So, you’re making the final preparations for your wedding day and you want to make sure that every last detail is perfect. From walking down the aisle to dancing with your guests at the reception, your wedding should reflect everything you and your partner want for your special day. However, weddings are steeped in centuries of tradition. Consequently, you may have questions about what you should and shouldn’t do to meet the wants and expectations and friends, family, and the rest of your community.

For example, should you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? It is a fair question, as the engagement ring symbolizes the promise to get married, while a wedding ring indicates that the engagement is over and you have officially gotten married. But what do you do on the final day of your engagement when you switch from a fiancé to a bride? If you are meant to wear both, does the engagement ring go on top or bottom?

In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more. We will also discuss how to wear your engagement and wedding rings, what hand to use, and what you are meant to do with your engagement ring (according to tradition). But before we get into the details of how to wear your ring, let’s take a closer look at the different moments you can expect on your wedding day.

What to Expect On Your Wedding Day

If you have just started planning your wedding day, then you might feel a bit overwhelmed. There are so many things to prepare before the big day. For this reason, many people hire a wedding planner or even a team of experts to help execute every part of the day perfectly. No matter which route you choose, you can generally expect a traditional wedding to unfold in the following stages:

• Ceremony - The ceremony is the main part of your wedding and it encompasses several different parts. First, people will enter the vicinity and find a seat. Once the ceremony starts, selected individuals will walk down the aisle and take their places at the front (usually bridesmaids and groomsmen). Finally, the broom and then the bride walk down the aisle and take their place, starting the main segment of the ceremony. The person conducting the ceremony will speak, the couple will exchange vows, exchange rings, and then finalize their marriage.
• Photos - Photos can actually happen before, during, and after the ceremony. That said, official photos of the newly-married couple and their families usually happen right after the ceremony.
• Reception - Lastly, most weddings will feature a reception that often takes place at a separate location. At this point, guests can eat, dance, and congratulate the married couple. The bride and groom often take this opportunity to have their “first dance.”

As you can imagine, this just covers the basics of a traditional wedding. Your wedding may be different in some ways, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to follow this process to the letter. In any case, now that you know what to expect, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of wearing engagement rings on your wedding day:

Pros Of Wearing Engagement Rings On Your Wedding Day

Here are a few advantages of wearing your engagement ring on your wedding day:

• Boost Your Confidence - A lot of people get nervous on their wedding day, but wearing a beautiful engagement ring on your finger can give you that extra boost of confidence you need to walk down the aisle!
• Optimize Your Look - An engagement ring can be the perfect accessory for your wedding gown, helping to make you look even more dazzling on your special day.
• Remind You of Your Commitment - Wearing your engagement ring on the wedding day can help remind you that you are making a sacred and lifelong commitment to your partner.

Cons Of Wearing Engagement Rings On Your Wedding Day

Now, let’s take a look at a few disadvantages of wearing your engagement ring on your wedding day:

• Can Cause Allergies - If you have allergic reactions to certain metals and alloys in your engagement ring, this could cause an unsightly rash.
• May Not Fit - Nerves and stress can make you swell, which may make it difficult to wear your engagement ring comfortably.
• Might Not Be Your Style - Some people don’t like wearing rings in general, so if wearing an engagement ring isn’t your thing, it might make you feel weird or uncomfortable to do it on your wedding day.

The Traditional Way Of Wearing Your Engagement Ring At Your Wedding

Historically, people have worn engagement rings on their wedding days. When you first begin the day, you are expected to wear your engagement ring on your left ring finger as you usually would (though it is still your choice). Once the wedding bands have been exchanged, your partner will place the wedding band on top of your engagement ring. After the ceremony (or whenever you’re ready), you can switch the positions so that the engagement ring sits on top of the wedding band. This is the traditional position once you are married, with the wedding band closer to the palm of your hand and the engagement ring closer to the tip of your finger.

Alternatives to Wearing Your Ring At Your Wedding

As previously mentioned, you don’t have to follow tradition if it doesn’t suit your personal tastes. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to wearing your engagement ring at your wedding, including:

• Lock Your Ring Away - Find a special box to keep your engagement ring safely tucked away nearby while you complete the wedding ceremony. If you have a special jewelry box or container for family heirlooms, you can make good use of it by locking your ring inside for a few hours.
• Keep It With Your Bridesmaid - Ask a bridesmaid to hang on to your engagement ring until you are ready to put it back on. As long as you trust your bridesmaid to keep it safe, you can rest easy knowing exactly wear your ring is located.
• Place It In the Flowers - You can place your engagement ring in the flowers you’re carrying, just don’t forget where you put it! Most brides keep the flowers from their wedding day, so there is a good chance that you will keep your ring with you, but it is still best to not take any chances and recover your ring as soon as possible.
• Wear It On a Different Finger - If you don’t want to wear it on your ring finger, you can always choose to put it on another finger. This also makes the process of putting on the wedding band a little easier.
• Leave It At Home - If you simply don’t want to worry about wearing or losing your engagement ring on your wedding day, you can always choose the easy option and just leave it at home.

We hope you found this guide on wearing your engagement ring on your wedding day both useful and informative! Are you in the market for diamond jewelry? Do you want beautiful, certified lab diamond engagement rings at competitive prices? If so, be sure to check out the luxurious products available at Liori Diamonds today!