Wedding Layers

The Wedding Ring – Customs and Traditions

Undoubtedly, everyone at least one time has walked by a jewelry store’s front window and paused to look at the beautiful arrangements of wedding ring styles on display. For many single people, just glancing at such a wedding ring display may make you dream of the day you will marry.

For married couples, whether you have been married for quite a while or only for a few years, viewing a wedding ring display may bring back memories of your own wonderful wedding celebration. In all cultures, wedding ring symbolizes the unity and fidelity of two people, but these different societies also have different customs associated with the wedding ring.

Wedding Ring – Differing Traditions
Generally accepted as common knowledge, the wedding ring, in many places referred to as the wedding band, is a ring usually made of a precious material such as gold and silver. Depending on the culture’s tradition and customs, it may be worn on the third finger, more commonly known as the ring finger, on either the left or right hand. The wedding ring symbolizes a commitment by one person to another. In most Anglo – Franco cultures, such as the United States, UK, and Western Europe, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand. While many Eastern European cultures such as Slovakia, Germany, Finland, Russia, and Poland, the wedding ring is worn on the right hand.

With many cultures, the wedding ring is the final gift given from one spouse to the other. In almost every culture the wedding ring is preceded in the relationship by an engagement ring. In most Western Cultures, including Western Europe and the United States the husband and wife will engrave their names and the wedding date as a sign of their commitment to each other.

In both the United Kingdom and the United States, the responsibility of caring for the soon to be joined man and wife falls to the best man. The best man is responsible for carrying the rings to the altar and presenting them to the individual officiating, who in turn will present the rings to the bride and groom so that they may exchange them. In some instances, the rings may be carried on a pillow by a “ring bearer” usually a male child, who will present them to the best man at the altar.

Why is the Wedding Ring Worn on the Ring Finger?

During the Renaissance, it was generally accepted that the “ring finger” located on the left hand contained the “vena amoris”, also known as the love vein.

Now, each time you happen to wander by a wedding ring display at the local jewelry store in the mall, you will have and idea of what the wedding ring has meant to people of various cultures through history. You will also have an idea of what it could mean to many men and women who are looking forward to their wedding day.

Harry is the owner of the The Wedding Ring Spot, the BEST resource for wedding, and wedding ring tips, info, guides, and products. The Wedding Ring Spot will provide you with all you need to have the perfect wedding, and find the perfect wedding ring

Author: Harry Bernstein
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Many different countries and cultures use wedding rings as a part of their wedding ceremony. This article looks at some of the traditions around the World.

Wedding ceremonies vary from country to country, however, many places use wedding rings as part of the marriage ceremony. Here we will look at some of the wedding traditions from several countries.

The finger on which the wedding ring is worn varies depending on the country’s traditions

The finger on which the wedding ring is worn varies from country to country, some placing the ring on the right ring finger and others placing the ring on the left ring finger. In some countries the hand on which the ring is worn can change before and after the ceremony. For example in Greece, the couple wear the ring on the left hand until after the wedding ceremony when they are transferred to the right hand. In some European countries, the engagement ring also serves as the wedding ring and it is engraved after the wedding. Some people choose to wear the engagement ring on the right hand ring finger and the wedding ring on the left hand ring finger. This can help to prevent damage to the rings caused by them rubbing together.

The Romans considered the wedding ring to be the last in a series of gifts

The Romans believed in giving a series of gifts to the bride-to-be, and the final gift of the series was the wedding ring. The engagement ring could also be one of the series of gifts.

Some recently-introduced traditions include the trilogy ring, the eternity ring and the pre-engagement ring

The trilogy ring usually consists of three separate diamonds which symbolize the couple’s past, present and future. The eternity ring symbolizes a long marriage, and the pre-engagement ring is sometimes given when a relationship becomes more serious.

In Britain, the ‘Best Man’ is responsible for looking after the wedding rings during the ceremony

The Best Man’s task during the wedding ceremony is to look after the bride and groom’s wedding rings until the part of the ceremony where the rings are exchanged. Some weddings will have a ring bearer who carries the rings on a cushion.

It is interesting to see that despite some small differences in how they are worn or exchanged in the wedding ceremony, that many countries use rings as part of the wedding ceremony. We may have more in common with people from other countries than we realise.

Author: Sarah Carter
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Couples go about getting engaged in many different ways. Some couples go shopping for engagement rings together, giving the woman the opportunity to select every detail of her engagement ring, while others skip the tradition of the engagement ring altogether. Still, many men want the thrill of a surprise proposal, complete with giving that special someone the perfect engagement ring. At the same time, the average man has not purchased a ring for his girlfriend until that monumental time comes, leaving him to wonder how to determine what size ring will slide perfectly onto her finger at that magic moment.

Sneakily figuring out a womans ring size may be simpler than you think. If she has a friend or sister who may know her ring size, you may simply ask. If you take this route, make sure the person you ask is trustworthy enough to keep the secret! But if asking someone is not an option, you can still determine her ring size without spoiling the surprise. First, take note that ring sizes are different for each finger, so be observant of which rings she currently wears on her ring finger. With a little crafty ingenuity, you can use a ring that she wears on her ring finger to determine her ring size without cluing her in on your plan. With these tips, you can surprise that special woman with the most magical moment of her life, paired with a perfectly fitting engagement ring.

Once you have scoped out the ring you will use to determine the size of the engagement ring, it is time to take action. What you do at this stage takes choosing the best course of action based on knowing your future fianc. If she is absent minded and loses things often, you can likely slip that ring in your pocket, take it to the jeweler for measurement and return it unnoticed. But if she is emotionally attached to the ring or knows where it is at all times, you will have to determine her ring size in a more clever way. One option is to make an impression of the ring and take it to a jeweler who can determine its size. You may press the ring onto a block of clay, a bar of soap or any pliable substance that will hold the shape and size of the ring. Just make sure to remove any evidence left behind on the ring! Another option is to try the ring on yourself, and mark the place it reaches on your finger. Then, go to the jeweler and try to determine which size is the exact match.

Whatever approach you take, your future fianc will certainly notice the effort and ingenuity that reminds her of why she wants to make the journey of life with you in the first place.

Author: I. Maher
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With this ring, I thee wed. The most beautiful words ever spoken. The words that bring a man and woman together in a bond of eternity. This is done by slipping a ring on the brides and grooms fingers by each other. The wedding ring plays a most important role in bringing two hearts together in love for a lifetime.

There is no wonder that wedding rings are chosen with extreme care, because they are for a lifetime. Mens wedding rings are usually made in plain metal and womens wedding rings made with precious stones, like diamonds and other gemstones. These days, of course, even men prefer wearing rings set with precious stones. There are gold wedding rings, white gold wedding rings, platinum wedding rings, and many more.

Wedding rings come in different styles, like the plain ones and ones that are engraved. The wedding rings should match the personality of the bride and groom. There are wedding ring sets available for the couple, that are made with the same metal and set with the same precious stones. This makes it all the more exciting actually. Imagine both of you wearing similarly styled rings. I am sure that gives a nice feeling of being part of each other of being one.

The wedding ring is a symbolism for love that has no end and goes in circles. Did you know that in certain communities, it is considered bad luck to buy the wedding rings along with the engagement rings.

The wedding ring is worn on the ring finger. The hand on which it is worn depends on the tradition of each country. In the Western World, it is worn on the left hand and in some other countries, on the right hand. The reason why it is worn on the ring finger is because in ancient times, the ring finger was considered to be the love finger and that is how this tradition of wearing the ring on this finger came into being.

There is a custom in Europe to engrave the spouses name and wedding date inside the wedding ring. Depending on the culture, it is either the ring bearer, who is usually a small kid bringing the rings on a pillow, or the best man that is in charge of the wedding rings and he presents them at the time they are needed.

If you are making arrangements for your wedding day and buying wedding rings, it would be nice to keep in mind the traditions and meanings of the wedding rings. Although many people are opting not to follow a traditional wedding, it makes it more fun to include some of these traditions and make it a memorable day for you, with memories flashing in front of your eyes for years to come, whenever you look at your wedding rings. Let your wedding ring tell a tale of love.

Author: Herman Tumurcuoglu
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Mens wedding bands are an emerging phenomenon. Whilst women have worn engagement and wedding rings for years, men are just starting to catch up.

Mens wedding bands are the new fashion for the fashion conscious married man. And there is a whole world of choice.

For the male who is in the market for a mens wedding band, the
alternatives can be a little daunting. Where do you start to look? What do you get? How do you choose? What will she like? Should you buy it or should she? There are so many choices to make when searching for mens wedding bands.

Lets dispose of the last one first. Who chooses a mans wedding band? Who cares! The only thing to think about is what you both want. There’s no right or wrong. Talk about it and see how important it is to you both. Do you feel that he should choose the engagement ring? If so maybe she should choose his mens wedding band. It really doesn’t matter at all.

Where do you start to look for great mens wedding bands? That isn’t so easy, but here are some general suggestions.

First have a look in your local jewelry store. Just look, don’t buy. You need to get a feel for what is available and what appeals to you. The range of mens wedding bands is huge and there are very few stores where you can see even a fraction of what is available. But it’s a good place to start.

While you’re there get your ring finger sized. That’s always useful to know. And spend a little time thinking about the width of the band that you feel would suit your finger. Generally mens wedding bands are wider than womens rings as a man has wider fingers and so his band needs to be a little wider to look right.

Then have a look at different types of materials. There are all sorts of choices for modern men’s wedding bands. Don’t just look at gold or silver, there’s much more choice than that. Modern mens wedding bands can be made from all sorts of materials that you may never even think of. Would you have thought to look at carbon fibre men’s wedding bands? How about stainless steel, or platinum, or titanium? Look at everything you can find.

And very few regular stores will offer any sort of choices in these materials. Many won’t even offer these materials at all. How many regular stores are there who will show you a carbon fibre mens wedding band? Not many.

Make a decision about the basic style of band you feel would attractive to you both. Many men buy a plain, simple unadorned band. No frills, no design features. The most basic band that it is possible to buy.

However one possible explanation for the popularity of the plain mens wedding band is that many men do not take the time to investigate the range of options available to them.

You should think a little about the man’s personality. Is he outgoing, flashy, forward? Or is he more reserved and conservative? The choice of men’s band reflects his style and personality, so choose with this in mind.

So, in your local store, look, make some decisions about what basic style of band you would like and what material you should investigate, and don’t buy.

Next, jump on the internet. There is a massive range of choices in mens wedding bands on the internet. Almost anything you could set your heart on can be found, and if it can’t then it can probably be custom made for you.

And it’s usual that the band you finally decide on will be cheaper, often substantially, if you buy it on the internet than if you bought it at your local store. That’s just how the internet works. At your local store there probably isn’t much competition, maybe only one or two other stores in the immediate area. But on the internet everyone competes with everyone else,
regardless of location, so it’s a really competitive market. Prices need to be really keen to stay in business.

And of course an internet store can set up it’s actual buildings somewhere where it isn’t too expensive to own or rent the real estate, so overheads are much lower than for your local store. Lower overheads and high competition means great savings in prices for you. Often up to 50%.

Once you have made some basic decisions on material, width and style, and you have begun your search on the internet you are well on your way to finding the best range of mens wedding bands and well on the way to your perfect band. Check out all the choices offered, it costs nothing to surf.

Spend a little time, because your final choice of mens wedding band will be with you for a long time.

Author: Peter Crump
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The wedding ring is a ring that will often be made from precious metals, and it will be worn on the left ring finger. It is also worn on the right ring finger in countries such as Norway or Russia. The purpose of a wedding ring is to represent a marriage. Both spouses will wear rings to show that they are commited to each other. The custom originated in Europe, but has spread to many other countries which are outside of Europe. In some cultures the wedding ring is only one of three rings that will be given when a couple is in the process of getting married.

The other two rings are the engagement ring and the promise ring. The engagement ring is well known, and will be given when a couple has become engaged. A promise ring is not as well known, but will be given once a couple begins courting each other. In many European countries, the name of the soon to be spouse will be placed within the ring. While wedding rings have traditionally be worn by women, wedding rings are now designed for men as well. It is the responsibility of the best man to make sure the rings of the couple are cared for. The best man will present both rings during the marriage ceremony.

In highly intricate weddings, a ring bearer may be used to carry the rings as well. The ring bearer will usually be a young male who is related to either the groom or bride. He will carry the rings on elaborate pillows. In some European countries, the engagement ring is the wedding ring, and the status of the ring will change once the couple is married. If a different ring is used for the wedding ring, the bride may still wear it if she chooses. The choice of which finger the ring should be worn on has changed over the centuries.

Traditionally, the fourth finger on the left or right hand has always been used, and when a married couple wears their rings on their left hands, this is a sign that they have eternal love for each other. While wedding bands have historically been worn by women in the US and UK, they are now commonly worn by men. The use of diamonds on wedding ring is extremely popular. The precious metals that are used in the ring will often be gold or white cold, but titanium has also become popular, especially for men. Many couples will avoid using diamonds and will use other precious gems such as rubies or sapphires.

In addition to this, stainless steel is now being used in a number of wedding rings. Stainless steel has a much higher durability than gold, and can showcase a better finish than titanium. Some metals are poisonous, and are not used for wedding rings. If you want to buy a gem, you will want to measure the quality based on its softness. Gems have a softness scale that ranges from 1 to 10. A gem with a rating of 1 will be the softest, while a gem with a rating of 10 will be the hardest. Gems that have a rating of 7 should not be picked for wedding rings.

Author: Michael Colucci
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One of the oldest traditions relating to the wedding is the exchange of the wedding rings. Not only is this an age old tradition but also this is a custom followed almost throughout the world. Though for different cultures there are some differences in the custom of the exchange of the ring during the wedding still the basic concept is always the same. It is believed that with the exchange of the wedding rings the souls of the couple becomes one. There are also some belief that the wedding ring should be worn on the fourth finger of the left had as the belief is that there is a vein that goes straight to the heart. But the fact is that there is no such vein on that particular finger. However, perhaps because of this belief the finger is called the ring finger. Not only the finger of the left hand but also the right hand finger is called so. But in the present day context though most of the people use to wear the ring on the left hand ring finger still it is often seen that many couples are fond of wearing the wedding ring on the right hand.

Therefore choosing the wedding ring is one of the most important tasks in the list of wedding arrangements. Besides choosing the style of the wedding ring there are other things also that are to be kept in mind while choosing the wedding ring. It is to be kept in mind that the ring you choose would remain for the lifetime on your beloved’s finger, therefore the choice should be perfect. It is always better if both of you go together to purchase your wedding rings. In this way you can have the wedding rings keeping both of your choices in mind. However, your instincts are your best guide in choosing your wedding ring. Still there are several websites available on the internet which can guide you in your choice of your ring.

The choice of material for the wedding ring is quite essential too. The gold being the most common material for the wedding ring is the most favored choice throughout the world. From the very early ages the gold wedding rings are quite in popularity. Even today the gold wedding rings are the most popular ones. Other than the gold wedding rings you can also choose platinum or white gold wedding rings following the latest fashion trend. But whatever may be the material for the ring if there is a diamond fitted in the ring the whole glamour of the ring increases a lot. The diamond in itself creates a marvelous brilliance on the ring. A diamond ring with platinum or white gold as its base metal is the hottest choice of the latest fashion trend. You can also have a gold ring with a diamond befitting really gives a traditional look to the ring. But while choosing the diamond for the ring it is very much essential that you pay proper attention on the cut, caret, color and clarity of the diamond. The better you can have the more are the chances for your ring get an acute brilliance.

Author: Mark Jones Fisher
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There are a number of styles of engagement rings of 2008 that are incredibly trendy. Everything from pave diamond rings and colored stones to “green” rings and channel set diamond rings became very popular in 2008.

Pave diamond rings are rings with three or four rows of small, even-sized diamonds that typically go around the entire ring. A larger center stone set above the rest of the ring completes the look. Pave diamond engagement rings are one of the best engagement rings of 2008 because they are an elegant choice for an engagement ring while creating a lot of sparkle on a soon-to-be bride’s ring finger. You’ll also find pave diamond wedding bands that match your engagement ring and make it even more sparkly.

Colored stones have also grown in popularity. Because of this, rings with colored diamonds are among the best engagement rings of 2008. Diamonds come in a variety of colors, including yellow, blue, pink, and even black. True colored diamonds are extremely rare, which makes them extremely expensive. A one-carat colored diamond can run upwards of ten thousand dollars. However, if you cannot afford to spend this much money on an engagement ring, there are a couple of alternatives that will still allow you to be trendy with a colored stone. With the latest technology, you can buy a man-made colored diamond. With the advances that have been made, most people cannot tell the difference between a mined diamond and a man-made one. If you buy or commission a man-made diamond, you can choose whichever color you prefer, and save several thousands of dollars in the meantime. Alternatively, if you want a colored stone but don’t need a diamond, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies make wonderful alternatives for engagement rings and are far less expensive than mined colored diamonds.

Green engagement rings are also among the best engagement rings of 2008. With more people concerned about the environment and about the human rights issues that surround traditional diamond mining, more people are looking for alternatives to traditional engagement rings. One possibility is to buy an engagement ring that has a diamond that was mined in Canada instead of South Africa. Canada doesn’t have the same human rights issues revolving around its diamond market, so it’s considered to be more friendly to the world. Alternatively, buying a man-made diamond ring is also considered to be more “green” because not only does it not have the same human rights issues that mined diamonds do, but it doesn’t destroy the earth like mining for diamonds has a tendency to do. Alternatively, the best engagement rings of 2008 include antique engagement rings since the greenest engagement rings are those that are recycled and reused. By buying an engagement ring that is antique, you are not contributing to the new diamond ring market or the destruction of the environment.

Channel set diamond rings are also on the list of best engagement rings of 2008. Channel set engagement rings have the stones set within the band of the ring, so the top of the stone is even with the top of the ring. Channel set rings are especially ideal because the diamonds are protected from being damaged because you cannot get to the stone to chip them. Even more popular are channel set diamond rings made out of platinum, which has recently grown in popularity. If you want to buy a ring that is even more unique, though, you can have a channel set engagement ring set with stones other than diamonds. Sapphires are an especially popular choice for engagement rings.

Author: Michael Louis
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As you are deciding on which wedding rings you and your beloved desire to wear as a symbol of your undying love for one another you may be interested in how this practice came about and the true meaning of wedding rings.

The ring of course is a circle and a circle symbolizes infinity, agreement, harmony, rebirth and the universe. In ancient times the rings was connected with the Sun and Moon. It was believed that a ring would protect and was a magical guard, so to speak to ward off all negativity through its continuity. Rings were considered to be magical and/or sacred. Gods and Goddesses even wore rings such as in the Babylonian mythology with tales of the rings of Shamash and Marduk. Rings have always been associated with the magic, the zodiac, and even more. Even today, the wedding ring is believed to hold a kind of power that can be seen when a priest or minister blesses the wedding rings before the couple exchanges them. This practice symbolizes protective powers over their marriage or union.

Now you may be wondering why a wedding ring is worn on the ring finger. Well, this also goes back to ancient times and once again magic. As you delve into history of the wedding ring and the reason, it is placed on the third finger you will marvel at some of the beliefs. Here are a few historical facts concerning the ring finger. In ancient times, the third finger was used to apply herbal medicines to the body because the effectiveness of the cure would be stronger. It was also believed that a nerve from the third finger went directly to the heart. In astrology, this belief is similar, the ring finger is called the heart finger because of the belief of the special nerve or vein that was in the third finger connected to the heart and was a symbol of loved and fidelity. No matter where you search throughout history the third finger has always been used a symbol of love, faithfulness, trustworthiness, and fidelity.

With that said, you know just how important the wedding ring has been throughout history is not just a ring but was used as a promise and union between couples. So, now it is time for you to choose your everlasting wedding rings that will not only symbolize your love and devotion for one another but also withstand time and last forever, as your love for each other.

As you begin looking online and at your favorite jewelers you will find many exquisite wedding rings and some are sure to be out of your price range. The number one thing to do is to set a budget. No matter how much you can afford to spend, you will be able to find the perfect set of wedding rings that will show your love.

Next, you will have to decide what type of material you would like your rings to be created from. Weddings rings are designed from materials such as yellow gold, white gold, sterling silver, platinum, and titanium.

Yellow gold is still one of the most popular materials for engagement rings and wedding bands and can be found in 10K, 14K, or 18K.

White gold is becoming a bit more popular because it tends to look a tad more modern and stylish.

Platinum is one of the hardest metals that is used to create engagement and wedding rings. Many people are now choosing this material because of its durability and the idea that like their marriage it will withstand time. Platinum is a very pure more so than gold, which is normally, only 75 percent gold and platinum rings are usually around 95 percent platinum. These rings do tend to be a bit more expensive but you are more than likely hoping that your ring will last forever, so the price is well worth a ring that is so durable.

Next, of course is titanium. Titanium is kind of the new metal. It is very long lasting, lightweight and not very expensive. These are the most durable wedding rings on the market and are very popular among men because of their elegant style and withstanding power. Yes, you can scratch the ring, but overall they will withstand so much more wear and tear than any other metal.

You may hear that you should choose a wedding ring that will match most of your clothing, but I totally disagree with this statement. A wedding ring is not just costume jewelry that needs to blend in with your outfits. Your wedding ring should be one that you desire to wear every day for the rest of your life. If you looking for a wedding ring to match your clothing then you are really looking for a mere decoration for your finger and not a symbol of everlasting love.

Now you know what material you would love to wear but now comes the hardest part of all. You must now choose the style. First, you must decide if you both wish to wear matching designs or if you prefer your own individual style. The most common styles for wedding rings include the traditional plain bands, bands with beaded edges, bands with etched designs, two-tone bands, Celtic wedding bands, solitaire rings with a precious stone such as a diamond, and solitaries that have one larger stone with smaller stones circling.

Choosing the perfect gemstone for your wedding ring can also be difficult. Diamonds of course are the most popular. However, even with diamonds, you have choices to make; you will need to decide on size and even color. Pink diamonds are now becoming very popular for many women. Remember not to choose soft gemstones such as amethyst or aquamarine as they can be damaged if worn every day. The harder stones are better for durability such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires.

Remember, above all, these are the weddings ring that you both will wear for a very long time. It should stand for you love and devotion and commitment to one another. Choose one that will last.

Author: James Strutton
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