The big day is approaching and you're about to collect your wedding bands from the jeweller. But you might feel like you're on the fence about whether or not to get your wedding rings engraved. Or, maybe it's something you haven't though about at all! Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life and an inscription is such a special way to mark this. But getting an engraving or inscription inside your bands isn't necessarily a given. There are some things to consider which will determine whether you should, or what you can get engraved inside, and there's even an argument to be made for waiting until after the wedding day itself. Here we've compiled a handy list of pros and cons to help you make your mind up about whether you should get your wedding rings engraved.

Pros

• It's a gorgeous way to mark your wedding date.
• The possibilities for your inscription are endless - a romantic line from your vows, your new spouse's name, etc.
• It's an old tradition that's still as romantic today as it was when your parents and grandparents were getting married.
• Most jewellers use lasers to engrave these days, so you can now include symbols and or choose cool fonts.
• It's an inexpensive way to personalise your rings. Jewellers can charge a flat rate for engraving or approximately €2 per letter, number or symbol. Most rings hold between 15 and 30 characters, depending on the font.
• You can pick something truly unique, like a nod to your shared nerdy obsession or even your spouse's finger print.
• If you engrave the date, you'll never forget your anniversary.
• Fingers crossed it doesn't get lost, but if it does it'll be easy to prove it's yours.

Cons

• Engraving can slightly reduce the value of your rings. Precious metals like gold and platinum are valued by both the karat and weight. So if you remove metal through engraving, then you then take away from the overall weight and value.
• You or your other half may need to have your ring resized. This could interfere with an inscription, especially a long one, as you may need to remove it and have it re-engraved.
• Getting a new engraving isn't super expensive, but it will cost you, see above!
• Wiping away an engraving for a fresh one will remove metal from your ring, reducing its value, not to mention potentially weakening its structure.

The bottom line: Getting an inscription engraved on your wedding rings is a lovely way to mark your special day, and if you ask us, the pros far outweigh the cons of this seriously romantic gesture.

Decided to get your wedding rings engraved? Here are unique wedding ring inscription ideas to make your bands truly special.