As the big day approaches, you may wonder about the age-old question – should you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? After all, this cherished symbol of your love and commitment is a central part of your journey, but what’s the proper etiquette for incorporating it into your wedding day look and traditions?
The good news is there’s no single way to show off your lab grown diamond engagement ring on your wedding day. Customs can vary based on your personal preferences and cultural background. Learn about the different traditions and options for your ring to decide what feels most meaningful for your ceremony.
The Engagement Ring On Your Wedding Day: Yes Or No?
Traditionally, many brides choose to wear their engagement ring on their right hand during the marriage ceremony. This thoughtful gesture ensures that the left-hand ring finger is unoccupied, ready for the special moment when the groom places a wedding band on it during the ring exchange. It also allows the lab diamond wedding band, which symbolizes eternal love and commitment, to sit directly on the heart side of the hand.
Once the wedding band is securely in place and the vows are shared, the bride moves her engagement ring back to the left hand and places it above the wedding band. This arrangement signifies the completeness and continuity of the bride’s love and commitment, with the wedding band nestled close to her heart.
The good news is there’s no single way to show off your lab grown diamond engagement ring on your wedding day. Customs can vary based on your personal preferences and cultural background. Learn about the different traditions and options for your ring to decide what feels most meaningful for your ceremony.
Cultural Variations In Wedding Ring Customs
While the tradition in the U.S. is to wear the engagement ring on the right hand during the ceremony, there are cultural variations that brides might follow.
European tradition. In many European countries like the U.K., the engagement ring is worn on the left hand and stays there during the wedding, with the band added above it during the vows exchange.
Islamic tradition. In parts of the Middle East and South Asia, women wear their engagement rings on the left ring finger and men wear their wedding ring on the right ring finger.
Asian customs. According to Chinese tradition, engagement rings are worn on the middle finger, with the bride wearing her wedding band on the right hand and the groom on his left after marriage.
Jewish practice. For Jewish brides, the wedding ring is traditionally placed on the index finger of the right hand during the ceremony. Engagement rings are typically not part of the ceremony and are worn on the left hand before and after.
How to Wear Your Engagement Ring During the Ceremony?
There’s no universally correct way to wear your rings. The most important thing is doing what feels most authentic to you and your partner, whether temporarily shifting the engagement ring, wearing both rings throughout or another creative solution. For those who want to wear both their engagement ring and wedding band for the ceremony, you have a few options:
On a chain. You can show off your lab grown diamond engagement ring on a chain and wear it like a necklace during the ceremony. This lets you keep your ring finger open for your wedding band while the engagement ring lies close to your heart.
With a family member. Some brides entrust their engagement ring to a close family member, like their mother or maid of honor, to hold during the ceremony. This ensures the ring is safely kept until it’s time to return it to your left hand.
On your left hand. Of course, you can leave your engagement ring on your left ring finger the entire time and wear the wedding band on top of your engagement ring. This allows you to fully enjoy having both rings on display as you exchange vows and officially become newlyweds.
