You might ask: Can I Wear Commitment Rings Without Marriage? Commitment rings are a relatively new concept, and many are wondering what it’s all about.
Here, we’re going to explore what commitment rings are and help you get answers to questions you might have had about them along the way.
The beauty and meaning of a commitment ring
What makes commitment rings powerful in their meaning is that you’re telling the person you present it to, and vice versa, that you are devoting your love to them for life. What makes the commitment ring different is that you can offer someone even before the engagement ring. There are varying reasons why an engagement ring would not be appropriate. A perfect example is two teens who, in their heart and soul, know they want to spend their lives together, but marriage is not possible in the near future.
Commitment rings aren’t merely for those who can’t get married soon. What makes these kinds of rings fantastic is that you’re the one who dictates the meaning of the ring. Even married couples can choose to get commitment rings along with their wedding bands simply to reinforce their importance of forever or till death. That means that you’re the one to ascribe the meaning to the commitment ring.
The beauty of these kinds of rings is that there are no rules for the type of ring to get. It can be as simple or as flashy as you want it to be. Commitment rings don’t need to look like wedding rings because their purpose is showing devotion. Take this opportunity to explore different colored gemstones and cuts that would suit you and your partner’s tastes. However, what you need to keep in mind is that the ring out to be practical. Since it’s something you wish to wear daily, the ring should be comfortable, of good quality, and able to withstand the wear and tear that comes with continually having the ring on.
Another useful tip is getting a ring that, in the future, will work well with your wedding band. While you’re free to do as you please, something to consider is how well the commitment ring will look alongside your engagement and wedding ring when stacked together. If you’re not keen on stacking, though, you can choose to place the commitment ring on another finger. Which brings ups to the question, which finger do you wear your promise ring on?
The answer to this is: pick a finger and go with it. Some choose to wear the commitment ring on their ring finger to signal to others that they are off the market. In cultures where the left ring finger is where you wear your wedding band, you can choose to wear it on the right hand instead.
If you’re only keen on having the ring on you at all times, ensure that you get a ring that fits well on most of your fingers. Your dominant hand tends to be larger than the other, so keep that in mind when purchasing a ring. As the years go by, you might have to resize it for a better fit.
Can I Wear Commitment Rings Without Marriage?
Over the decades, traditional marriage has morphed into something different. A lot more people don’t believe in the marriage institution and choose to take another route.
The divorce rates, which stand at 50 percent, have made couples take another route in modern times.
One no longer has to be married to live with and bear children with a partner. The concept of a wedding, rings, and honeymoon also goes out the window.
You’re more likely to find couples option for commitment rings in such contexts instead of the traditional wedding bands. The couple is not married, but they have a certainty that they want to spend the rest of their lives together.
For that, a commitment ring makes more sense. It is an understanding between both parties that they are committed to each other without the “burden” of marriage.
However, it is not uncommon for such arrangements, after years, to turn into a legal marriage to protect each other and children when it came to financial matters.
The brief introduction of Traditional Marriage
In this era, the idea of traditional marriage has mostly taken a Western theme to it. It is about a ceremony that includes a white dress, an exchange of vows and rings, and a union celebration. People now speak about how they marry for love, and the wedding is to symbolize the same.
While that’s not the case in all cultures worldwide, this perception of a traditional marriage prevails. It’s worth remembering that, compared to how long humans have been in existence, this approach to marriage is relatively recent, coming into effect in the mid-1900s. Before, marriage was purely transactional. Couples came together to keep wealth within a family, continue one’s linage, form alliances, or for the sake of the land. Love was something that grew, or didn’t, between couples.
Looking back, marriage was not romantic. It was purely a business transaction. Wedding bands weren’t a thing then; they only came about with the spread of Christianity. All that was required then was two consenting parties, parental approval, and consummation of the marriage. It is this last act that sealed the union. The only type of romance that was present during this time was affairs, which were (and still are) considered scandalous.
The concept of women wearing rings to signify that they are married goes back about 3000 years ago in Egypt. The man would give the woman a ring to symbolize love and eternity together. Before that, the ring wasn’t commonplace, with different traditions opting for other symbols. Braided grass worn on the wrist, waist, or ankles was how you’d tell a married woman apart. Rings became commonplace in Europe between the 9th and 13th centuries, as we’ve mentioned, many thanks to Christianity’s spread.
Something of interest, though, is that men didn’t wear wedding bands until WWII. Men only wore them to remind themselves of the love they’ve left at home. That, along with letters sent home, was what kept the men going on the battlefield.
Can you be married without a ring?
Across various online forums, there is a strong perception of a ring’s importance in the marriage setting.
For many, wearing a ring is the ultimate symbol of love and commitment to one’s spouse. It is essentially the quickest way of letting others know that you’re off the market and committed to someone else.
However, what people fail to note is that a marriage license makes a marriage legal, not the ring. The ring is merely symbolic.
There are those then who prefer to stay without wearing rings for one reason or another.
For such persons, the legitimatimacy of their marriage is not limited to a ring, but what they know to be fact. Therefore, yes, you can be married without a ring.
Conclusion
The choice to wear a ring to show commitment to another is based mainly on one’s tradition and beliefs. It shouldn’t be a polarizing issue as people have the choice to do as they please.
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Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.