Wedding Band: Which Way Round?

There are many ways to wear a wedding band, and ultimately, it is up to the wearer to decide. Some people opt for the traditional method of wearing the wedding band on the ring finger of the left hand, with the wedding band closest to their heart, i.e. under the engagement ring. However, some people prefer to wear their wedding band over their engagement ring to keep it secure, or to wear them on separate hands or fingers.

Wedding band on top

There are many ways to wear your wedding band, and the choice is ultimately yours and your partner's. Here are some reasons why you may want to wear your wedding band on top:

Wear Your Engagement Ring First, Wedding Band on Top

This option follows the logic of wearing the rings in the order you received them. Symbolically, the idea that your engagement represents a promise and your wedding ring crystallizes that promise may resonate with you. Wearing the wedding band on the outside gives your engagement story a figurative bookend—first, you're engaged, and now it's official.

Ring Finger — Wedding Band on Top

Some individuals prefer wearing their wedding band over their engagement ring to keep it secure on the finger. For this reason, many people move their engagement ring to their right hand before the wedding ceremony so that their partner can easily slip the wedding ring onto the left hand. After the ceremony, the engagement ring is moved on top of the wedding ring.

Wear Your Wedding Band and Engagement Ring Your Way

There are no rules when it comes to how you wear your wedding rings. Couples are making their own traditions, and some people even choose to wear their rings on a chain around their neck if they work with their hands often. You can also choose to wear only your wedding band daily and reserve your engagement ring for special occasions or vice versa.

Engagement ring on top

Ultimately, how you stack your wedding bands is completely up to you. There is no right or wrong way, and you can choose to wear your wedding bands however you please.

Traditionally, the wedding band is worn closest to the heart, with the engagement ring stacked on top. This is said to symbolise the idea that your engagement represents a promise, and your wedding band crystallises that promise. Wearing your wedding band on the inside also gives your engagement story a figurative bookend: first, you're engaged, and then it's official.

You may also choose to wear your engagement ring on your right hand during the wedding ceremony. After the ceremony, you can then slip your engagement ring back on your left hand, either on top of or below your wedding band.

Wear on left hand

Wearing a wedding band on the left hand is a common tradition in many Western cultures. This custom is believed to have originated from the ancient Romans, who called the fourth finger on the left hand the "vena amoris" or "vein of love", as they thought that this digit had a vein running directly to the heart.

In modern times, we know that all fingers have venous connections to the heart and that no such singular vein exists. However, the tradition of wearing wedding bands on the left hand still holds strong for many couples, especially in countries like the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, and many Asian countries.

When it comes to stacking the wedding band and engagement ring on the left hand, there are a few options. Some couples choose to wear their wedding band first, followed by their engagement ring, with the wedding band closest to their heart. Others prefer to wear their engagement ring first and then add the wedding band on top, keeping the order in which they received the rings. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to wear these rings, and couples can choose the arrangement that best reflects their personal style and preferences.

Wear on right hand

Wearing a wedding band on the right hand is a common practice in many parts of the world, including Northern and Eastern European countries such as Russia, Poland, and Denmark, as well as India, Greece, Spain, and Portugal. In some countries, couples even switch hands after exchanging their vows.

The choice to wear a wedding band on the right hand can be influenced by various factors, such as cultural traditions, personal comfort, and style preferences. For left-handed individuals, wearing the ring on the right hand may be more practical, as it avoids interference during writing or sketching. Additionally, those with shorter finger lengths or those who prefer not to stack multiple rings on one finger may opt for this option.

In the United States, wearing the wedding band on the right hand can sometimes be associated with signalling availability. However, this assumption is not widely held, and individuals are free to wear their wedding bands according to their preferences.

Some couples may also choose to wear their engagement ring on the right hand before the wedding and then move it to the left hand after exchanging vows. This allows the wedding band to be placed on the left ring finger during the ceremony, symbolising the crystallisation of the couple's promise to each other.

Ultimately, the decision to wear a wedding band on the right hand is a personal choice that may be influenced by a combination of cultural, practical, and stylistic factors.

Wear on different hands

The hand on which people wear their wedding bands varies across different countries and cultures. In many Western countries, it is common to wear wedding bands on the left hand, specifically on the fourth finger, also known as the ring finger. This tradition is said to have originated from the belief that this finger had a vein running directly to the heart, symbolising the love and commitment between the married couple. However, modern anatomy has since disproven this belief, revealing that all fingers have venous connections to the heart.

In some countries, it is customary to wear the wedding band on the right hand. This includes countries such as India, Germany, Spain, Norway, Russia, Latvia, Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Austria, Poland, Belgium, Denmark, and some parts of the Netherlands. In these cultures, wearing the wedding band on the right hand may symbolise loyalty, honour, and trust. For instance, in India, the left hand is considered impure, hence the preference for wearing the wedding band on the right. Additionally, left-handed individuals may opt to wear their wedding band on the right hand to minimise damage to the ring.

Same-sex couples in the LGBTQIA+ community may also choose to wear their wedding bands on the right hand to symbolise a monogamous and loyal relationship. Furthermore, some couples opt to wear their wedding bands on different hands, such as the engagement ring on the left hand and the wedding band on the right, or vice versa. Ultimately, the choice of which hand to wear the wedding band is a personal decision that may be influenced by cultural traditions, symbolism, or practicality.

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