My wedding band only cost $10
It was the cheapest one we could find
My mom picked out and paid for both wedding bands, his and mine. Simple gold bands from that one big box store we all know and loathe. We got married with just a few people present at the courthouse in my mom’s hometown.
We went to a buffet style restaurant afterwards and then that evening we filed taxes at the local tax place, appointments made even before the wedding.
I wore a sweater, because that was the nicest thing I owned. I got it from Goodwill specifically to have something close to white. I was uncomfortable in my skin back then and the idea of a dress terrified me.
My wedding band being inexpensive and simple is a great token of the day we got married. We were young, struggling with money & family ties, and we were just happy and excited and nervous about what the future would hold. It wasn’t about the symbol, we were living the real deal, you know?
So yea, it only cost ten bucks. And not even my ten bucks.
But I love it. I loved it then, I love it now.
I have no desire to replace or ‘upgrade’ it… and in fact I find that concept awkward. A new ring can just be a new ring…but, this ring? It’s irreplaceable.
It represents a commitment that started even before the day we said ‘I do’ and a promise to one another to grow together, encourage one another in that growth, support one another in that growth and through any stagnation, and to leave our family a better place when we go than where it was when we started.
Whether broke or breaking the bank, we’re doing the thing. We’re doing it.
Growing old together.
And though this simple band may never be an heirloom - its monetary value probably lessened with wear — it will be a keepsake by some younger generation from me who gets lost in the poetic, the romantic, the history of it all… just like I do.
The real heirloom will be the decades-long love. It’ll show the broken cycles, the healed wounds, the opportunities we’re building for those after us. It’s already showing, in fact.
My wedding band cost just ten dollars. 50 cents a year…and only becoming a better bargain, if you ask me.
On January 14, 2025 my husband survived a stroke and brain bleed. The medical event, subsequent ICU and hospital stays, family conflicts while emotions were broken, his recovery, and the changes that have come with all of these things… they have reshaped my world view, my family view, my life focus, and my writing plans.
Thank you for reading & sharing this journey with me. I do hope you are enjoying it and continue along with me.
In the coming days, weeks, and months, I will share my experiences as a wifey of over 20 years, a mother for nearly 30, a writer for a lifetime, and dreamer for an eternity.
I write to reveal as much as to heal… so if you’re into some oversharing, some TMI, and some Eva lore no one asked for…then you’re in the right place.
The rings Izzy and I picked out were only $55.00. I'm not one that feels comfortable wearing expensive things. Our rings make us happy and that's all that matters. We both wear them with pride and love. I've never understood spending a month's wages or more on a ring. We also have decided to do a very quiet and small wedding that is only with family. This way we can spend the money we would have spent on an expensive wedding on a trip to Baton Rouge for just the two of us. So much more fun.
I love this. We got our wedding bands off Amazon for about 35 bucks and said we'd replace them with nicer ones one day, but we love them too much to ever do that! I like seeing all the nicks and scratches in mine as it gets older. Reminds me how long we've been married. I hope your husband is doing okay and I think about you guys a lot.