You’ve been dreaming of the dress, of the perfect venue, of the flowers and the dances and the violin music since you were a kid. But were you dreaming of a $30,000 price tag, endless tense conversations with your family, and a creeping suspicion that many wedding traditions simply don’t make sense in 2019? Traditional Weddings — Worth the Cost? Weddings are becoming a bit of a dated practice, especially when you consider how prohibitively expensive a typical wedding can be. The cost of traditional weddings continue to soar, and as younger generations become wary of carefully curated displays of happiness and wealth on social media, weddings are seen more as an unnecessary extravagance than a necessary part of a couple’s happiness. After all, nothing communicates lasting love more than “financial security and a debt-free future,” according to EliteDaily. In their writeup the publication explores how our modern understanding of what a wedding should be has shifted. Nontraditional weddings cut through the monotony and cookie-cutter nature of modern weddings (the grand entrance, the father/daughter dance, the tossing of the bouquet, the cutting of the cake) and celebrate a couple’s love in more unique and meaningful ways. Your love isn’t replicable — so why should your wedding be? The History of Wedding Rings Wedding bands first became popular in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed there was a literal “love vein” that ran from the heart to the fourth on the left hand, and the practice of wearing wedding bands on what we now call the “ring finger” has been standard ever since. Wedding bands weren’t routinely made of metal until the time of the Byzantine Empire, with gold and silver bands reserved for the ultra-wealthy. Wedding bands were the central component of marriages until engagement rings began to hog the spotlight. Engagement rings featuring diamonds didn’t even come into popularity until 1947, when copywriter Mary Frances Gerety launched the iconic “Diamonds Are Forever” campaign for de Beers. Engagement rings and wedding bands have long served as symbols of commitment, but as with other elements of weddings they have been transformed into a lucrative industry where expectations create stressed partners and lead to thousands of dollars being spent to find the ring that’s “just right.” Nontraditional Wedding Bands If you and your partner are planning to buck tradition and plan a cost-effective, nontraditional wedding filled with heart, why not go all the way? A nontraditional wedding ring from QALO is a great choice for cost-saver and artistic souls alike. Choose between dozens of styles, color choices, and unique designs that all feature our durable and dependable silicone material. Start shopping for your alternative silicone wedding ring today by taking our QALO quiz — we’ll use your unique personality and preferences to find the perfect wedding band for you. Save hundreds of dollars and display your commitment to your partner during life’s craziest adventures with a durable and safe silicone wedding ring.