How Should I Wear My Engagement Ring During The Wedding Ceremony
A: Many brides-to-be will switch their engagement ring to their right hand before walking down the aisle, so the wedding band can be slipped on to the left hand first. Brides will then move their engagement ring on top of the wedding band during or after the ceremony. Some people choose to get their engagement and wedding rings soldered together after the ceremony to make their bridal set one unified piece.
What Should You Do With Your Engagement Ring During The Wedding
It’s not as straightforward as you’d think.
Brides-to-be proudly flaunt their engagement rings on the fourth finger of their left hand. After getting married, both the engagement ring and wedding band reside on this finger. Since your groom will be sliding a brand-new band on your finger during the ceremony, what should you do with your engagement ring on the big day? Most brides don’t consider this question until getting ready for their big day, and it can cause some last-minute panic. Although there’s no right answer, there are three common options brides choose between: temporarily moving the engagement ring to the right hand, leaving it on the left hand, or not wearing it to the ceremony at all. Here, learn about each option.
Before The Wedding Ceremony
Depending on how long youve already worn your engagement ring, it might be a good time for a checkup! It would be awful if something happened to the ring exactly on the wedding day. So, you might consider having the engagement ring checked by a professional jeweller who can find signs of damage or other weaknesses.
If youre keen on having your engagement ring a part of the ceremony, you can have it soldered together with the wedding ring so your future husband can put both on your finger during your vows.
You should also make sure that its thoroughly cleaned before the wedding ceremony begins. Typically, most couples love to pose with their new wedding rings and take close-ups of their hands. You would want your diamond engagement ring to sparkle as its best during this immortalization.
Traditionally, the wedding band goes first on the finger, so its closest to the heart. To ensure the proper position, some brides temporarily move their engagement ring to their right hand. Then, after the nuptials, they return the ring to their left hand over the wedding band. A word of caution: If you decide to wear the engagement ring on your right hand, make sure it fits comfortably since a lost or stuck piece of jewellery can sour any wedding day!
This is also an excellent time to have the ring appraised or insured if desired. That paperwork may be critical if an international honeymoon is planned and the ring might be lost.
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Wedding Band Vs Engagement Ring: Budgeting Wedding Bands
Wedding bands are typically the less expensive of the two rings. Frequently, they feature no gemstones, but are merely a plain metal band. Often, the brides wedding ring is designed to match and fit with the engagement ring.
Since both the bride and groom wear a wedding band, they also frequently match each other. Wedding bands should be selected by couples together as a perfect pair, just like the marriage itself rather than matching each other or an engagement ring, its most important they reflect the two individuals wearing them.
Why Replace The Engagement Ring
You may be wondering why the engagement ring is removed and then the wedding band placed. This is due to show that the engaged woman is now a married woman. However, there are rings available where the engagement ring will slide inside of the wedding ring making it one whole ring. This allows the bride to wear both of her rings as one.
An engagement ring can be worn on top of the wedding ring too if one desires. Just as long as the wedding ring is worn and never not just the engagement ring. You can read more information at
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Are Wedding Rings And Wedding Bands The Same
Yes! Theyre usually plain without any diamonds or gemstones and are commonly white gold or yellow gold. However, many brides may select a flashier or more intricate band depending on their style:
I would advise picking your rings at least 2 months before the wedding. This way, youll have a decent time allowance if something comes up during the wedding planning. Theres always last-minute fixes!
How To Budget: Engagement Rings Vs Weddings Rings
Your wedding can be a monumentally expensive life event, and one of the most important costs comes from perhaps the smallest items involved in the entire to-do: the rings.
Both the engagement ring and wedding band can be pricey items with costs varying widely depending on the type of metal you choose and whether or not you include gemstones .
When considering the price of a wedding band versus engagement ring, buyers usually have a LOT of questions, like
- Is the engagement ring more expensive? Should it be?
- What is the cost of the engagement ring vs the wedding ring? How much do you spend on the engagement ring and wedding band?
- How much should you spend on wedding bands?
- What is the difference between cheap and expensive wedding bands?
Obviously, nobody wants either ring to be too cheap, as they are possibly the wedding expense with the most longevity and return on investment as most brides and grooms wear their rings every day from the engagement and wedding onward.
How do you budget for these rings? What are things to consider when deciding what to buy in each case? And whats the difference in budgeting for the two?
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History Of Engagement Rings
The concept of the engagement ring may be thousands of years old. In fact, the earliest iteration of this tradition dates back to ancient Egypt.
Egyptian royalty believed that circular objects were symbols of eternity. Married couples exchanged rings crafted from braided reeds. Egyptian science was quite advanced for its time they believed fingers on the left hand contained veins that connected all the way to the heart. Couples wore these reeds on their left fingers for this belief. We do the same to this day!
The Roman Empire featured its own engagement tradition: rings attached to small keys were given to wives, indicating the husbands ownership. Luckily the trend was redeemed in the 1400s when Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the very first diamond engagement ring for his betrothalthe ultimate display of affection.
Europeans continued to offer up ornately designed rings for their fiances, peaking in style during the Victorian period. Many modern shapes and styles of cut can trace their roots to this time.
Diamond engagement rings were cemented in American culture forever with a De Beers Mining Company ad in 1947. Diamonds are Forever, and so is love.
What Are Other Ways I Can Wear My Promise Ring Engagement Ring And Wedding Ring
A: It truly is your choice! When not on the left ring finger, people most commonly move their engagement rings or promise rings to their right hands. Some couples who dont like wearing rings but still like the idea of having an engagement or wedding ring will wear their ring on a necklace chain instead of on their fingers.
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The History Of Engagement Rings
The Jordan emerald cut diamond engagement ring.
While many believe engagement rings are a fairly new tradition, the practice was actually established in Ancient Egypt, where giving an engagement ring represented eternal love, as the circular shape of a ring has no end. The Romans are recorded as having the same custom, but the Romans would gift two engagement rings one made Iron to be worn at home while doing household work, and one made of gold to be worn in public. In Europe, the tradition of exchanging rings was reborn in 1477, when the Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy with a ring set with diamonds in the shape of her initial. It wasnt until the early 20th century when diamond engagement rings became a staple in western culture. The late 1930s and early 1940s saw a huge increase in the practice of exchanging diamond engagement rings, thanks mainly to the famous DeBeers advertisement, and continues to be an important custom in western culture today.
The Zeke mens wedding ring.
The Rachael womens sapphire wedding ring.
The Mary and The Joe, matching engraved custom wedding rings.
The Brooke custom wedding ring.
The Brooke bridal set, with custom wedding ring and custom engagement ring pictured together.
The Brooke aquamarine engagement ring.
The Amelia custom yellow gold and diamond wedding band.
The Amelia diamond and yellow gold bridal set.
The Amelia diamond engagement ring.
Should You Buy A Wedding Ring Or An Engagement Ring First
Well, I would say it depends on individuals.
Speaking strictly from a practical point of view, I recommend that you only buy the engagement ring if you arent sure whether she will say yes to your proposal.
On the other hand, if you and your partner had already discussed marriage beforehand and you are confident that shell agree to the proposal, it makes sense to get the wedding ring at the same time as the engagement ring.
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How Should You Wear Your Engagement And Wedding Rings
Traditionally, and in most cultures, your engagement ring and wedding ring are worn together on the same finger commonly known as the ring finger. Its the fourth finger on your left hand, right next to your pinky. The wedding ring is placed on the finger first so that it resides closest to your heart, with the engagement ring following on the outside.
Exchanging rings as symbols of love is believed to have originated in Egypt. They believed that the vein in the fourth finger ran directly to the heart, strengthening the pledge of love and commitment. Romans adopted this tradition, spreading the practice throughout Europe, thus becoming the basis for the U.S. tradition. In reality, theres no such vein, but the symbolism and tradition remain strong.
As most people have preferred to wear these two rings together, bridal sets that are specially designed to match and wear well together are popular choices when planning for both rings.
This ensures the rings will sit nicely on your finger next to one another without unnecessary rubbing or even scratching of metal by stones. For some, they may choose to solder their two rings together to prevent movement and twisting around the finger making the rings misaligned.
Weve worked with clients to create an engagement ring and wedding ring set that are perfectly matched in style and format, while other clients prefer their rings to have a bit of contrast, whether by mixing metals or styles.
Engagement Ring Vs Wedding Ring Whats The Difference
Whats the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring? This question is a lot more common than you think. Youve probably heard the terms engagement ring, proposal ring, wedding ring, wedding band and bridal set used to describe the rings that people wear when they get engaged and married. What you might not know is that there are actually two completely different rings, despite the terms being used interchangeably. The first step in proposing is figuring out the difference between an engagement ring vs wedding ring and what each is for, and when each is given.
The Amelia engagement ring with The Amelia wedding ring .
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Engagement Ring Vs Wedding Rings
The exchanging of rings as a traditional symbol of marriage dates back to ancient times. As a modern practice, it brings up a lot of questions about engagement rings vs. wedding rings. Whats the difference between engagement and wedding rings? Do you need a wedding band? If you want to wear both, do they have to be in the same style and worn together?
Theres a lot of tradition mixed with more modern choices made for engagement rings and wedding rings today. While what you choose to do should be based on what feels right for you, lets go through some answers to these questions and gain some clarity over any lingering confusion about these special symbols of love and commitment.
How Do I Wear My Engagement And Wedding Rings
Traditionally, the wedding ring is on the third finger of your left hand with the engagement ring above it. Although this is the most common way to wear your two rings, there are other ways to show these off!
One creative way is to wear two thin wedding rings on either side of the engagement ring. This enhances the brilliance of your engagement ring, keeps the gemstone in focus and gives your ring a dynamic, stacked appearance.
Another way to wear your rings is to transfer the engagement ring to the right hand, while keeping the wedding ring on the left. This adds sparkle to both your hands, and is also excellent if your rings have two wildly different styles.
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What Finger Does An Eternity Ring Go On
Wearing your eternity ring especially if you already have two bridal set rings could prove confusing but it doesnt have to be.
If your engagement ring is not big and flashy, you could wear your eternity ring on the third left finger just next to it or you could wear them together on the same left finger.
If it is a little overbearing or maybe they dont match, you could wear it on your right hand on either the middle or ring finger. Your choice.
Do You Wear Your Wedding Band On Top Or Bottom
You can wear them either way you like. There are no hard and fast rules to this question as it boils down to personal preference.
You could wear your wedding band on top of the engagement ring because thats the order in which you received them or because you like how it looks that way.
Alternatively, the more traditional approach is to wear the engagement ring on top of the wedding ring to protect it and to keep it close to your heart.
Whether you are practical or sentimental, both options are a go.
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Where Did The Tradition Of Wedding Rings And Engagement Rings Come From
Before the late 15th century, engagement rings and wedding rings were one and the same. Wearing a wedding ring is a tradition dating back to antiquity when people foraged the land and made rings out of plants.
As humanity evolved, so too did the standard for engagement rings. Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, broke tradition by gifting his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy, a coveted diamond engagement ring. The gift went down in history as the first official diamond engagement ring.
The trend swept through Europe and made its way to America. Still, diamond engagement rings were not the status quo until centuries later. After the roaring 20s came the worlds largest economic blow: the Great Depression. As far as diamonds go, the jewelers shelves were getting quite dusty. How in 70 years did diamonds go from dust collectors to the standard engagement ring center stone? With an exceptional, but destructive, slogan.
20th-century couples were the first generation to meet the De Beers diamond marketing campaign. As of 1947, a tidal shift occurred in the engagement ring market with the famous slogan, A diamond is forever.
In the 21st-century, rising environmental and social issues are shifting the market toward conflict-free, lab grown diamondsdiamonds that are timeless, more affordable, better for the environment because they are not mind and made to last through generations.
