Like any soon-to-be-married couple preparing for their wedding ceremony, it’s important to discuss your stance on marriage traditions — do you want to go classic or break the mold? One particularly important tradition is the giving and wearing of rings to symbolize love, partnership and devotion to one another. However, the logistics can be quite overwhelming, so let’s start from the beginning: Which hand does the wedding ring go on?
What You Need to Know About Wedding Ring Placement
Modern couples face countless decisions about wedding ring placement. Ultimately, your choices should reflect both practical considerations and your personal style. Your daily activities, profession and comfort level all influence where you choose to wear your rings.
Cultural differences in ring-wearing play a role, too, and they go beyond geography. Family traditions, religious beliefs and even generational preferences shape these decisions for many people. Some couples choose matching placement, while others go by their individual preferences. When it comes to left hand vs. right hand wedding ring placement, the most important thing is choosing what feels right to you.
What History Tells Us
In many cultures, the wedding ring is worn on the left ring finger. That’s thanks to a complex history beginning with the Ancient Egyptians.
In ancient Egyptian culture, it was believed that the fourth finger of the left hand enveloped the vena amoris, or "the vein of love," which runs directly from the heart to the left fourth finger. They believed some odd things in ancient times, though this one is actually kinda sweet.
While the idea of a vein running from the heart to the ring finger of the left hand was created by the Egyptians, it was actually Ancient Rome that coined the term we now know. This finger is commonly known in modern-day as “the ring finger” because it’s the finger upon which many couples in American culture choose to wear their rings.
Ancient wedding ring traditions varied dramatically across civilizations. Celtic cultures made rings featuring intricate woven knots to symbolize eternal bonds with a beginning or an end. Norse traditions involved exchanging sword tips as engagement tokens before rings became the more popular option. And Roman brides wore iron rings as symbols of strength and permanence. These diverse practices demonstrate how cultural differences in wedding ring traditions have evolved over thousands of years, with each society developing customs that reflected their values, beliefs and traditions.
The first diamond engagement ring, however, is much more recent than these ancient traditions. In the late 15th century, Archduke Maximilian of Austria commissioned and gave the first diamond engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy, originally from Belgium. Wearing engagement rings didn’t gain widespread popularity until the middle of the 20th century however. Before then, it was uncommon to wear a ring before your wedding day, and modern ideas like promise rings were unheard of.
Hollywood and marketing campaigns standardized engagement ring and wedding band order in the early 1900s. Jewelry companies promoted specific practices and created “rules” that many couples still follow today. Realistically, deciding which ring goes on first should be based on your personal preferences, how your rings fit together and any traditions you wish to honor or modify.
Nowadays, at least in Western cultures at large, the wedding ring is typically worn on the left hand ring finger (fourth finger). That said, it’s not the only way rings are worn. Some other cultures, however, choose to wear their wedding rings on the right hand for a variety of reasons, including religious traditions and cultural norms. For example, Latvia, Colombia, Ukraine and Spain, among several other countries, have the fourth finger of the right hand as the wedding ring finger. Though uncommon in the West, right hand ring fingers are hardly unusual throughout the world.
Which Ring Goes First Today?
Now that you know the skinny on the history of the ring finger, let’s get specific with order. Does the wedding band go on first? While most modern American couples do choose to wear their wedding rings or traditional wedding ring sets on their left ring finger with the bride’s wedding band before the engagement ring, there is no set rule when it comes to ring placement. The engagement ring finger also tends to be the left hand ring finger. However, it’s not out of place to see someone opting to have their engagement ring go on their right hand, even in the West. What we’re saying is: You should always wear wedding rings (and engagement rings) how and where you want to wear them!
What About Stacking?
When considering how to stack wedding rings, consider both aesthetics and comfort. Ring width, gemstone placement and shape compatibility all affect how multiple rings sit together. Curved wedding bands pair beautifully with solitaire engagement rings, while straight bands work better with engagement rings featuring flush-set stones. Some couples choose interlocking designs made to nest together perfectly, while others prefer slight gaps to allow each ring to maintain its individual character.
More and more modern couples are challenging wedding ring placement traditions by wearing their rings how they best fit their lifestyles. Some women wear their engagement ring on one hand and wedding band on the other. Others rotate rings based on moods or activities. There is no solid rule stating that anyone has to wear their jewelry a specific way, so do what feels best to you.
Shop All Affordable Wedding Ring SetsLike many antiquated traditions, the location and overall style of wedding rings is turning toward the wearer and their personal preference. Feminine styles are evolving to include uniquely popular styles like rose gold rings and bands, vintage and vintage-inspired cuts, silicone wedding bands and even interchangeable rings. More masculine bands have evolved to include a change in material, making for both a diverse and affordable range of options. These bands make a statement with varying tones, textures and materials, including titanium rings, tungsten wedding bands, wood rings and more.
Whichever finger, hand or style you choose, you don’t have to break the bank to get an engagement ring or wedding band that suits your style. After all, the love you have for another is not bound by the price of a ring.
Your ring is meant to be something that reminds you of the beautiful and steadfast connection between you and your partner, not to serve as a symbol of wealth or flashiness. Though, no one has to know your expensive-looking ring didn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Actually, yes they do. You should tell your friends they don’t have to go deep into debt to have a wedding ring. That’s just being a good friend. It’s easy to get caught up in the never-ending options when it comes to choosing a ring, and the result can be overwhelming. The process of choosing a ring should be a stress-free and exciting experience. When you shop Modern Gents for bridal jewelry, you can get a great deal on jewelry that suits your preferences and wearing style.
Love Has No Price, So Why Should Your Rings Be Pricey?
Ready for the best news? You can shop for your own affordable engagement ring, band or set right from your home and avoid the hassle and pressure of jewelers’ appointments and extensive searching. Modern Gents offers affordable — like under-sixty-bucks affordable — options that are sure to cater to any style or preference.
All rings are made conflict-free with top-notch quality — read: These rings won’t turn your finger green. That’s one less thing to worry about as your wedding day approaches! You’ll have enough on your plate with the wedding planning and all the spreadsheets of vendors, guests and everything in between. Let’s make one part of your wedding easy. Begin your search for the perfect ring and let Modern Gents handle the rest.
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