception is successful without good food and drinks. Couples invest in selecting the right caterer that can provide for meal requirements. And, of course, you can’t forget about the wedding cake.
Source: The Wedding Report
The wedding cake, catering and bar service categories are no small expense. Its average cost comes to $6,762.
- Wedding Venue Food Service : The average cost for catering services increased 36.5% from 2020 to 2021. It’s also one of the most expensive areas, amounting to $4,164. The median spent in 2021, however, was only $2,906.
- Wedding Bar Service: In 2021, bar services averaged $2,144. Your guest list and the alcohol you serve affect your cost. Serving signature drinks can also increase expenses.
- Wedding Cake: Eighty-one percent of couples who married in 2021 opted to hire a professional to make their wedding cake. You must consider how much batter you need and how many tiers your cake will have. On average, couples spent over $400 in 2021 for their wedding cake.
Sales for these categories totaled around $10 billion, contributing 20.47% of the industry’s revenue.
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How Much Should A Wedding Band Cost
Wedding band prices range from $180 to $2,000 and higher. The cost of wedding bands depends on the precious metal, the setting design, the number of diamonds and where you buy the ring. For example, this classic 14K white gold ring from James Allen is $240 while this micro pave diamond ring also from James Allen costs $1,080. Esentially, you dont have to spend a whole lot on a wedding bad. It depends on what you like and what your priorities are. Mila Kunis got hers from Etsy for $90 and she wouldnt change a thing.
The Overall Cost Of A 6 Piece Wedding Band For Hire
The overall cost of English 6 piece wedding bands in 2022 is £1759.33 or £1636.43 with us. Thats quite the jump from the 5 piece bands, so you only really want to consider these fantastic big bands if you have a generous budget. Southside Sparkle are one such wedding band that are well worth the money!
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Start With Your Budget
Establish your budget before you begin shopping. That way, you know how much money you have to spend on it, not how much money is possible to spend.
If you know you have a $2,00 budget from the get-go, youll be able to easily select options that work well for you, without getting distracted by $5,000 choices, or even $500 options that you may not be happy with in the long run.
Save 15% On Any 2022 Or 2023 Live Wedding Band Booking
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Jon and the Seventh Second Team
How we worked out the results
To get the best results, we had to stick to the most popular wedding bands booked in the most popular area, England. We only chose England for the study as many bands based in England either wont travel to Wales, Ireland, or Scotland or if they do, their prices range wildly meaning producing an average wouldnt be very helpful to you. In our experience, its just better to speak to a band specifically if you want them to travel all that way for you. We also only included general 3,4,5 and 6 piece wedding bands and not niche acts like Oompah wedding bands or other genre-specific acts as our list would have become so vast that all our heads would have exploded. The same reasoning goes for why we only picked 3,4,5, and 6-piece-sized wedding bands. We always used 10 distinct bands and decided which were the most popular on any given website by looking at their longevity and how many positive reviews they had. We also always rounded prices up to keep it simple. Picking the top wedding entertainment websites was easy because you know, they are kind of our competition. You will notice that we listed our bands average prices too. We can confirm they are 100% accurate. If you have any questions just ask.
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Why Do Guys Have To Buy Engagement Rings
Image by relationshipwrks
If a man proposes to his girlfriend and they both say yes, but he also wants to wear an engagement ring, he may have a difficult time finding someone who will buy it for him. According to tradition, the man must purchase his partner an engagement ring before the ceremony. If the couple decides to marry, the ring they choose will be different.
Since the fifteenth century, it has been custom for men to propose to their partners with an engagement ring to symbolize their intention to marry them. The Victorian era saw a surge in the popularity of diamond engagement rings. Following the end of World War II, diamond producer DeBeers launched a well-known marketing campaign known as A diamond is forever. An engagement ring can be worn by anyone, regardless of gender. The type of engagement ring a man may prefer can differ greatly from the type of ring that he wears. As a result, men are more likely to wear a band-style ring than one with a slimmer design and a central diamond. Wearing an engagement ring is a tradition for both partners in South America.
Engagement Ring Vs Wedding Ring
After a successful proposal, it’s now time to think about how much money to spend on the wedding rings.
Though both wedding rings and engagement rings are symbols of love, they have different styles and meanings.
- The engagement ring is presented at the time of the proposal, as a symbol of commitment to the relationship. It usually has a diamond center, so it’s more expensive.
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Purchasing A Wedding Band: Part 3
Americans spend a lot of money on wedding rings. Prospective ring buyers often wonder, “Exactly how much should I spend on a wedding ring?” With such a dizzying array of ring styles and materials available, prices are understandably varied.
A couple who spends a few hundred dollars on rings are no less in love than a couple who spends thousands. The most important thing is to chooserings that truly represent your love and commitment to one another.
Event Location And Venue Rentals
It isn’t just real estate properties that are all about location. The location and venue for your wedding play a huge role in making this day special, experientially and financially.
The combined average costs of event locations and venue rentals in 2021 were $6,834. Thats more than any other category on MoneyGeeks list.
Source: The Wedding Report
Overall, the wedding venue is the single most expensive wedding purchase. Couples spent roughly $5,220 for their venue and $1,614 for event rentals.
However, if you look at the median spent, it’s considerably lower at $2,587. It means most people spent about half of the 2021 average cost of wedding venues.
Some factors that influence wedding venue costs include:
- Location: Some states, like San Francisco or New York, are more expensive options.
- Schedule: Getting married on a weekday during winter will save you money compared to a weekend wedding in June.
- Size: Your venue depends on how many guests you have. The more guests, the bigger the necessary space.
- Inclusions: Some venues are all-inclusive, which means they’ll provide the tables, chairs, stage and, sometimes, food. Others only offer the space. The inclusive option is more convenient but also more expensive.
The average cost for event locations and venue rentals increased by double digits from 2020 to 2021 28.5% and 13.8%, respectively.
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