Engagement and Wedding rings

Faryn Richardson · February 2011

What is the difference between engagement and wedding rings?

I know the difference between the both as far as when they are given..but do you wear both after your married? If so...is the engagement ring the most beautiful and then the wedding ring is just a simple band?

Please help me clear this up as I am confused. I also did not know which forum to post this...

[Deleted User] · February 2011

generally the engagement ring is given when the guy proposes. It can be any kind of ring he picks out. Wedding bandsare exchanged at the ceremony. You can forgo the band if you prefer, but most women wear the wedding band & engagement ring together on the same finger after the wedding. (the band always goes on your finger 1st...closest to your heart.)

marleylikeair · February 2011

Traditionally, the engagment ring is given to the woman by the man asking her to marry him. Traditionally, it's more elaborate than the wedding band. The engagement ring usually has a diamond or other precious stone featured on it.

The wedding band is sometimes plain metal, and sometimes has little stones or design wrapped around it. The bride and groom usually exchange them during the wedding ceremony. Most women I know wear the engagement ring and wedding band together after the wedding, but it's also common for a woman to wear one ring on each hand.

These are just the traditional basics. There are all kinds of variations on these traditions, of course. Some people don't even do an engagement ring at all.

calindi · February 2011

It's up to you whether you want to wear both or just one after you're married - I always think it's a little strange when a woman has a ring that is in the style of an engagement ring (with a single bigger stone, typically) and no wedding band (usually with no clear center stone, but sometimes inset stones along the band) if they are married - to me it looks like they're engaged.

I will probably wear both together, though occasionally just my wedding band. After I'm married, I don't think I'd wear my engagement ring alone.

skyler1108 · February 2011

This is my engagement ring (aka the ring the my FI proposed to me with)

This is my wedding band (aka the band that FI will give to me during the ceremony on our wedding day)

This is what I will be wearing after the wedding (aka both my e-ring and wedding band together)

Faryn Richardson · February 2011

wow, thanks for sharing guys! This does help, I was getting super confused about it all. Skyler 1108 beautiful, beautiful. rings...

skyler1108 · February 2011

Thank you Faryn. I am pretty much in love with them.

DanieKA · February 2011

Skyler,

Do you ever plan on wearing your band alone? I always wondered what it was like with the bands that weren't just fitted but curved, or cut to fit the engagement ring?

I know a lot of time people wear just their bands for specific reasons (when traveling out of country or to a place it may bring unwanted attention, the gym, etc).

Do you mind the way it looks without your ering? does it stand on it's own well? Just wondering. Thanks!

[Deleted User] · February 2011

Everyone is different. You can have the engagement ring serve as the wedding ring as well, get a separate wedding band and fuse it to the engagement ring, or wear just the wedding band. BF and I plan on getting matching bands made (a German tradition) and I will wear my engagement ring on my right hand or not at all.

Do what is most unique to you and what you feel most comfortable with. If you do wear just the engagement ring as a wedding ring, as Calindi said, some people may thing you are just engaged, unless they see DH's ring as well. It doesn't matter what others think though.

bsidebella · February 2011

Fun fact: In Judaism, we do not put stones in our wedding bands. It's supposed to retain the shape of an unbroken circle, to symbolize the eternity of marriage and your love for one another. The engagement ring is the one you can have fun with, there are no "restrictions" on that.

But as for the question, ditto PP's. =D

calindi · February 2011

I don't have an engagement or wedding ring yet, but I think I'd like to be able to wear the band alone (not fitted or cut to fit the engagement ring).

But we have agreed that I'll wear my claddaugh ring as my engagement/wedding band when traveling since it doesn't have any stones on it and thus will attract less attention from thieves (I don't always travel to the best parts of Latin America).

oceana919 · February 2011

We picked a wedding band that would coordinate with my ring, but that I could wear independently if I wanted.

FI and are planning on getting plain titanium band rings as well, for when we're in the field or the lab. I work with pretty nasty chemicals in the lab on a regular basis, and I don't want to have to worry about damaging my wedding set, or losing one (or both) of the rings while I'm working in the field. Wouldn't take much for a ring to slip off when I'm working in the water with a live animal.

PaigeMcC · February 2011

*stomps feet*
OCEANA! You stole my wedding bandddd!!

aka I really like that one and I'm getting one just like it. Ring twins...?

oceana919 · February 2011

::stomps feet::

WHATEVER PAIGE!!! YOU STOLE MY WEDDING YEAR! DON'T YOU KNOW IT WAS MYYYYYYYYYYYY WEDDING YEAR?!?!?!?!?!?

PaigeMcC · February 2011

SoBe.

skyler1108 · February 2011

DaieKA, I do not plan on wearing my band alone. It looks funny by itself with the notch that is cut into it. I plan on having my rings soldered together after the wedding since I do not like the way that band looks by itself.

I would like to get a band similar to my wedding band that does not have a notch cut into it some where down the road because I do love that style of band. For now I have a simple, plain, inexpensive band to wear for times that I would not want to wear my set.

leia1979 · February 2011

I also have a set where the band doesn't work well by itself. I plan to get the set soldered together anyway.

I ordered an engraved metal band (under $100) for when we travel.

DanieKA · February 2011

Thanks for answering everyone! I guess it just depends on lifestyle (heavy travel/chemical in workplace/gym goer). And, of course, getting the ring you love (if you have a hand in that process).

And it looks like having an additional third ring is an option. A simple silver/gold band or something.

All great ideas. Until recently I didn't even know you could have the bands soldered together, so that's another option.

Thanks again, all!

futuremrstje · February 2011

Just a note too that other posters haven't brought up, some people will have their engagement ring and wedding band soldered together. I was never able to figure out why someone would do that though...

leia1979 · February 2011

I actually did bring that up, and I'll tell you my reason why. The band on my ring is a wavy shape and super thin (less than 2mm wide). Having it soldered to the ering will make it always line up properly and make it harder to lose. It's too thin to wear on its own.

Engagement and Wedding rings

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