So the wedding is set… What about the rings?

Perhaps more than any other sort of celebration, weddings are full of traditions and trends. Most of us have a picture of the ideal wedding solidified in our minds: a groom in a black suit, a bride in a stunning white gown, plenty of flowers, friends and champagne. Beyond the basics, things can get a bit more inventive however, depending on the wedding. For example, DJ services often help to define the more unique style of a wedding, and design can vary quite a bit. But even the littlest elements of a wedding – like the wedding rings themselves – can move according to trends and traditions.

For many of us, wedding bands are also firmly defined: basic yellow or white gold bands with very little in the way of glitz or glamour. However, there are actually more options than many people realize when it comes to wedding and engagement rings, and it’s certainly worth taking a look at some of them if your own wedding happens to be approaching. Here are some noteworthy trends in wedding and engagement rings this year.

Multi-Diamond Engagement Rings

The standard image of an engagement ring tends to be a simple metal band topped with a beautiful diamond. However, in recent years a trend has emerged toward multi-diamond engagement rings. Even these rings can come in a variety of styles, many of which are available at popular stores like 77 Diamonds. For example, consider eternity rings – rings featuring tiny diamonds around their entire surfaces, symbolizing continuity and eternal love. Or, consider trinity rings, which feature two smaller diamonds flanking a larger, central stone.

Diamond Wedding Rings

Sticking with diamonds, another trend in wedding rings is for diamonds to be used in the actual wedding bands, rather than simply engagement rings. Generally, wedding bands with diamonds in them just have 1, 3 or 5 very small diamonds set in the bands at even intervals. And, though this may initially sound like jewellery meant for women, many men are beginning to opt for diamond-set wedding bands as well.

Gemstone Engagement Rings

While diamonds are still, and will likely always be, the standard for engagement rings, gemstones are also becoming quite trendy. Like Kate Middleton’s famous sapphire ring, gemstone engagement pieces can be elegant and beautiful, and offer very attractive alternatives to the standard diamond concept.

Mixing Metals

Another very popular trend for wedding bands is to mix metals for fun and interesting patterns. White, rose and yellow gold, as well as alternative metals like titanium and platinum, are all popular in wedding bands, and mixing them in patterns can make for very unique and original jewellery. For example, one popular option is to have a silver-coloured metal (white gold, titanium, or platinum) in the middle of a band, with small stripes of yellow or rose gold on the outsides. However, there are also more elaborate options, such as swirling or basket woven patterns.