Engagement ring on top? Wedding Ring on top? Yeah, we know… it’s confusing! When it comes to the “correct” way to wear your wedding ring, it’s really just important to go with what best fits your personal style. To help, here are some popular traditions on how to wear a wedding ring set.
The Break Down:
Let’s break it down… first we need to know the difference between an engagement ring and a wedding ring. Despite the terms being used interchangeably, each ring signifies something completely different. Obviously, an engagement ring is given at the time of the proposal, and a wedding ring is usually given when the couple gets married. There are also differences between the two that include design, placement, and price-point. Traditionally, an engagement ring has a “center stone”, and is more expensive than a wedding ring, which usually consists of a lot of smaller diamonds all the way around or a plain band.
In western cultures, the correct way to wear a wedding ring set is engagement and wedding rings are worn on the ring finger on the left hand. This dates all the way back to ancient times, when people believed that the left ring finger held the vein that connected directly to the heart. At the end of the day, which finger you choose to wear each ring on is completely up to you, but traditionally most people will look for a ring worn on the left ring finger as a sign of engagement or marriage.
How to Wear Wedding Ring Set During and After the Ceremony:
Traditionally, couples wear the wedding ring “closest to their heart”. This means the wedding band is stacked below the engagement ring on the left ring finger. Many future brides will move their engagement ring to their right hand before the ceremony so that the wedding band can be slipped onto the left hand by itself. Brides can then move the engagement ring on top of the wedding band after the ceremony. Some women choose to get their engagement and wedding rings soldered together after the wedding to make their bridal set one piece. This helps to keep track of it, as well as making it one unified piece so that you can add other anniversary bands while still keeping your bridal set separate.
Sometimes, when women work at a job where they regularly use their hands, they choose to wear only a wedding band for every day wear. This means they bring their engagement ring out for special occasions. This is also common when traveling, or in other situations where a person may be afraid of losing or damaging their expensive engagement ring. Ultimately, how you choose to wear your rings is up to you.
Men & Engagement Rings:
Can men wear engagement rings? Of course! Although it’s not traditionally the way it goes when a couple gets engaged, the practice isn’t completely unheard of. Ed Sheeran, for example, wore a silver band on his left ring finger when he got engaged. Other male celebrities including Michael Buble, Skylar Astin, and a few others also decided to wear engagement rings to symbolize their commitment and decision to get married.
Anniversary Rings:
Diamond or gemstone eternity bands (where the stones go all the way around the band) are popular gifts to mark milestone anniversaries such as 5,10,15, 20+ years. Anniversary rings are extremely versatile, and we always encourage couples to get creative in mixing metals or styles with their wedding and engagement rings for a unique look that reflects their own personal style!
Colored gemstone accents are also growing extremely popular for anniversary rings (often based on a person’s birthstone, children’s birthstones, or maybe even a favorite color!). There are no “set rules” about what finger a person should wear their anniversary ring(s) on. Stacking anniversary rings with your wedding and engagement ring is an ever-popular choice, and some women choose to swamp their wedding band for their anniversary ring if they’re not a fan of the overly-stacked look.
When it comes down to it, your wedding jewelry symbolizes your personal commitment to and endless love for your partner, and how you decide to wear it is completely up to you! There really is no “right or wrong” way. If you’re interested in learning more about wedding, engagement, or anniversary rings… a member of our team would be happy to help you out! Write us an email and we’d love to hear your thoughts and assist you in any way we can.
“The way Rachel and Victoria took care of me when looking for a special engagement ring that wasn’t something picked off the shelf was amazing. They really know how to translate what’s in your mind into an actual ring that can be put on your finger!”
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