WE LIVE IN USA
Size wedding bands on an afternoon at normal body temperature: not on a winter morning or after exercise
Wedding ring sizing is trickier than most people think, becauseyour finger size isn't a fixed number.
Finger sizes change
- Seasons: Blood vessels constrict in winter, making fingers thinner; in summer, they get thicker
- Time of day: Fingers tend to be thinner right when you wake up in the morning, and thicker in the afternoon and evening
- After working out: Blood circulation speeds up, making them noticeably thicker
- Diet: Eating food that is too salty will make you swell up the next day
So the right time to measure is:An afternoon when your body temperature is normal. Don't measure right after working out (it will measure too big, making the ring loose later), and don't measure on a cold winter morning (it will measure too small, and won't fit in the summer).
If you can, measure twice a few days apart and take the average.
When to place your order
Before the wedding date 3 to 4 months. If you're getting a custom design or need engraving, add another 4 to 6 weeks.
Leaving this much time isn't because production is slow, it's becauseyou might need to resize it if the fit is off. Resizing itself usually takes one to two weeks, but if you're stuck discovering it just a week before the wedding, that week is going to be really rough.
Two things to check before engraving
- Character limit and fontThe space inside the band is smaller than you think. A full sentence usually won't fit, and Chinese characters take up even more space than English.
- Once it's engraved, you can't return or exchange itEngraving inside the ring is pretty much permanent customization. Once it is engraved, if the size does not fit, you can only resize it and cannot exchange it for another style.
So here is the right order:First make sure the size fits, and then get it engraved.Don't try to do it all at once.
On the wedding day: hand the rings over to the best man.
Don't keep them on the couple. The bride's dress usually doesn't have pockets, and the groom's suit pockets aren't reliable during a whole day of hugs and photos.
Give them to the best man, and practice the handoff once during rehearsal (see item 99 on the checklist). This is one of the best man's traditional duties, so he knows to do it.
Insurance
If your engagement ring is quite valuable,you should add a separate rider for it.Standard homeowners insurance has coverage limits on jewelry, usually far below the value of an engagement ring (see item 89 on the list).
Everyday life after marriage
Two small but very practical things:
- Your hands can swell during pregnancy, so a lot of people switch to wearing a necklace or buy a cheap alternative during this time.
- Heavy chores, working out, and cleaning agents when washing your handswill all wear down your ring. The ring you wear every day doesn't need to be your most expensive one.
In a nutshell.
Measure in the afternoon at normal body temperature, double-check the size before engraving, and hand them to the best man on the big day.