Wedding Rings: How (and How Many) to Wear

Marriage – for many people – is a massive milestone and highlight of their life. To find a partner that fits with them so well, to make a commitment for the rest of their lives, and honor it is certainly something to applaud, to celebrate. A good first step is to observe basic ring etiquette, or at least understand it before bending it in ways fitting and meaningful for you and your partner. Some people get a little confused by these “rules” of the game, though. Fall into that category? Here’s everything you need to know about wearing your wedding ring(s) and how many you should be wearing to begin with. 

Rings After Marriage

As all of us in Western culture know, the ring exchange is customary at most weddings. It’s symbolic for your partnership, showing how both you and your spouse belong to the other and how you always carry a piece of them whether you’re together or apart. It’s a beautiful sentiment, and one made all the better when you understand the story behind its placement. 

Apparently, the tradition of placing the wedding band on the left digit between the middle and pinkie originated all the way back in ancient Egypt. The Egyptian people believed that this finger has a critical vein in it – known in Latin as the vena amoris – running through it directly to the heart. They seemed to figure that wearing jewelry there was the ultimate sign of bonding and other peoples echoed it. This tradition ended up spreading far and wide, carrying onto the Greeks after the conquering of Egypt and being assimilated into cultures even to present day. Even our modern-day has not been left untouched, with the practice as common today as thousands of years ago. 

It’s a long-standing and romantic gesture, one perfect for ensuring you always stay close to your spouse’s heart. Want to keep in line with it? Make exchanging rings a central focus of your wedding ceremony and keep your wedding band firmly on your left ring finger when possible.   

Engagement Ring Etiquette

“Wear your band on the left ring finger” isn’t all that unexpected. The majority of us know that much, but things can get a little muddy when considering engagement rings. Typical etiquette sees a man give a woman a ring to symbolize their engagement, and she’s expected to wear it on the finger your wedding ring will be placed. But what about when you’re finally declared married? Or what if you’re a same-gender couple or are just someone who likes to break the rules a bit?

Well, as with most etiquette, there’s nothing written entirely in stone. You ultimately decide what to do here! As we said, following it is a great, easy way to honor the promise you made to your partner. But it’s not the only way. What’s important is honoring it in a manner both of you like and agree on. 

So, customarily, engagement rings are shifted onto the middle finger on the wedding day, although you can do whatever works best for you. For some people, this looks like doubling up and wearing it on the same finger as their wedding band, wearing it on a necklace, putting it in a jewelry box for safekeeping, or finding a way to meld the two rings together into one cohesive, custom piece. 

And for couples of the same gender? There’s still no real etiquette in place. Make up your own and – well – own it.! You can have the partner who gets proposed to wear one, both of you can or neither. Your options are even less locked in, determined by past practice. Enjoy that and find what brings you joy. 

Wedding Bands You’ll Love

Now that you’ve learned a little bit more about engagement/ wedding ring tradition, you’ll probably be quickly moving onto figuring out how you want to implement it and buying the actual bands in question. That can be a rough phase of planning, fraught with indecision. Try not to stress about it too much and follow your gut. Pick what calls out to you, and your partner will surely love it. However, to help you out a little more, maybe also peruse through a few of our tungsten rings with wood inlays. With both these materials, it’s the ideal way to marry tradition with something a little unexpected. 

Rose Gold with Meteorite and Wood Inlay Ring Set

With elegantly thin rose gold strips of tungsten, a meteor-like band, and a second stripe of warm wood, this inlay ring set is the perfect fit for those looking for sophisticated beauty. The rings’ tungsten carbide make also guarantees they’ll continue to shine regardless of what you throw them, meaning they’ll stay gorgeous for years to come. 

His and Hers Koa Wood Ring Set

Looking for something a little more minimal but still beautiful? This koa wood ring set might be just the ticket. It’s one of our top-selling products and for a good reason. Two bands of silver surround a medium-toned koa wood inlay and add up to something effortlessly cool and modern. Both rings also are dome-edged, allowing for comfortable wear day after day. 

Damascus Steel Ring With Bubinga Wood Inlay

Most of our UD wedding bands are more metal than wood, but not this one. For those who want something a touch different, our Damascus steel and Bubinga wood band is a wonderful choice. The Damascus steel is yellow gold and edgy with its textured design. But the real star here is the even thicker band of Bubinga wood, offsetting the shine with a lovely natural aesthetic. At 8 mm, it’s ideal for men or anyone wanting a thicker, more substantial wood ring.