Like a handmade present, a home-cooked meal or a handwritten card, nothing quite says, "I love you," like crafting something from scratch. But when it comes to wedding rings, one of the most expensive, momentous gifts couples will ever exchange, many turn to prefabbed options from mass-market jewelers. Override this default choice and create your perfect wedding rings that truly capture the moment and express the uniqueness of your love.

As with anything custom-made, there's a little more investment up front: both in money and time. But with the proper planning, you won't need a background in metallurgy or the bankroll of a royal bloodline to create a truly special ring. The first decision considers the wedding band. Although tradition proposes both an engagement ring and then a wedding band, Lori Seto, a contributor for the wedding planning service/website The Knot, encourages couples forgo tradition and do what they want. You've already bucked the norm by refusing to buy a pre-made ring, why stop there? Couples can use this fork in the road to chart their own course, says Seto, who notes that skipping an additional wedding band enables couples to save money or go all out on one impressive ring. If you decide to stick with the traditional two-part ring, writers Kristi Kellogg and Tyler Atwood, in a joint article for Brides.com, recommend designing your wedding band at the same time and through the same jeweler to make sure it seamlessly matches the style of your engagement ring. Plus, jewelers often can be persuaded to offer a discount when you order both at once.

After you've decided the format of your ring(s), then the fun begins: picking a stone. Although the standard engagement ring uses a diamond, Michel Martin, in her 2006 Talk of the Nation segment on NPR, states that many couples are veering away from these traditional stones. Whether to lower ring costs or to avoid conflict diamonds (also called "Blood Diamonds" -- CNN's Tim Lister, in his 2015 article on the subject, referenced U.N. statistics showing hundreds of millions of dollars from illegally extracted slave-labor diamonds in Africa were being used to fuel brutal wars, drug activity and human trafficking), more and more fiancees are forgoing "girl's best friend" for a stone with less burden.

Additionally, using a different precious stone offers newlyweds an opportunity to express individuality. In an article on designing your own rings for HowStuffWorks.com, journalist Chris Obenschain references numerous alternate options, with examples such as Princess Diana's sapphire ring, Princess Sarah Ferguson's ruby ring and Jackie Kennedy's emerald engagement ring. Get creative, follow your heart on what you think is beautiful, and don't be afraid to ditch the status symbol of a big, expensive diamond. If you do decide to stick with the classics, however, make sure you purchase the stone from a sustainably sourced retailer. Obenschain also recommends seeking out "lower" quality stones: diamonds are ranked based on purity of color, and, many times, unperceivable imperfections can often drastically reduce stone cost. Unless you'll be looking at your ring through a microscope, this will allow you to pick a bigger, more impressive diamond for lower cost.

So what about the metal? Traditionally, wedding bands are made from gold or silver, but when you make your own custom ring you can break the mold! Obenschain states that many couples are choosing titanium for its durability (especially as Gold prices rise) but platinum and palladium are also taking the ring world by storm, reports Rachel Tierney in her 2017 article on custom rings for the Telegraph.com. After you've selected one of these hard-wearing metals (lower maintenance and lower cost) all that's left to choose is the size and style. Just like stone type, personal preference dictates beveled/round/flat or wide/narrow bands.

From stone cut, setting, mixed metals, custom engravings, paired styles for couples... the amount of creative potential goes on and on. All resources agree on one thing, though: Plan in advance and don't rush. From the natural ebb and flow of your creative process to the extra order time needed to craft a custom ring, take the stress out of the process and start early. This will allow time for ample revisions and help you and your loved one get things just right. And when it comes down to the nitty-gritty choices, jewelry design professional Meredith Kahn, in her interview for Kellogg and Atwood's article, states, "The best thing to do is to hide all the specs and choose with your heart."