What do you do with your stunning engagement ring after exchanging your wedding vows? Should you even have the engagement ring on the wedding day, and if you take it off, should you keep it off forever, maybe somewhere dark in your jewelry box?
You will agree with us that this isn’t the ideal thing to do, and in most cases, you will still wear your engagement ring even after the wedding.
Most married people do it, and all you need to do is determine the most comfortable way to wear the engagement ring.
If you just got married and are still unsure how best to wear the engagement ring, this is the guide you have been missing.
So, let’s get right into it.
Can you wear your engagement ring after the wedding?
Yes, you can still wear your engagement ring after the wedding. Although this seems like the perfect time for you to flaunt your new wedding ring and the new title, wearing the engagement ring alongside the wedding ring after the wedding is the most ideal thing to do, mainly because it allows you to celebrate the beauty of the two life events, and subsequently, the rings.
So, if someone’s mentioned that you may have to remove the engagement ring and maybe stop wearing it altogether after the wedding, they are lying, and you shouldn’t mind them.
It’s also worth noting that the choice to wear either or both rings is a totally personal one, and you could opt to wear just one ring at a time if it’s what you want.
If, for example, you are afraid of losing the rings, wearing just one ring at a time means you won’t have to worry about losing two rings.
Also, wearing one ring at a time, especially your most expensive ring, will make you stand out more because of the elegance and the sophisticated feel and look of the ring.
Of course, wearing one ring at a time is much more comfortable than wearing two rings – wearing two rings at the same time, especially on the same finger, takes a lot of time getting used to.
And finally, choosing one ring allows you to opt for your larger ring with zero worries about the space it will take on your finger.
Can you wear your engagement and wedding ring at the same time?
As mentioned above, you can wear both rings at the same time. Often, most brides tend to forget about the whole order of rings and which ring to wear now that they are getting married, and in the panic, they may lose their engagement rings.
To avoid this from happening, we recommend taking off the ring before the ceremony, then wearing it afterwards.
Alternatively, and this is what most people do, you may want to temporarily move the engagement ring to your right hand before the wedding, moving it back after the wedding.
You could then opt to wear the engagement ring alongside the wedding ring forever, or if you don’t want two or more rings on your hand, you may also choose not to wear the engagement ring anymore.
If you prefer wearing both rings after the wedding, here are some tips and guidelines that will ensure you wear these rings perfectly.
4 actionable tips for wearing an engagement ring after the wedding
Before we share tips on how to wear your engagement ring after the wedding, we ought to mention that the main differences between these two types of rings lie in their designs.
Engagement rings tend to be much more elaborate, with a dominant stone that sits alone or is surrounded by several other smaller stones, giving off a big, bright, extra vibe.
Then you have the wedding rings that are traditionally more subtle and may be made of just a simple, plain metal band or perhaps a diamond-encrusted band.
In most cases, the engagement ring costs less than the wedding ring, especially for people who go all out with the engagement rings.
But the design differences don’t just affect the value of the rings; they also influence how you wear them.
For an extra engagement ring with a large stone and maybe more than one band, it may be harder to wear it alongside the wedding ring afterward, even when your wedding ring is the most subtle.
Also, such engagement rings are too loud and may not be ideal for wear in different situations or events, including work, which is why most people stop wearing their engagement rings after some time.
If the engagement ring comes in a toned-down design, which is the preferred style for engagement rings for most people today, then you could wear the ring with your wedding ring. How?
1. Wear the rings on your left hand
Traditionally, you are required to wear your wedding ring and engagement ring on the left hand’s ring finger (4th finger), which is the standard that works for most people.
It’s also ideal because the left hand is the non-dominant hand for most people meaning that left-handed individuals may wear the rings on the right hand. If you choose this style, wear your engagement ring first, then your wedding ring.
Later on your anniversary, you could wear your anniversary ring after the wedding ring.
For couples that prefer this order for their engagement rings, the groom places the wedding ring on top of the engagement ring after exchanging their nuptials – this may be going against tradition, though, so consider this beforehand or ask for it beforehand advice.
Opting for this chronological order works well for most individuals and may work for you too.
It is also more symbolic because the engagement ring represents the promise you made to be with each other, while the wedding ring comes after as it cements that promise – which is why it is the order that speaks for most people.
2. Wedding ring, then the engagement ring
But the engagement ring followed by wedding ring order is not written in stone or the agreeable option for most people since there are many others who traditionally believe that one should wear their wedding ring first then the engagement ring because this way, the ring will be closest to their heart.
In these cases, brides opt to temporarily move their engagement rings before the wedding to either the right hand, or they may also opt to keep the ring at home.
In the same breath, it’s important to note that wearing the rings on the left is something that’s become an ingrained part of our lives today, and it’s all thanks to a very old ancient Roman belief.
According to the belief, the wedding or engagement ring was to be worn on the left finger’s 4th finger or the ring finger because Romans believed this finger carried a specific vein that was connected to the heart; they called it ‘vena amoris’ that translates to the ‘vein for love’ and because of how convincing this belief was, it stuck.
So, while we now know that each finger is connected to the wearer’s heart by a network of veins, this belief is more of a myth. However, this romantic tradition has endured and lives on even in the most liberal of western cultures.
3. Rings on both hands
If the features of the wedding and engagement rings are too different from each other that stacking them is not a viable option, you could wear the engagement ring on one hand and the wedding ring on the other – oftentimes, the right and left 4th fingers, respectively.
Also, you get some leeway on this option, and you can choose to wear the engagement ring on the left and the wedding ring on the right.
Although this isn’t a traditional approach, it may be a great choice for non-traditional couples, especially if the rings don’t have similar design features. Also, it’s just a personal preference.
4. Wear the ring alternately
You don’t have to wear both rings at the same time, every day of the week. In fact, there are no rules that say you must wear the rings at the same time. Wear the wedding rings this week, then opt for the engagement ring next week or tomorrow.
At the end of the day, you choose to wear the rings that make you feel your best, and if you prefer the subtle hints of the wedding ring on most days, you are free to wear it often, wearing the engagement ring occasionally, or when you need something more dazzling.
Conclusion
These are some of our thoughts to guide you on how to wear your engagement ring after the wedding.
Ultimately, you can wear any ring that feels right for you and on the hand or finger that works for you.
Remember that at the end of the day, the rings are beautiful accessories that symbolize your love and commitment to each other.
They are also an unwavering symbol of your love today and forever. So, the best you can do is to wear the rings in whichever way pleases you.
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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.