go for the gold

You don’t have to inherit a generations-old antique ring to incorporate an heirloom into your ceremony. Ask family and friends to donate any unwanted, beat-up gold jewelry (seriously!); then take the cast-offs to a specialty jeweler or reputable online retailer who will recycle the old gold into new rings. You might even have enough gold credit leftover to cover the cost of production—a huge savings when you consider new wedding rings can cost thousands of dollars (ka-ching!). Experts say there’s enough gold currently above ground to supply the jewelry industry for the next 50 years. Translation: Gold mining and extraction, which exposes workers to toxins like cyanide and mercury and wreaks havoc on the environment, isn’t necessary. By using what’s available to you, not only are you gaining a responsibly produced, handmade heirloom, you’re also saving about 75% of the cost of new rings.