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When you stand up at the altar with your spouse-to-be, the whole point is to say your vows and exchange your wedding bands in front of your family and friends. But where does the engagement ring come into play? Are you supposed to wear it while you say your vows or leave it at home until the knot is tied? In this guide, we’ll go over some things to consider when deciding whether or not to rock your rock on the big day.
To Wear or Not to Wear…
The truth is, like most wedding customs, what you do with your engagement ring on your wedding day is entirely up to you. You can wear it all day, take it off during the ceremony or leave it at home altogether. There is no right or wrong way to go about this, and the decision is entirely up to you. With that said, remember that your engagement ring has had plenty of time to shine and now it’s time to give your wedding band the glory it deserves.
There are some things to consider with regard to wearing both rings. Since the wedding band traditionally goes first on the finger, you’ll want to remove the engagement ring during the ceremony to avoid any awkwardness. Since many brides and grooms want the chance to show off their wedding and engagement rings together, wearing it during the reception only is a desirable option. Additionally, if you’re like many modern couples, you probably want your wedding photographer to capture all rings in your photos.
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Wear It on the Right Hand
If you want to make sure the rings are a part of the ceremony and photoshoot but don’t want to risk stumbling around awkwardly with the rings during the ceremony, consider moving the engagement ring to the right-hand ring finger while you walk down the aisle and exchange your vows. This is actually the traditional way to do things in some cultures and it makes a lot of sense if you want to showcase your bridal wedding ring sets in photos and during the reception.
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Have the Maid of Honor Wear It
Having a trusted friend or family member wear your ring during the ceremony is another great way to get the best of both worlds. This way, you know it will be safe while you say your vows, but will still be accessible for pictures beforehand and the reception afterwards. This is a great job for your maid of honor, matron of honor, the mother of the bride or groom and even the ring bearers if they are old enough.
Integrate It Into Your Bouquet
Looking for a creative way to carry your engagement ring with you without wearing it during the ceremony or entrusting someone else to wear it? Have your florist leave a bit of ribbon or twine out of the wrap of your bouquet. This way, you can tie it (securely, of course) onto your flowers during the ceremony and then put it back on your finger once you’ve exchanged wedding rings. This is also a trendy and stylish way to incorporate heirloom rings that you don’t want to wear.
Wear It During the Ceremony
There’s nothing wrong with wearing your engagement ring the entire day, even during the ceremony. To avoid awkwardness or stumbling, we’d recommend not removing your engagement ring during the exchange of the rings. The truth is that most people won’t be able to see your spouse-to-be putting the wedding band on your finger, so they won’t even notice if you put them on in the wrong order. Simply swap them after the ceremony.
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We’re Here to Help
We all have a pretty good idea of what one is supposed to wear while walking down the aisle — white dress, veil, the works — but some of the little details are not as clear-cut. At Verragio, we’re here to help you with every part of your bridal jewelry journey, from picking out the proposal ring to selecting your diamond wedding band sets. We hope this guide helps you decide the best choice for you and your future spouse.