Does the order in which you wear your Wedding Band and Engagement Ring on your Wedding Ring Finger really matter? Are there any real reasons why the Wedding Rings have a
particular stacking order to them? Let's find out...
It's a really crazy thing, because the order of the Wedding Rings doesn't make any sense at all... But we'll get to this in a minute. First, we'll get the answer: The Correct Order that the Rings go on your Finger is this...
The Wedding Ring goes on the Ring Finger FIRST!
Wedding Ring First! Then the Engagement Ring second. But the whole order of things doesn't hold water. Why? Because of what happens at the alter! That's right! The alter. Let me explain. You wear an Engagement Ring the entire time you're engaged. It could be days, it could be years. You wear it by itself on the Wedding Ring Finger. (Which is the 4th finger on the Left hand!) Then comes the Wedding Day! Your Wedding Ring is placed on your Ring Finger during the Ceremony at the Alter. But there's a problem to doing this...
Because the Engagement Ring is already there! This adds confusion. Do you remove the Engagement Ring, put the Wedding Ring on, then replace the Engagement Ring with hundreds of people watching? Lots of couples don't know. Or, do you slip the Wedding Band on, leaving the Engagement Ring where it's at, and have her switch their order later, after the Wedding?
I'll tell you the best two things to do, so you don't make the transition any more confusing than it really is! Here are your choices:
1) Have her start the Wedding without Rings on her finger, and slip them both on at the same time during the Ceremony. Or...
2) Like I already said, just slide the Wedding Ring on behind the Engagement Ring and have her swap their places later.
You may have problems with the latter if the Wedding Ring is an Insert. (An Insert or Jacket, is where the Engagement Ring slips inside of two Rings... That's why they call it an "Insert!") Those will have to be done in advance!
If the Rings don't fit well, or easy. If they interlock or hook, or are just soldered together, then by all means, have the two Rings already together, then put the two Rings on at the same time during the Wedding. If the Wedding Band is just a channel set Diamond Band, or a plain Gold Band, then it's fine to have her wear her Engagement Ring during the Ceremony and slip the Band on at the Alter. It all depends on the style of Rings you have. They will either fit flush and easy, or they'll be difficult and a pain to get right. If it's a pain, do it ahead of time!
What's interesting about this whole tradition of putting a Wedding Ring on? Read on...
