The Traditional Order for Putting on Wedding and Engagement Rings

Imagine walking down the aisle with the world watching, announcing your love with the most meaningful and eternal symbol: the wedding ring. After the big day, you step into a vibrant life together, reinforcing your bond continually with the engagement ring. Whether you prefer to wear your rings in a traditional order or choose to mix it up, the key is to do what feels right for you. This article explores the conventional order of wearing wedding and engagement rings and presents some interesting regional customs.

Traditional Order: Engagement Ring First, Then the Wedding Ring

Traditionally, the engagement ring is worn on the ring finger, typically the right hand, before the wedding ring. Following that, the wedding ring is placed on top, ensuring the engagement ring remains visible as a symbol of your promise.

Practical and Cultural Considerations

However, don't let tradition dictate everything. Some individuals favor a different order based on practicality and comfort. For example, Sarah mentions that she wears her wedding ring first and the engagement ring on top. This arrangement makes practical sense for her, especially when she needs to remove her wedding ring for messy tasks.

Heart and Practicality

There is a belief that the wedding band should be closest to the heart, hence worn on the bottom. However, personal comfort and practicality often take precedence. Sarah humorously says, "You should wear your rings however you feel most comfortable. That’s my way, and everyone I know wears them this way too."

Personal Reasons for Reversing the Order

Mara shares her personal story, preferring to wear the engagement ring before the wedding ring. She explains, "I got engaged and then got married, so I wear them in order of event."

Modern Trends and Regional Differences

The ordering of rings is increasingly less strict as wedding and engagement styles evolve. In the US, many women wear the wedding band beneath the engagement ring, believing it frames the engagement ring better. As a left-handed person, Mara chose to wear her wedding band on her left hand and her engagement ring on her right, as the latter always snagged on her clothing.

Apart from these customs in the US, there are interesting variations in other cultures. In Mexico, the wedding band is typically worn on the left hand, while the engagement ring is worn on the right, displaying the opposite order to that in the US.

In Spain, engagement rings are less common, with a wedding band often sufficing. In some cases, the order is reversed: the wedding-engagement ring is worn on the left before marriage and then switched to the right after the wedding.

Find Your Own Way

The important thing to remember is to wear your rings in a way that resonates with you. Experiment with different orders and positions, and find what feels most comfortable and meaningful. The joy is in the journey, not just the destination. Have fun with your personal style!