Congratulations, you’ve just received the engagement ring of your dreams! Now that you’re engaged, it's time to choose a wedding band (or two) to keep your engagement ring company on your big day. Planning your bridal stack can seem a little daunting, especially when there’s so many different options and styles. Here are some things to consider before you sit down for your wedding band consultation here at Hitched.
Solo Artist or Girl Group?
The first thing to think about when planning your engagement ring stack is what you want the focal point to be. Do you want to keep your engagement ring as the center piece and have the other bands accentuate its key features? Or, do you want each band to have its own personality and style while still being in harmony with your engagement ring? In other words, you’ll have to decide if you want a solo artist or a girl group.
If you’re signing a solo artist, use shapes that are similar to your engagement ring center stone in your wedding band stack. Each band should be a similar width, and be sure to include metal bands along with any diamond accents. You can always play around with different setting styles and other subtle details to make a simple yet unique stack.
If you’re forming a girl group, contrast is key. Be sure to mix stone shapes and metal colors (not carats) for a bolder look. Use a variety of band widths and look for texture when styling with metal bands. Each piece should be able to be worn on its own, while still working harmoniously together within the stack.
Modern, Vintage, or Timeless?
The second point to ponder on is what aesthetic or style you’re hoping to embrace. This can be a fairly broad question, so it can be hard to narrow down. However, I find that most people’s requests will fall under one of these three categories: timeless, vintage, or modern. While certain ring styles fit very clearly into one box, any band can fall under a different category if styled correctly.
Timeless Pairings
If you’re looking for a timeless stack, don’t go for anything overly stylized. Lean towards more classic setting styles and clean lines. Here are a few examples of “timeless” stacks:
Styles shown here are our Thin Gold Classic, French Set, Traditional Set, Rope Band, Round Single Prong, Vertical Baguette, and Oval Bands.
Vintage Styles
If you want a vintage inspired stack, keep an eye out for texture and delicate detailing. Halos and ring guards are always an easy way to achieve this look. Here are a few examples of “vintage” stacks:
Styles shown here are our Bar Baguette, Aster, Gold Leaf, Alternating Bezel, Baguette Ring Guard, Channel Set, and Thin Platinum Flat Bands.
Modern Stacks
If you’ve decided you prefer a more modern stack, I recommend moving out of your comfort zone! Go for bold shapes, sharp lines, and contrasting design features. Here are a few examples of “modern” stacks:
Styles shown here are our Alternating Baguette, Emerald, Gold Bezel, Chunky Contour, 4mm Gold Flat, Channel Baguette, and Honeysuckle Bands.
How to Start Designing
Overall, your bridal set should be something that suits your engagement ring, but can also grow with you as your style and love story evolves. It’s always good to be open to new and unexpected ideas. No detail is too small when it comes to your stack, and Hitched is here to help every step of the way! Book your appointment today to start designing your ring stack at one of our three showroom locations in Philadelphia, Chicago, or Washington, DC. Or start browsing all of our wedding band styles here.