After all is said and done, vows have been exchanged, dance floors have been torn up, and families have collided, there is one last ‘cherry-on-top’ moment that couples may not think about prior to the day of, and that’s the question of: how are we supposed to wear our wedding rings?
Luckily, we’re here to help guide you and give you some background on the options you have.
According to The Knot, the most common way to wear your wedding set dates back to guidelines set in place by Ancient Egyptians who believed there is a vein leading directly from your left ring finger to your heart. Therefore, in this scenario, the wedding band should be worn closest to your heart, underneath the engagement ring on the bride’s left ring finger. In order for this tradition to manifest, the bride must either take the engagement ring off for the wedding ceremony, or switch the engagement ring to the opposite hand, then place it back on the left ring finger once the ceremony concludes. This tradition was set in place because it was believed that this brought the wedding band as close to the human heart as possible, making the promise of marriage that much stronger.
Despite this tradition, others believe that you should wear your rings in the order in which you receive them to symbolize the notion that the wedding band solidifies the promise of the engagement ring that was offered initially. From there, it is really easy to continue stacking rings, which has become a more common trend as couples give each other rings on anniversaries, milestones, etc.
Styling your wedding rings is entirely personal, and you could either base it off the symbolic value that speaks to you the most, or simply off your preferred aesthetic. As mentioned, the ring stack is becoming increasingly more popular, and this can definitely sway your decision on how to wear your rings. For example, if you find that you love the look of a stacked ring finger, then you may opt to wear your wedding band on top of your engagement ring like Em Rata. Others with shorter fingers may prefer to keep their ring finger less stacked so as to not shorten the appearance of their finger, and simply feel that the stacking trend is not for them.
This also brings up the question of how couples go about choosing their wedding bands. Some couples decide to go with matching bridal sets so their rings match perfectly, some find a wedding ring that matches their engagement ring, and some couples create a unique pair of ‘mismatched’ rings, which has become more trendy and popular. There are pros and cons to each of these options.
Couples who go with matching bridal sets that match each other perfectly may have trouble agreeing on the rings, which is never a fun argument to have. You may see the symbolism behind matching your significant other in this way, but your style preferences may vary. This can cause unwanted compromises that no one wants to make when choosing a ring that you are promising to wear for eternity. If the symbolism does mean a lot to you, this can also be a very unifying way to go about choosing your wedding bands.
Women who decide to match their engagement ring perfectly may not have as many options for ‘stacking’ purposes since their rings are so ‘matchy-matchy’ that any ring added to that finger may just look a bit out of place. If this is not important to you, then that’s something you do not have to worry about, and it could make for a beautiful look that will remain timeless throughout your marriage.
Couples who opt for a unique pair of wedding bands will benefit in that they are each going to get exactly what they want style-wise, however this decision may not be as ‘unifying’ and symbolic. Again, if this does not matter to you and doesn’t have meaning to you and your marriage, then it is a great way to go about getting what you want out of your wedding rings. Moral of the story is that you have a lot of options, and it is all based on personal preference and how you interpret the meaning behind each option.