I know the first question is can you afford it? Well here is our situation: My FH and I are planning not to exceed $50k for the entire wedding. I plugged this figure into the knot budget calculator and according to that, I am 'allowed' to spend up to $3k for the wedding gown and $1200 for the invitations, but only $500 for my wedding ring! I fell in lust with an amazing ring from a European maker but the price tag is $7500! To me, I feel like the wedding is just one day and the marriage is forever and one thing that I will be looking at every day to remind me of that will be my wedding ring, so I feel like I should divert money away from 'silly things' which I feel are: 1) the dress which I will only wear once in my life ( I like a dress that is $940); 2) the flowers, which will be dead and gone inside of a week and 3) invitations which everyone will throw out as soon as the wedding is over ( I plan on paying $500-$700). I understand that others feel differently and maybe can even afford a little bit more than I. I mean, if you feel that it is worth it to spend $5k on a dress you will wear once and you can afford it and it makes you happy then by all means do so, same goes for flowers and invitations. All the same, even though I can clearly justify this excessive expenditure to myself as you can see above, is it fair to expect or to even ask my FH to go along with this request? It is just plain silly and over the top? How much are you girls spending on your wedding rings? What do you feel should be a wedding 'splurge' and what should be spent as little as possible on? I would love to compare to see if I'm crazy or normal. Thanks!
ammie1016
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
Posted by leeserd
I know the first question is can you afford it? Well here is our situation: My FH and I are planning not to exceed $50k for the entire wedding. I plugged this figure into the knot budget calculator and according to that, I am 'allowed' to spend up to $3k for the wedding gown and $1200 for the invitations, but only $500 for my wedding ring! I fell in lust with an amazing ring from a European maker but the price tag is $7500! To me, I feel like the wedding is just one day and the marriage is forever and one thing that I will be looking at every day to remind me of that will be my wedding ring, so I feel like I should divert money away from 'silly things' which I feel are: 1) the dress which I will only wear once in my life ( I like a dress that is $940); 2) the flowers, which will be dead and gone inside of a week and 3) invitations which everyone will throw out as soon as the wedding is over ( I plan on paying $500-$700). I understand that others feel differently and maybe can even afford a little bit more than I. I mean, if you feel that it is worth it to spend $5k on a dress you will wear once and you can afford it and it makes you happy then by all means do so, same goes for flowers and invitations. All the same, even though I can clearly justify this excessive expenditure to myself as you can see above, is it fair to expect or to even ask my FH to go along with this request? It is just plain silly and over the top? How much are you girls spending on your wedding rings? What do you feel should be a wedding 'splurge' and what should be spent as little as possible on? I would love to compare to see if I'm crazy or normal. Thanks!
Don't spend too much on invitations. like you said people throw them away. We got quoted under $500 at Papyrus in Roosevelt Field Mall. Then you have to add in postage. GREAT! If you can't afford the $7500 ring now, what about for your 1 year anniversary. That might work out. My uncle is a jewler and my wedding band was a duplicate of a Tiffany one and it ran me about $1600 or it ran my fiancee. HEHE. I feel like you do its for one day. My dress is 600 without alterations. they cap out at $150 so that is good. But try and save on other things like invitations, and little things here and there and maybe you could get that ring. I would spend money on your photo, video, & Rings. They will be with you forever.
Snick n Nick
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
Well first I'll just say that we didn't spend nearly that much on the bands, BUT I got what I wanted so it's not like I deprived myself, it's just that what I wanted that went with my e-ring was the price it was (which was still a little bit of a stretch for us).
I understand your point that the wedding band is forever and you need to love it, that's totally true. I think it's legit to spend more on the band and less on other things that you don't view as being AS important (I know when we plugged our budget it I spent way less on the dress and invitations too). I will say that the Knot budgeter estimated WAY under for the reception hall/caterer for us, and also for Photo & music I think....so be weary of that. You still have plenty of time to get your wedding band, so maybe start to figure out what your other costs will be so you can feel more comfortable that you can afford it!
HTH!
ETA: Also keep in mind that prices at jewelers are virtually ALWAYS negotiable!!! We negotiated our bands down significantly....it can't hurt, the worst they will say is no!
Treeoflife
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I am not very into jewelry. To me I will not feel comfortable to wear such an expensive ring. I will be scared to loose it (I can be sloppy with these things) or I will be afraid that it will be stolen.
I have a beautiful engagement ring (which I didn't expect) and I am happy with it, so I don't need an expensive wedding band.
bluegreen08
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I agree that rings are one of the things you will have forever, not just for one day, so I think it is worth a splurge especially if you can divert money from elsewhere.
However, I think you could get the same ring made by a reputable jeweler for a lot less. Not $500 but maybe $2-4k which would help bring costs down a little. In the end, do what you think is most important and don't feel like you have to follow the knot calculator.
I really had no idea what to expect for my wedding band pricewise, I knew I wanted a diamond band that went half or 3/4 way around, and I wanted it to sit flush with my ring as much as possible (my ring has a very low setting so this is hard). I priced out some options at different stores, and happened to find 'the ring' (finally something that looked nice next to my e-ring) for an amazing price. The jeweler knew my grandfather and gave us an amazing price, much much much better than I had expected, so I bought it on the spot when I hadn't been expecting to get mine for months and was just browsing.
Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I agree with everything you said. I got my invites for $350 at www.toinvite.com. As for my band...didnt buy one yet but what i want will be a few grand. I think it is worth it cause it is forever....go for it girl!
Kittyg19
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I agree that is something you will wear for a very long time. Its sounds like in a number of categories you will be staying under the budgeted amount given your 50k total so I say go for it! There was a wedding band I saw for 6k when I was looking at engagement rings.
FullersBride
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
WIthout saying prices here is a general idea of how we spent our money
OUr BIGGEST splurge...Wedding bands since tha is something we will ALWAYS have as a remembrance of our wedding day
Second biggest splurge...our 3 week honeymoon! It is the most magical vacation and get away that you will ever have in your life. You can't recreate a honeymoon! You can always have extravagant and big vacations but it will never have the same emotion and feeling as a honeymoon! I loved my honeymoon, actually My ceremony was the favorite part of my wedding day and the honeymoon was second, I still dream and reminiss about it
You have to decide what is important to you! WE didn't have a huge wedding about 130 people and it was a cocktail party, people had a fabulous time and ate and drank and it worked well for our family and friends, coming from the Latin community because all these people wanted to do was dance so a sit down formal dinner was not somethign they necessarily had to have.
I love the way we did our wedding and how we budgeted our money, it was right for us! See what your heart tells you!
Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
do you have a pic of the ring?
FutureMrsLV
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
i would price things out and make sure you will be happy with what you are getting for the price before you decide to buy th ring. you wouldbe surprised how quickly things add up! since you are on budget i would def get quotes from photogs videographers, djs/band and stuff like that..if you are happy with what you are getting for the price then go for the ring BUT i would be careful if you buy th ring before getting quotes you might end up being disapointed with wht you end up getting bc your spent too much on your ring or go over budget
diva7531
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
My first answer was no, but then when you use your logic, it makes perfect sense! I say go for it, if it fits in the budget!!
ilonka020
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
i think if you are willing to cut down money in other places that might not be as important to you, then you should def. get the band you love. Like you said you will have it for the rest of your life, all those other things for the wedding will be gone in a couple of hours. Show us some pics !
Treeoflife
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
Posted by Snick n Nick
Well first I'll just say that we didn't spend nearly that much on the bands, BUT I got what I wanted so it's not like I deprived myself, it's just that what I wanted that went with my e-ring was the price it was (which was still a little bit of a stretch for us).
I understand your point that the wedding band is forever and you need to love it, that's totally true. I think it's legit to spend more on the band and less on other things that you don't view as being AS important (I know when we plugged our budget it I spent way less on the dress and invitations too). I will say that the Knot budgeter estimated WAY under for the reception hall/caterer for us, and also for Photo & music I think....so be weary of that. You still have plenty of time to get your wedding band, so maybe start to figure out what your other costs will be so you can feel more comfortable that you can afford it!
HTH!
ETA: Also keep in mind that prices at jewelers are virtually ALWAYS negotiable!!! We negotiated our bands down significantly....it can't hurt, the worst they will say is no!
I agree with this bride. There other things you need to find out first like the CH. You can wait with he wedding bands. You do have a larger budget. It's true what you are saying, don't go crazy with things that last just for one day, but what I have read from other brides they were glad that they didn't cut down on photo's and video, because those were the lasting memory of their wedding day.
And yes do negotiate with the jewelry. My sister works in the jewelry and you can negotiate.
SFAR89
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I personally, think its a little much. If you are into jewelry and really cant settle for something a bit less expensive that is still just as gorgeous, then go for it. Your only going to drive yourself nuts trying to make plans to work your way around it and try to have the money for it right? It will last forever, and it will be beautiful.
I wanted an insert, but it was ALOT of money and it was beautiful! I wound up going with something that was under a few hundred dollars and it was unique and still very pretty. I figured, if later on down the road we can afford a nicer one, then i will buy it. But right now we have to save for a house and that is the most important thing to me, so i wound up going with the cheaper one.
If you can make things work after buying it, then go for it. Like i said, your just going to drive yourself nuts and compare whatever you do 'settle' for , to the one you really wanted. :)
roan126
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
To me that sounds like a lot of money, but thats just me. When I was having trouble justifying the cost of my wedding band, FH told me to divide the cost of the band by the number of years you plan to wear it...ie: $7500 divided by, say, 40 years would equal $187 per year for your ring. When you look at it that way, it doesnt seem like that much....kind of helped me justify spending the extra $$ a little more.
MJDoc12
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
if you can do it--do it.
just wanted to also say the knot wedding budget calculator is CRAP. when i put in my budget it said i should spend about 120 on my ring. um..ooookay. i mean i didn't spent 7500 but it was certainly more than 120!
sometimes i think the knot needs to do a 'NYC/LI Wedding Calculator' -- cause the one on there i feel like is not accurate for us!
leeserd
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Re: It is crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
Ya I'm very new to this but I agree that it seemed to allocate way too much money for rather minor things and way too little for important stuff-like our rings
Espo22
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Re: Is it crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
i think you convinced yourself in your post hahahaha...its like you said, ppl will spend that much on other wedding items so honestly nobody can tell you its too much for a wedding band, probably one of the few things you do have forever lol. I spent alot on my dress that i will wear just one day so who am i to judge.
I will agree with another post that you can get the EXACT same ring elsewhere for less, just in case your fh doesnt want to spend that. I went one place first and they were quoting me about 2k more than the 2nd place i went to and everything was the exact same.
leeserd
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Re: Is it crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
No sorry, I do not have a picture. I saw it at Van Chion of Huntington which is where my enagement ring is from. Take a look at my album if you want to see it . It is a gorgeous 3 carat eternity style princess cut ring. I am a flashy chick so I won't deny that this is an extravagent purchase. It is bling bling! Invisible settings and all. I actually wasn't looking for a wedding band. We were there because my engagement ring was a lil too big so I was getting stabilizers put in. While we were waiting, Tony Chion showed this ring to me. He even winced at the price but explained to me that platinum is very high in cost right now and that it is from a European craftsman. It was one of the most unique and extraordinary pieces of jewelry I have ever seen, truly. Even the inside was carved. I do understand that it is alot though. I have alot of time anyway so I'll see how much we need to shell out for other stuff and see what's left over for the ring...it will happen if it's meant to be!
PreshusSmurf
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Re: Is it crazy to spend $7500 on my wedding band?
I just wanted to point out that the prices you mentioned for the dress, invitations, etc are usually for everything that goes into it ...
So, for the dress, you also have to account for alterations, jewelery, hair & makeup, shoes, undergarments, etc.
And for the invitations, you also have to account for postage, calligraphy, etc.
So just make sure you are considering ALL the factors before you make your decision.
