What If There Is No Wedding Band?

You could just use your e-ring for the ring exchange. That was my plan in the event we cannot afford a band by then.

Use your engagement ring for the ceremony?

I chose not to buy a wedding band at all. My engagement ring is a family heirloom and a very unique shape. I couldn't find anything that I liked to go with it and after thinking about it, realized I didn't really want another ring anyway. So, I'm only wearing the engagement ring as sort of an all purpose wedding ring. I gave it to the best man before the ceremony and we used that in the ceremony.

There are a couple of ladies on here that just got a simple band that they don't even wear with the engagement ring. If you can afford to do something simple, that is an option. Or you could just use the e-ring for the ceremony.

When my MOH got married - she just had her e-ring as well and they just used that.

Use your engagement ring, or if you really want something different, buy a cheap ring. I know some girls on here get fake rings to travel with, so you can definitely find a cheap ring to use as a prop in the ceremony and then never use again.

I'm going to be getting a custom-designed wedding band. I posted about it just a few hours ago. I found that the local jewelers actually have fairly reasonable prices for custom designs. For example, to custom design a ring at the same place FH got my e-ring would've been around $3,000. At a local shop, they quoted me at about $900. That's a huge difference! I honestly never thought of myself as someone who would request a custom design, but having an actual wedding band is very important to me and the custom design is going to be beautiful!

Edit: Here's a link to my post.

https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/custom-wedding-band-design-what-do-you-think/9f9eed24057a6c74.html

Ladies thanks so much! I will take everything you all have suggested into consideration. There is a lot of symbolism in the wedding band and as @Rosemary stated, I think it would be beautiful to have the Pastor bless our rings. I will shop around some local spots, see if the prices are out of control, and then decide if I will just use my engagement ring or get a ring.

Use your engagement ring, or even get a different band to wear on your right hand. I have a unique engagement ring as well, and when I went shopping I have yet to like anything with it. I was shocked when the jeweler told me my ring was designed to stand alone, and recommended I get nothing. When i said I didn't think I could just not have a wedding band, he suggested the right hand thing. "Just because you wear it on your right hand doesn't mean you're less married."

My FH and I aren't planning on bands but getting our rings tattooed so we are going to use ring pops or something similar looking (inside joke between us). you could do something similar!

Yes, definitely check out small, local jewelers. The family owned jeweler we used has much more affordable prices than the big chains, and they will really do everything they can to save you money.

My set was already soldered together by the wedding so we used my set for the ring exchange.

My custom wedding band was only $600, way less than my e ring or the band that would have matched it which I hated.

Use your engagement ring or keep hunting for a wedding band that works. You might get lucky. We did traditional Brazilian engagement rings (basically the equivalent of a gold wedding band) and I'm getting a us style engagement ring as a wedding band. We had a hard time finding rings that went well with my engagement ring, but eventually found one that works perfect!

Don't make it custom. I was told the same thing and opted against "custom made" i found a nice $20 ring on overstock because, like you, my priorities were elsewhere

Use the engagement ring, for sure.

My Ering is actually a claddagh, and is simply turned around with the point of the heart facing inwards, and that is the actual "wedding band", traditionally.

Mine happened to come with a pretty sparkly second band, but I gave DH my Ering, and he used both.

If you don't have the band yet, don't sweat it.

Let's see a pic of this ring!!

I also don't plan to wear a wedding band, because I like how my ring looks now, plus I don't want it to get scratched by a band. If I find a ring later that fits it I might get one, and I might get a plain band to wear on vacations if I don't want to risk losing my engagement ring. For the ceremony, I got this $9 sterling silver ring that looks passable with my engagement ring: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1076787703

If you think that shape could work with your ring, it's a super cost-effective prop for the ceremony!

Personally, the wedding band is the most important symbol of your marriage. To me, it would be worth the cost of pricing out a band.

Here you go Holly!

I actually considered this for a while because I wasn't sure if I wanted a band or not. I was just going to take my engagement ring off that morning, give it to DH, and then have him use it for during the ceremony.

Lovely, Theresa!

Regarding the idea of a ring blessing, I've also heard of a "ring warming" ceremony where you pass around your rings so all your guests can bless or think good thoughts at them.