When many couples make the step to get married, they want to be of one heart, one mind, and one soul. Somewhere along the line many couples have taken the notion that this includes even the eternal signs and symbols of their undying love. Many couples wanting to hold to tradition ask, "are wedding bands supposed to match?" This can seem a daunting question for some couples. But maybe you are two very unique individuals with different tastes in the type of metal you want your band to be constructed from. There are no social or religious traditions that hold a bride and groom to have to buy matching wedding bands. Maybe the groom to be is fond of all platinum jewelry, and wears it on a daily basis. The bride may be very fond of yellow gold and most of what she owns follows that them. In these cases it would make more sense to take an individual perspective on which band to purchase.

Some Unique Options

In the past couple of decades weddings have taken on the flavor of the individuals who are getting married. People are becoming less traditional buy choosing non-traditional wedding gowns, writing their own vows, getting married in unique places, and having themed receptions. Selecting wedding bands is no different. After all, the rings are what you are exchanging with each other as a symbol of your love and union. The rings should be a reflection of who each person is and what they like. Here are some unique options to consider:

- Gold, white gold, silver, and platinum are not the only options for metals that construct wedding bands. There are other choices such as: palladium, rhodium, titanium, and steel.

- There's always the option of having diamonds of other gemstones placed in the bands. This should follow each person's unique taste

- Sometimes men like dragons and women love flowers. It's just a difference in the sexes. After all, some of those opposing qualities are what made you love your sweetie in the first place. Capitalize on it by having band designed that include unique designs such as engravings of flowers, dragons, cars, sports, or any other unique interest. Celebrate each other!

- Maybe he has his grandmother's wedding band and you have your grandfather's wedding band to offer on your special occasion. They certainly may not match, but they will make your day much more meaningful. Especially if the grandparents either had happy marriages or may have passed on.

- If the whole wedding band selection process becomes and issue, opt for very plain bands until you can make a decision. They will be cheaper in the long run and simple to replace.

- One of the most important factors in selecting a wedding band is getting a proper fit. Make sure the jeweler sizes both the bride and groom's fingers. Also, choose a band that looks good on your hand and isn't either too wide or too narrow to look attractive.

- Have a local artist you know and trust design wedding bands that uniquely fit you. If the person knows you both well, maybe he or she will know characteristics about each of you that make designing the rings easy. He or she may want to look at vows or poetry you may read to each other to design a ring around the theme of them.

Whatever your choice, be sure it is something you both will be happy with. This is the person you're committing your life to. Your rings are an outward symbol of the love that's in both of your hearts!