A Woman's Right: Buying Her Own Wedding Ring

Wedding traditions have evolved over the years, with couples taking a more personalised approach to their nuptials. While men usually purchase the engagement ring for their bride-to-be, this custom is changing. More women are paying for all or part of their engagement ring, whether it's because they want something specific, they want to assert their identity within the relationship, or they're simply bucking tradition. The same goes for wedding bands. Traditionally, each person pays for the other's ring. However, modern couples may opt to split the cost or contribute to a shared wedding account. Ultimately, the decision is up to the couple, and there is no one right way to handle wedding ring purchases.

It's about partnership and equality

Wedding ring traditions have largely held firm, with men usually purchasing the engagement ring for their bride-to-be. However, this is slowly changing, with more and more women paying for all or part of their ring. For some, it's about having the perfect ring, for others, it's about their financial situation, and for many, it's about partnership and equality.

Cat, 30, told Brides: "In practical terms, we financed the ring, and my credit is much better than my husband's. We also figured that our individual expenses were about to become joint expenses anyway, so it didn't really make a difference. What I liked most is that it feels symbolic of my retaining my identity and asserting my commitment to being a partner in this relationship. I wanted to show us both that I was going to be an equal contributor to our future."

Similarly, Jennifer, 28, told Brides: "My partner and I both bought engagement rings and each paid for them ourselves. It was never really a conscious decision with us—we just did it automatically as I would never ask him to buy something like that when it was more expensive than his. We also didn't go over the top with the rings, meaning we had more money to spend on holidays and the house."

While tradition has it that each person pays for the other person's ring, modern understandings of relationships have expanded to consider many different scenarios. Nowadays, there are no hard-and-fast rules about who buys the wedding bands. It's all about partnership and equality, with many couples choosing to split the cost of their wedding rings, especially if they've already combined their finances pre-wedding or are paying for their wedding together.

As with most relationship situations involving money, talking it out and coming to a mutual agreement is the best course of action. It's all about what works for you, your partner, and your families.

The woman has a better credit score

Wedding traditions have evolved to become more inclusive and personalised. While the groom or his family traditionally pays for the bride's wedding ring, modern couples have different approaches. Wedding rings are often purchased by each half of the couple for their partner, or the couple may split the cost.

If a woman has a better credit score than her partner, it makes financial sense for her to buy her own wedding ring, and that of her partner. This is what Cat, 30, did, telling Brides:

> "In practical terms, we financed the ring, and my credit is much better than my husband's. We also figured that our individual expenses were about to become joint expenses anyway, so it didn't really make a difference. What I liked most is that it feels symbolic of my retaining my identity and asserting my commitment to being a partner in this relationship. I wanted to show us both that I was going to be an equal contributor to our future."

A woman with a better credit score than her partner may also choose to buy her own ring if her partner cannot afford the ring of her dreams. As one source notes, "if your partner doesn't currently have the facility to pay for the engagement ring of your dreams and you can afford it, go for it".

If a woman wants to buy her own wedding ring, it is important that her partner is comfortable with this. It is also an opportunity to test how well her partner reacts to this type of dilemma and how they can work toward a solution that satisfies them both.

The woman earns more than her partner

There is no reason why a woman shouldn't buy her own wedding ring, and it is becoming more common for women to do so. In heterosexual relationships, it has traditionally been the man who buys the engagement ring and the wedding bands, but this is changing as gender norms evolve.

If a woman earns more than her partner, it may make sense for her to buy her own ring, especially if she has very specific ideas about the type of ring she wants. This can be a significant expense, and it may be that her partner simply cannot afford it. It is also a way for the woman to retain her identity and assert her commitment to being an equal partner in the relationship.

It is important to remember that there are no hard-and-fast rules about who should buy the wedding rings. Some couples split the cost of the rings, while others stick to the traditional arrangement. It is a personal decision, and the most important thing is that the couple is comfortable with the arrangement.

If a woman wants to buy her own ring, she can view it as an opportunity to test how well her partner reacts to this type of dilemma and how they can work together to find a solution. It is also crucial to keep in mind that, while the proposal and the rings are important, they are just symbols of the commitment the couple is making to each other.

They're bucking tradition

While it was once tradition for men to give engagement rings to women, many modern couples are choosing to forgo this custom and instead make their own decisions about who pays for the rings. This could be for a variety of reasons, such as already having shared finances or wanting to have more control over the ring design.

Some women are choosing to pay for their own engagement rings, whether it's because they want something specific that their partner can't afford, or because they want to assert their commitment to being an equal partner in the relationship. For example, one woman said she paid for her own ring because she wanted to "retain her identity" and show that she was "going to be an equal contributor" in the future.

Other women are choosing to propose to their partners and buy them engagement rings, or are simply forgoing the traditional proposal and ring exchange altogether. One woman said she proposed to her boyfriend while they were drunk and then bought a cheap ring from TK Maxx. Another woman, who is the founder and CEO of Modern Rebel, said that she and her fiancé "paid for our own rings and picked them out ourselves. No proposal—just a shared moment reaffirming what we already knew to be true. It's empowering!"

Ultimately, the decision about who buys the wedding rings is up to each couple, and there is no one "best" way to do it. As one source says, "It's all about what works for you, your significant other, and your families."

They want to retain independence in their relationship

Wedding traditions have evolved to be more inclusive and personalised. While there are no hard-and-fast rules, some couples still like to follow the traditional route, where each person pays for the other's wedding ring. However, if a woman wants to buy her own wedding ring, it is not uncommon. It is a couple's decision, and they should do what feels right for them.

For some women, buying their own wedding ring is about retaining their independence and identity within the relationship. They want to assert their commitment to being equal partners and contributors in the relationship. By taking financial matters into their own hands, they are testing how well their partner reacts to such dilemmas and working towards a solution that satisfies them both. This decision can be symbolic of their desire to start the marriage as partners on equal footing.

Additionally, in modern times, it is common for women to have better-paying jobs than their partners, and this should not be a problem in the relationship. If a woman has the financial means and wants a specific ring, there is no reason she should not buy it herself. It is all about open communication and making decisions together as a couple.

Some women also choose to buy their own wedding rings to remove the historical context of rings, ownership, and weddings, which many women are uncomfortable with. They want to take a straightforward, no-frills approach to marriage and feel empowered by making their own decisions.

Ultimately, the decision to buy her own wedding ring can be a way for a woman to retain her independence and assert her commitment to being an equal partner in the relationship. It is about choosing what works best for the couple and doing what feels right for them.

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