Choosing a perfect engagement ring alone is a serious business, and to add more to the wedding-planning confusion, you also have to decide whether to get a wedding band. These challenges are very sweet, no doubt, but the pressure is real anyway. So, is there a different ring for engagement and marriage actually? Are both rings necessary or will one be enough?
The short answer is: it’s totally up to you. Modern wedding traditions do not set any special requirements, so it depends on your personal preferences and how you see your wedding ceremony (and what tokens of love you want to have).
To help you make up your mind, let’s look at all the important details and meanings of engagement rings and wedding bands and see how they fit into your unique love story. With our help, you’ll make the right decision about getting one impressive engagement ring or rocking two rings at once.
What Is an Engagement Ring?
An engagement ring is noticeable from afar, it usually features a bigger stone and is worn on the ring finger of the left hand. So once you spot it on someone’s hand, or rock it yourself, people can rightfully think that you are engaged. That's the goal of the proposal ring, after all: to proclaim that you are tying the knot anytime soon and it’s an established fact.
This ring is traditionally given as a part of the proposal moment, when you say the magic word ‘yes’ to your sweetheart and this ring is put on your finger. It proudly confirms your mutual decision to marry and the love and devotion you share. So if you wonder which goes first, engagement and wedding ring then here’s the answer: an engagement ring goes first if you have an official engagement and the ring. If you simply set the date of a wedding and plan to get wedding bands only, then this wedding band will be your one and only ring (so no need to arrange them in any particular order).
The emotional charge of an engagement ring is very strong, so its appearance needs to stand up to the task. An engagement ring is often created with a diamond in the center, elaborate and glamorous. Its sparkle and rich design inform the world about your cherished status as a betrothed, so it just cannot be ordinary or invisible.
The idea of making a diamond the star of the show belongs to De Beers jewelry house, when they launched a big campaign of promoting diamonds as the stones that last forever. This idea resonated perfectly with the ring symbolism (we all want our love and future marriage to last forever, after all), and everything clicked in place. A diamond has become a second name for engagement rings in ads and households, at least for some time.
Nowadays, the more relaxed attitudes towards ceremonials and formalities provide a breathing space for designers and couples, and you can buy or create proposal rings with any stone you prefer. You can choose one metal or mix metals and colors for the desired effect. The symbolism and tender meaning of the ring remain the same, whether it sports a diamond, a sapphire, an aquamarine, or a moss agate, for that matter.
What Is a Wedding Band?
The wedding band comes to light during the wedding ceremony, it signifies its completion, and that you are now married and belong together. Currently, there are not many engagement ring and wedding band rules out there, but one holds strong: it’s not acceptable to wear a wedding band before marriage.
Usually, two wedding bands are purchased simultaneously, for you and your loved one, and you exchange them during the ceremony. A band for him may be wider and a bit more massive than a band for her, but it’s a good idea to match designs or elements of design of these bands.
When you start looking for a suitable marriage rings design, you’ll discover that they are simple in nature, smooth bands of metal, or pave bands, or narrow eternity bands, but never too bold or massive. A wedding band tends to be simple and subdued, because it has to go well with an engagement ring and not to overpower it.
The key point is that a wedding band needs to accommodate an engagement ring with its big central element, so a wedding band is either slim and smooth to run beneath the stone or it curves around it, nesting the shape perfectly. You can have a nice curved or chevron band with small accent stones, and it will add to the grandeur and sparkle of the engagement ring. There are small wedding ring differences in designs and detailing that impact how the band looks solo on a finger, but the spotlight always belongs to a proposal ring and its stone.
Key Differences Between Engagement Rings and Wedding Bands
The confusion of engagement ring vs. wedding band may arise because both rings belong to the pre-wedding and wedding events and are usually presented together, in advertising and in wedding planning guides. After the wedding they become one, so to speak, and are worn as a single sign of marriage. They both signify love, connection, and promise of devotion and commitment in marriage. In these terms, it’s almost impossible to separate them. Some brides may even have them soldered together for convenience after the marriage, and it’s a pretty normal step.
Yet these rings enter your romantic journey at different stages. And for an engagement and wedding ring the same meaning of marriage attains some important differences and nuances along the way.
Purpose of rings
An engagement ring is meant for proposal or is given shortly after proposal. It marks an engagement and deserves a celebration of its own. This tradition appeared many centuries ago, and a ring given by a man to a woman was an official, church-established sign of his intention to marry. It signaled - and still signals - the launch of wedding preparations and the start of pre-wedding festivities.
In contrast, a wedding band is given strictly on the wedding day and is worn afterward. You both exchange these bands to finalize the marriage and to confirm that you’ve pronounced your marital vows. Timing.
An engagement ring is put on the hand on the proposal day, long before the actual wedding. It is a sign of commitment and exclusivity that precedes the ceremony. Usually, one ring is given by a person who proposes to their loved one.
A wedding band seals the deal, so to speak. The tradition is to have two bands, for two of you, and you exchange them in front of your friends and family.
So please don’t make the time of getting an engagement and wedding ring the same even if you think it will look nice in the videos and photoshoots. That's opposite to the ideas that each ring embodies.
Design variations
An engagement ring is traditionally the big and bold one, it stands out and outshines the wedding band. It features a big central stone and interesting details supporting the bling in the center.
A wedding band is much simpler, it is more symbolic than properly decorative. As the name suggests, it is a narrow band of precious metal, slinky and laid back, maybe with tiny stone accents. It should be comfortable enough to be worn together with the engagement ring and it should pick up and support the main design.
If you set gold engagement rings vs wedding bands (or silver engagement rings and bands), you’ll see the difference clearly. They are often presented in stunning pairs in jewelry displays and shops: you can see immediately how they go together and how effectively a wedding band underscores the beauty of an engagement piece.
Prices
Correspondingly, an engagement ring will be allocated a bigger portion of your jewelry budget, and a wedding band will cost more moderately. Why should engagement ring vs wedding ring price be different? Because a wedding band takes less metal and few, if any stones, and an engagement ring pulls out all stops and goes big. The price of the latter goes up, accordingly.
Cultural nuances.
The tradition of giving an engagement ring and then getting wedding bands is widespread, but still a lot depends on the established wedding customs of different places. In different countries, wedding and engagement rings may be worn on different hands. An engagement ring may be passed down the generations (especially if it’s an important jewelry piece). It is possible to use wedding bands only, and an engagement ring is a matter of choice.
Look back at your own family history and ask yourself how you would like to do it. That will be the best solution.
It’s interesting to note that the tradition of having two types of rings for the wedding ceremony came to be somewhere around the 11th or 12th century of the common era, so it is a time-honored way to do things.
It’s even more important to mention that till the beginning of the 20th century it was not common for men to wear their wedding rings. The tradition to have this precious band on their hand at all times arose when WWI broke out and soldiers had to go overseas and risk their lives. The wedding band reminded them of their loved ones and the hope and devotion of people waiting back home. Since then, wearing wedding bands has become a regular habit for men, and now it is seen as a part of ring traditions ‘that have always been there’, so natural and proper it feels.
Do You Need Both an Engagement Ring and a Wedding Band?
Well, like it or not, only you can decide whether you need one or both rings. There is no clear-cut answer that dictates to you what to do. And most probably, it’s a good thing.
Carefully consider the pros and cons of these ring combinations and see what resonates with you most.
Why you may want both rings:
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It is a time-tested traditional jewelry combination that clearly displays your marital status to anyone looking at your hand.
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A wedding ceremony may feel incomplete without a proper ring exchange.
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Two rings look more impressive than one.
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You can rock an engagement ring on an engagement finger and put a wedding band on a different finger, or stack it together with other rings from your jewelry box.
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A stack of multiple slim rings is all the rage now, so if you can add a wedding band to the mix, why not?
Why you may want a single ring, usually an engagement ring:
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Today, it’s totally normal to have one ring for an engagement and a wedding. It fulfills two roles nicely.
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It makes choosing engagement rings easier because you don’t have to think how you’ll stack them or match them.
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It’s more comfortable to wear one ring than two on a regular basis. It especially matters if you prefer an active lifestyle and risk losing or damaging your rings in your daily activities.
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Budget matters: buying one ring is cheaper than buying two. Plus, you can spend more on one ring and buy or create a true stunner that will shine like a star and attract the gaze of everyone around.
If you want to go with the trend and stack rings, you can totally use rings you already have, or get more rings for your collection a bit later. It spares you the trouble of matching the wedding band styles to your engagement ring, especially if it is a custom one.
Important point of etiquette
How and when to give a wedding band during the ceremony and how to wear it later?
There is a whole set of useful tips that newlyweds who once had the same concerns can share with you to help you navigate the matter. We just offer a brief summary of them to save you time and effort.
First of all, you can wear an engagement ring on a wedding day or leave it at home. Both styling ways are OK. You can also put in on a different finger as a decorative piece, leaving the ring finger blissfully bare for the occasion.
When the sweet moment comes, a groom slips a wedding band on your finger (and you put a ring on his finger). Your wedding band can go on top of an engagement ring or sit proudly on a bare finger. Again, it’s totally fine to go either way.
Finally, after the ceremony, you face the question: do you wear both engagement and wedding ring or not? What is the proper way to do it?
Again, only you decide what’s better for you, both options are legit. If you plan to wear both rings on the same finger, you put a wedding band on the finger first and then add an engagement ring on top. Traditionally, the wedding band has to sit closer to your heart. As the legend goes, the ring finger is chosen as one because it has an artery in it that connects directly to your heart. So a wedding band that finalizes the marriage goes closer to the palm and reminds your heart that your loved one is your dear spouse now.
Currently, it’s also possible to style these two rings in various manners, including wearing them on different hands, putting them on different fingers, or rocking the combination of two or a solo ring alternatively depending on your mood.
How to Choose the Right Rings for You
Now that you know about the ring symbolism and all the pros and cons of getting one (or two) rings, it’s time to actually start choosing the jewelry for your romantic journey.
What kinds of rings to choose? Choose the metals, styles, and stones that you prefer in your regular jewelry, because it will be the most comfortable and familiar combination out there for you.
Traditionally, engagement rings ask for diamonds, but if you don’t like this idea, you are free to choose any type of stone, and your ring will be unique and still fit for the occasion completely. You can have your ring made in gold or silver, in one gold color or in combination of colors and then wear it with gusto because it reflects your personality.
Gold and silver are durable enough and comfortable for daily wear, they only need a bit of maintenance now and then.
Styles need to reflect the purpose of both rings - to be worn permanently day after day. These rings should be able to accommodate whatever hobbies or activities you have, from sports and gardening to partying and sunbathing. With this point in mind, choose an engagement ring with a central stone firmly secured in place.
A wedding band has to fit under or around the big stone to ensure comfortable smooth wear. So if an engagement ring features a stone that protrudes far on each side of its band, consider a wedding band that will curve around the stone. If this curve has a sharp tip in the middle, it’s called a chevron band. If the curvature is smoothly running in a semi-circle, it’s called a curved band. If you pick a wedding band with pave stones, ask that the stones are also fixed in place securely. These precautions guarantee that you will wear your rings with pleasure and without worries or recurrent visits to a jeweler for repair works.
We often get a question: should engagement ring and wedding band be the same size or not? In terms of ring size - the finger circumference - of course, they should. In terms of design and scale - no, they should not. These rings have differences in meaning and it could be conspicuously reflected in their look.
Now let’s talk about the budget. It is what you want and can allocate. The larger part of the sum will go to an engagement ring, and the smaller portion will pay for a wedding band. Larger stones and more decorative elements will mean a higher price, while minimalist jewelry will cost more affordably. If you replace diamonds in a model you like with moissanites or zirconia, the price will go down significantly while preserving the glamorous and luxurious look.
The best friendly tip we can give you as weathered jewelers is this: collaborate with a trusted jeweler from the start and have both rings matched and adjusted while they are still in the shop. A professional from our jewelry company will make sure they fit together snugly and are comfortable when worn together. Moreover, with an experienced jeweler here at YourAsteria, you can create a custom ring or rings and get the amazing set that no one else will have. You can design an engagement ring of your dreams, literally, and a matching wedding band, and love the duo forever.
Conclusion: Making Your Ring Choice with Confidence
We hope we supplied answers to all questions that you might have had, and you’ll make the decision knowing what you do and why. And it means that you’ll make an excellent choice. Both traditions - to get one or two rings - are fully viable and have their advantages. So it’s your unique view of pre-wedding and wedding rituals and commitments that matters most in the choosing process.
An experienced jeweler will tell you just this - follow your heart and you’ll arrive at a perfect decision, and our team at YourAsteria will help you bring it to reality. Don’t postpone this important choice any longer and find the right jewelry pieces for the engagement and wedding of your dreams!
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