Wedding Ring Traditions
Traditionally used to symbolise eternity and represent an ever-lasting love, wedding rings first appeared in Ancient Egypt, before making their way across the Mediterranean Sea to Greece and the Roman Empire. Slowly but surely, the tradition and symbolism gained favour with Christendom and eventually became part of the religious marital service.Wedding rings are commonly worn on the fourth finger or “ring finger" on the left hand. This is because it was thought that a vein led directly from the finger to the heart. The vein subsequently received the Latin name 'Vena Amoris'.
In Eastern Europe, it is common practice for both men and women to wear their rings on their right hand, while in Latin America, some countries bypass the engagement ring altogether, and simply exchange wedding bands. The bands are worn on the right hand until the day of the ceremony, where the couple symbolically switch the rings to their left hand.
Choosing the Right Wedding Ring for You
When picking out your bands, there's a variety of styles, metals and sizes you can choose from. Platinum, gold, white-gold and silver are generally the top options when it comes to wedding band materials. Platinum is a popular choice because of its long-term durability, however in recent years white gold has seen a resurgence in demand.
When picking out your ring, it's important to pick the right width and style to compliment your fingers and hands. If you have slender fingers, thick bands work well to widen the look of your finger, whereas if you have short fingers, narrow-width bands create the illusion of length.
The Love Gold ring by Very Ireland is the perfect option for anyone who wants a simply designed wedding band. The elegant 3mm ring is 9 carat gold and has a D-shaped profile. It can also be inscribed with a personal inscription of up to 20 characters - meaning you'll never forget an anniversary again. For men, there's lots of great options available, particularly in Littlewood's Love Silver Collection. Here grooms-to-be can find a style and shape to suit their tastes as well as their wallet.
