5 Non-traditional Men’s Wedding Bands

When it comes to wedding rings, men get the short end of the stick. The bride gets an engagement ring with a diamond or two, then a wedding band with some sparkle to pair it with. Men’s rings sometimes seem to come in two options: gold or white gold. Sure, a few other metals are becoming popular, like titanium and tungsten, but they still only come in black, silver, or gold tones. If you’d like a little more style in your wedding band, check out these five truly original wedding bands.

Meteorite

A four-billion-year-old chunk of star stuff, having crossed the vast expanses of space, is now ready to become part of your wedding band. It’s a potent metaphor for the vastness and durability of love, and the meteorite stone has a beautiful pattern that isn’t found on any terrestrial metal. Stylish, sci-fi, and sentimental: what’s not to love? Plus, any time someone asks where your ring came from, you get to say, “SPACE.” We recommend saying it with as much bass and reverb as you can muster.

Wooden

Sure, it’s no meteorite, but wooden wedding rings have a beauty all their own. They have a softness and warmth to them that is a stark contrast to a cold metal ring. Since wood comes in all shades and colors, and can be finished with hundreds of shades of stain or mineral oil, you’ll have a lot of options to choose from. Wooden rings can also be inlaid with bits of metal or precious stone for an even more unique and beautiful piece.

Industrial

A men’s wedding band doesn’t have to be a simple band, either. You can add ornamentation without it feeling too fussy or feminine, as the example above shows. Industrial rings have features like rivets and studs that provide visual interest while remaining undeniably masculine. We especially like the steampunk-y feel of the copper rivets on some industrial wedding rings. Other industrial rings play with the traditional ring shape, opting for a hexagonal nuts-and-bolts design or a rugged square.

Waveform Ring

These rings are made from conventional materials, but the decoration on them is anything but typical. The ring features a cutout in the shape of a waveform, the visual representation of a sound. Each waveform is completely unique--your voice is just as one-of-a-kind as your fingerprint. You can choose the sound that’ll be represented on the ring. It can be the “I Do” that you say on your wedding day, or your spouse saying “I Love You,” or a snippet of your recession music. It’s an eye-catching ring and a beautiful memory combined.

Twig Band

These sterling silver bands are cast to look like a circle of twigs around your finger. They’re a little bit nature, a little bit elvish--you would expect to see it around Elrond or Celeborn’s finger. While they don’t have the warmth of a wooden ring, they definitely have a beauty all their own.

With so many cool options to choose from, why should the bride have all the fancy rings? Get a ring that’s as unique as you are. After all, it’s a symbol of your love that you plan to wear forever--make it something you’ll want to show off. For more great ideas, check out my wedding blog by clicking here.

Going Green: Wooden Wedding Rings

With a growing number of couples becoming interested in reducing their carbon footprint, it is no wonder that engagement and wedding ring manufacturers would pounce on that demographic. On top of the ecological impact, the unethical way that many companies go about obtaining their diamonds and gold to make the traditional style of wedding rings is enough to promote some couples to look at alternatives. One of the most popular alternatives is to buy wooden rings which offer the rare benefit of being made right there in America. However, all types of wedding rings regardless of what they are made from have their own advantages and disadvantages, so the ultimate decision is up to the couple.

Renewable Sourcing

One of the biggest benefits of choosing a wooden wedding ring is that they are made from 100% renewable resources. Unlike gold, silver, or other heavy elements that are finite and growing more scarce, timber is one of the biggest exports in the United States and can be replenished in a fairly short timeframe. With that in mind, most jewelers who make wooden wedding rings actually reclaim their materials from old products such as broken guitars or old farm planks to recycle them into another purpose. Some manufacturers even go as far as fining downed trees and branches for their materials, which can actually lead to some pretty high quality woods being used without the larger price tag.

Durability and Longevity

Though gold or silver wedding rings are obviously going to be more durable than one made from wood, they are actually much more resilient than most people initially think. With the proper maintenance and care, a wooden wedding ring can last a very long time. However, they do require more care than metal wedding rings such as being cleaned with lemon seed oil or a similar product. Also, though they are often coated with some sort of waterproof layer, you want to avoid putting your handcrafted ring under water too often as well as exposing it to harsh chemicals.

With all the benefits both ethically and ecologically, wooden wedding rings are on the top of many young couples’ lists when looking for a way to go green. As a bonus, wooden wedding rings are also much cheaper than traditional wedding or engagement rings because they aren’t made from precious metals and don’t feature any rare stones. If you want to give your wooden ring that extra touch, you can have it custom engraved or burned with any choice of words or symbols to suit your personal taste. And as a final hidden benefit, wooden rings are the perfect choice for anyone who has a metal allergy or sensitivity that prevents them from wearing jewelry all together.