Not a lot of people think so much about engagement rings and etiquettes associated with them in their life unless they’re close to giving or receiving one.
When that happens, knowing the basic rules when it comes to engagement and wedding rings helps make the process of buying and wearing a ring easier.
While you might wonder if there’s really a need for rules for wearing an engagement ring the right way, what’s a wedding without little traditions?
And to help you acquaint yourself with certain traditions and rules here’s all you need to know.
- Three Ways To Wear Your Engagement Ring
The most common way of wearing an engagement ring is on the ring finger of your right hand.
The tradition has been followed for ages as the Romans believed the right ring finger has a vein that directly runs to the heart.
Therefore, wearing it on the ring finger of the right-hand keeps the ring, which is a symbol of commitment, closest to your heart.
If you also wear your wedding band, you don’t have to wear your engagement ring and the wedding ring on different hands.
They can be stacked together on the same finger, which is the most common way of wearing both.
Most people like to wear their engagement ring on top of the wedding ring to keep the latter closest to the heart.
If you’re not comfortable wearing rings, there’s a third way of wearing engagement rings while considering your comfort. You can use your engagement ring as a pendant by sliding it into a plain necklace to wear around your neck.
- The Engagement Ring Is Given To The Bride First, But When To Wear It
Traditional ring etiquette suggests that you wear your engagement ring on your right ring finger as your walk down the aisle.
The groom places the wedding ring on the right ring finger after exchanging the vows.
Once you take your vows, you can wear your wedding ring on the right finger and then put on your engagement ring back on the right ring finger on top of your wedding ring.
In this case, the engagement ring is worn to protect the sanctity of the wedding ring and the commitment of loving for a lifetime.
- Which Finger Do You Wear Your Wedding Ring On?
The decision to wear the wedding ring on a certain finger depends on the culture you follow and the country you belong to.
While the most common trend is to wear the wedding ring on the ring finger, that is the fourth finger of the hand, on the left hand, it is not uncommon to spot wedding rings on the right hand.
In fact, in countries like India, Russia, Germany, and Norway, women traditionally wear their wedding rings on their right hand.
Besides traditions, the choice of wearing the wedding ring on a certain finger of either hand is for the bride to decide based on what she’s comfortable with.
- Should We Have Matching Wedding Bands?
It has been a trend followed for ages to get two wedding bands that are matching in design for the bride and the groom.
This tradition was followed to honor a partnership and commitment of a lifetime.
However, in recent times, there’s no such obligation to follow the tradition, and people take the liberty to choose wedding bands based on their partner’s preferences rather than having matching wedding bands.
This makes sense in modern times as you can pick a wedding band of your choice without having to go through the hassle of merging two people’s tastes to find the perfect set of matching wedding bands.
- When Should We Start Planning And Shopping For Our Rings?
While some brides and grooms like to shop for wedding rings one month before the wedding, this can add a lot of stress and force you to make a hasty decision.
When you’re into the wedding month, you will have many other responsibilities and things to take care of, and you may not have as much time to go shopping without worrying about other things.
It makes sense to plan the whole process at least three months in advance so that you can do your research and explore your options in designs and styles.
You can also take your time to discuss your likes and your partner’s preferences, and find out about the different quality standards of diamonds before looking for rings. This will help you make an informed decision.
Once you have your basics clear, you can go shopping about two months before the wedding.
This will give you plenty of time to consider your options and find the right wedding ring.
- How Much Should I Spend On An Engagement Ring?
The amount of money you spend on an engagement ring is a decision very personal to you.
It is worth bringing up that, when buying an engagement ring, you should never come under the influence of standards set by social media to go out of your way.
You should also not pay heed to the societal expectations of splurging on an engagement ring when that can cause you financial distress.
The best thing to do is to calculate an estimated amount based on your current and near-future financial commitments and stick to it when shopping for a ring.
- Keeping Rings Secure
The best way to keep your rings secure is by insuring them. Something as valuable as a wedding ring may not be covered under your homeowner or renter’s policy.
Having your rings insured can also help you understand what can be done in case the wedding is canceled prior to the wedding day.
When the bride calls off the wedding, it is proper etiquette for the bride to return the ring. However, she can decide to keep it or return it if the groom calls off the wedding.
Besides this, it also helps to know the laws of your state to take the right action concerning such events.
So, that was all about the etiquette and rules involved in buying and wearing engagement rings.
The above-mentioned etiquettes and rules, though too many, are easy to understand and follow.
However, you should know that with each rule comes the liberty for you to either go with it or settle for what you’re comfortable doing.
Some of these rules can make your life a lot easier, especially in case of a mishap or when making the very important decision of buying the perfect ring for your fiancée.