Mostly my mother and his mother. They boast about how big it is to everyone else, including my sisters and his sisters and his cousins. On his side of the family there are 4 weddings happening this year, and for some reason it became a competition between all the mothers!!! It was horrifying and embarrassing. I think all us younger brides were equally embarrassed. We spent Christmas day with his family, and the only thing I could do was keep telling everyone how happy I was and how excited I was to marry him. I can't believe they are comparing rings instead of asking me if I have plans yet anything like that. I'm pretty sure it made his younger cousin (who is engaged as well) feel bad. I made a point to ask her about her plans and give her a chance to have some spotlight.
I keep reminding my mother and MIL that the only opinion of the ring that matters is my opinion. In addition, my ring is pretty unique and my fiance and I agreed it would be best if I didn't get a wedding band added. My engagement ring will double as my wedding ring, and that doesn't seem to sit well with our family members. I don't honestly think it's that weird, and I'm wondering what everyone here's opinions were. I didn't feel I could vent about all this without seeming ungrateful or making everyone feel bad, so I just decided to insist that the money doesn't matter, but our marriage does.
Re: I need to vent about how others talk about my ring!
I wish you luck and patience, friend.
As for the rings, I'm of the opinion it's your ring and your hand, you should be able to wear your ring(s) however you want to. Some people may ask questions if you only wear one ring. You should do what you're comfortable with and not worry about how other people will perceive it.
Also I think that you are in the right, its your wedding and as long as you and your FI are happy with it that is what matters!
Your ring is gorgeous! I got a lot of flack about my ring when FI and I finally got engaged. It's larger than most of my friends' rings because, well, we got engaged many years after our friends did so had more disposable income. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed, but it seems so petty when people make a big deal out of it.
As for the wedding band thing, are you going to get even just a non-expensive band to wear if you travel and don't want to wear your actual ring or if your ring is being cleaned/fixed? My mother did that to appease my grandparents because she didn't want to wear a band with her intricate ring.