Jewelry has always been a way for men and women to express their personalities and accessorize their looks. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are worn by all sexes and come in a variety of sizes and lengths. But no jewelry bears as much significance as the wedding band.

Unlike other jewelry that you will change out every day depending on your mood or your outfit, a wedding band is a piece of jewelry that you will wear every day. It must suit your tastes and style, it must also be appropriate for any activities you do frequently. It is expected to be a physical representation of your relationship with your partner. That’s a lot to expect from a small piece of jewelry. No wonder people experience so much stress when choosing their wedding bands! Here is a little primer on the different types of wedding bands that may make your decision a bit easier.

Popular Styles of Wedding Bands

Although it is the choice of engagement ring that can cause the most amount of stress due to the number of choices you need to make, there are decisions to be made when it comes to wedding bands as well. It can help to understand the most common and popular types to assist you in making your selection.

The classic metal band is by far the most common choice of engaged couples. It has many advantages. These simple bands will match any style of engagement ring and they will fit in with any aesthetic style so you won’t have to worry about your wedding band matching your clothing. There are still choices to be made, however. What metal will you choose? Do you like the look of gold, silver, platinum or something unique like rose gold? Platinum is a popular choice due to the high shine and the durability of the metal.

If the simplicity of the classic band appeals to you but you really want a bit of bling in your band, you could go with either an eternity band or an anniversary band. An eternity band has stones that are embedded around the entire circumference of the ring, whereas an anniversary band has stones that extend halfway around the ring. Traditionally done with diamonds, both of the ring styles could use any precious stone which gives you the option to add a lot more character to your band.

Trendy Wedding Band Choices

It isn’t common to go with a trend when choosing your wedding band as this ring must be worn every day; however, there are always trends that become popular.

Currently, one of the biggest trends in wedding bands is mixing metals. This can mean that you choose a wedding band made of a different metal than the engagement ring, or it could mean that you have a band made that contains more than one metal in itself. This can be a very cool look and for people who worry about having to match their wedding band to the rest of their jewelry it opens up so many more options.

For those who really want to treat the wedding band more like an extension of their style, the trend of stackable wedding bands may be of interest. It’s just what it sounds like. Instead of one band, you choose a set of smaller rings that can be worn together, separately or in any configuration you choose. This style isn’t popular with more traditional people who are really invested in the symbolic importance of a wedding band, but for less traditional couples it can be a fun choice.

A wedding band is more than an accessory. You will likely wear your wedding band every day for a very long time so it is important to choose a band that suits your style and your way of life. Consider your tastes, the significance of a band to you and of course your budget when making your choice.