Following the legislating of same-sex marriages in the UK in March 2014, 1,049 same-sex couples wed in the first month alone. In the UK, the first same-sex marriage took place on the 29th March 2014 — 8 months after the official legalisation. From this point, 15,098 couples legally married under the new legislation up to 30th June 2015 — 55% of these were between women and 45% between men.
America has now legalised same-sex marriage too. Researchers have already seen an effect of this — it was found that couples spend more on their weddings than they would on a civil partnership. Men were found to spend $15,580 more on average and women $9,116. Many wedding retailers are accommodating to the rise in same-sex marriages as well, by offering bespoke supplies such as his and his (and hers and hers) wedding toppers and signage. It is estimated that the same-sex wedding industry is worth $51 billion (£38.8 billion).
That’s a lot of love being celebrated and a lot of money being spent doing so. To continue the celebrations, we’ve teamed up with Angelic Diamonds, retailers of seven stone rings, to bring you 5 IDEAL tips for choosing a same sex engagement ring.
TO MATCH OR NOT TO MATCH?
When it comes to the style of engagement and wedding rings, some jewellers have adapted their range to fit with the rich diversity of modern love. For example, many are now offering metal that has multi-coloured features to it — representative of the flag that the LGBTQ community associate themselves with. One jeweller reported that same-sex couples often don’t go for matching jewellery but instead want rings that have matching components , such as the same coloured metal or a similar stone. On the other hand, matching bands are a wonderful testament to eternity and compatibility for your married life. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
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DESIGN EACH OTHER’S
A popular trend of recent years is the designing of engagement rings for your partner, and vice versa. With same sex wedding proposals having less strict, obvious etiquette attached to them (and subsequently, some confusion over who the onus to pop the question falls on), couples can take advantage of the opportunity to create their own customs by designing each other’s rings. Injecting flourishes of your partner’s personality, as well as miniature mementos of what makes your relationship so special, can have an enduring, charming quality perfect for declaring your love for each other to the world.
CONSIDER GIFTS, NOT RINGS
Recent research discovered that 81% of gay men didn’t purchase an engagement ring before proposing. Instead, substitute gifts, such as designer watches, were favoured, with rings following for the wedding ceremony itself. Engagement and wedding rings for two people is a large investment, and eschewing tradition in favour of items your partner may desire with greater gusto than a ring only to be worn temporarily seems a savvy, sensible choice.
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EMBRACE THE LACK OF PRECEDENT – ANY FINGER IS FAIR GAME!
Continuing with the theme of embracing the eschewal of tradition , the same research found that same-sex couples don’t tend to have stag and hen dos either. Instead, studies showed that gay couples tend to choose to enjoy a couple’s getaway or a group vacation with all of their friends.
When it comes to bridesmaids and groomsmen, many same-sex couples had mixed sex wedding parties. During the ceremony, the traditional vows cannot be written as they specify becoming ‘husband and wife’. Instead, the partners often write their own personal vows and the registrar marry the couple with the phrase ‘partners for life’.
All of this lack of precedent continues to the decision of which finger (and hand) upon which to display your ring. The finger and hand is not the important thing – it’s the commitment that they symbolise to you and your partner which is so precious. Diversity of expression is a vital thing and something to be cherished; so do whatever makes you feel happy, comfortable and in love.
BLING IS BRILLIANT
One theme we’ve noticed and love in the same sex engagement ring industry is the propensity for bling. Loud, proud declarations of love are a beautiful thing, and bling, as long as it’s deployed stylishly and confidently – is a great way to display your commitment to your partner.
