Wedding Bands

Wedding bands may be chosen to match the engagement ring or it can be worn alone. Wedding rings symbolize your eternal bond.

The bride and groom most often wear matching gold rings. Choose a style that is most complimentary to both of you.

When choosing wedding rings select a metal that is suitable to withstand day to day use. The band does not have to be gold; it could be platinum, which is a whitish metal more precious than gold. Gold comes in different colors (yellow, rose and white variations), weights and values which are measured in carats.

Pure gold has 24 carats, but is too soft for normal wear. The purest gold recommended of rings are 22 carat, then 18 carat and 9 carat. The lower the carat value, the less gold there is in the ring.

The engagement and wedding ring set should have the same carat value, because the softer metal risks being worn down by the harder one overtime. Traditionally a single gold band is exchanged when making your vows.

But many modern brides will have diamonds or colored stones added to their band, but this will depend on your budget. Your may like to have your wedding bands engraved, and also consider having your rings insured.

Trivia on Wedding Rings

• According to Roman tradition, the left hand is generally used less often than the right and the third finger is the only one that cannot be moved in isolation from the other fingers thereby giving extra protection to the ring.

• In the early Christian church, the thumb and first two fingers were seen to represent the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In the religious wedding ceremony the ring was first held over the tip of the thumb, ‘In the name of the Father,” then the first finger, ‘and of the Son’ and the second finger,’ and of the Holy Ghost’. It was then placed on the third finger with the word ‘Amen.”

• The reason for the ring being worn on the third finger of the left hand dates back to the time when the ancient Romans or Egyptians thought that a nerve led directly from that finger to the heart.