Settle This Disagreement About Wedding Jewelry?

Question

My fiance and I have been disagreeing about what jewelry is associated with an engagement and a wedding. The way I understood it, there was the engagement ring, and a set of two wedding rings, called wedding bands, one for the bride and one for the groom. The engagement ring and the brides wedding ring can be bought as a set and made to fit together, although this is not necessary. My fiance insists that there is first the engagement ring, and then the wedding band, which is sold as a set with the 2 wedding rings, and that the wedding band and the wedding ring are made to fit together on the woman's hand, seperate from the engagement ring. Please explain to us what is correct, and, if possible, give a credible website with the information listed so that whoever is wrong can clearly see what is correct. Thanks.

Answer 1

The wedding ring and band are interchangeable terms. It is a ring because it goes around the finger, it is a band style ring because it has no stone. Therefore it is common to purchase 2 wedding rings/bands one for the husband and one the wife. The wife then wears hers with her engagement ring. This makes a total of 3 rings, 2 for the wife, 1 for the husband. The woman might have her wedding ring(band) made to fit with the engagement ring. Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia.

"One interpretation states that the woman wears the wedding ring below the engagement ring, thus making it closer to the heart. Another practice holds that the woman should wear the wedding ring above the engagement ring, thus sealing the atmosphere of the engagement into the marriage. Still others prefer that the wedding ring should be worn alone. Further, modern ring sets in the United States are often marketed as a three-piece set, including the man's wedding band, the woman's engagement ring, and a slender band that is mounted to the engagement ring before the wedding, converting it into a single, permanent wedding ring"

Answer 2

Tradition dictates that the man gives the woman an engagement ring.
But the woman can give the man one if so desired, or a gift of say a watch or something - but this is optional.
When you get married you then have a wedding ring, or band, it can be just the bride or both of you.

I think where the confusion is setting in is that in Europe some people wear the wedding band on the left and others on the right hand, so to ensure that people know they are married they then wear a ring on both wedding fingers.
Some countries also have the custom that you wear an engagement ring on one hand and a wedding band on the other.

Its very confusing, my only advice is do what feels right for both of you.

Answer 3

PHEW!!! Sounds like this is being made into a very difficult situation...more than is needed.

First you have the engagement ring...most if the time it is a diamond solitare on a band, but there are MANY variations and styles.

Next you have the wedding band (same as the wedding ring)...this can be made to fit around the engagement ring or be independant of it...again, various styles.

Then you have the man's wedding band. This can be a number of different things...it is now a trend for the guy's ring to have diamond chips around it, so that he isn't left out and gets some bling too.

The two bands can be made to match (you'll find examples in every bridal magazine) and the results are fantastic most of the time. Take a look at www.bluenile.com for more examples and their interactive site on buying diamonds...

Answer 4

I don't know about websites, but I do know about wedding rings vs. engagement ring. YOU are right that a woman is given an engagement ring obviously when the man asks her to marry him. Before the wedding, two more rings need to be purchased. Your fiance is correct that you can buy a set of two wedding rings, usually they match, one band for the woman and one for the man. During the ceremony, the woman does not wear any rings - leave the engagement ring at home or wait to put it on during the reception. When prompted by the minister, the man puts the wedding BAND on his bride and she puts a wedding band on him. After that, the man wears only his band but the woman wears first the band, and then the engagement ring, on the same hand. The band goes first (I've seen some women put the engagement ring on first then the band, that's incorrect) because it's supposed to be closets to the heart. I do know a good website after all, wikapedia.com is a great source of information. I like it because it tells all about how traditions began. Check it out. Good luck.

Answer 5

Actually, I believe both scenarios are correct. It depends on what you want. You don't need to go to an encyclopedia you need to go to a good jewlery store. They do sell 3 ring sets...a solitare, with a ring guard (usually with smaller stones) and a matching wedding band for the groom. The solitare usually serves as the engagement ring and the ring guard is added during wedding ceremony to complet the set.
They also sell matching wedding bands. one for the bride one for the groom.
Some people don't give engagement rings and the use the solitare and ring guard at the time of the service.
Some people have an engagement ring that has nothing to do with the ring that is given at marriage...it's a totally different ring.
Go see a jeweler and figure out what you want...it will dictate what kind of rings you buy.

Answer 6

Shaneco.com-- we bought all three of our rings from here (well the store). You can see that there are sets for the bride, or sets/matching bands for the bride and groom.

There are different ways about this. You can buy sets A) the brides engagement ring & wedding band B) the brides engagement ring & wedding band, and a matching wedding band for the groom. I also know some women that didn't want two rings so their egagement ring & wedding band were one single ring.

Personally, my husband bought my engagement ring prior to us ever looking at bands. When we got close to the wedding and were looking for bands, I couldn't find one to fit with my engagement ring. It is a chapel setting and sort of flares- so most bands either didn't look right or didn't fit well. The clerk told me that maybe my ring was meant to be worn alone (IE as the engagment & the wedding band). That wasn't going to fly with me, but I ended up finding a contoured band that fits great with my unique engagment setting.

In the end, my husband and I ended up with three rings. My engagement, my wedding band , and his weding band. Our bands don't match and my band wasn't part of a set.

There are lots of ways you could do this. Congrats on your engagement!

Answer 7

You are both right and both wrong, go to a jeweler and take a look, not everyone has an engagement ring, some people wear a simple band, and that's all, and you didn't even touch on the anniversary bands. And not all men wear a ring. But I never heard of a wedding ring and band separate from the engagement ring. Go to a few jewelry stores and look.

Answer 8

They sell the band and engagement ring as sets. If you want to find a band for your husband that matches your set, ask the jeweler.
The other option is to buy an engagement ring and then buy matching wedding bands, this was the practice up until recent years...When the jeweler started making engagement rings that fit into bands, that when it changed. So i guess you both are right.

Answer 9

You are given an engagement ring when you get engaged. At the wedding, you are given an additional wedding band which, if you choose, can be part of a set or made to fit together. That's it. The groom gets a band as well.

You can't even buy a three ring set! Who are you marrying, Sauron?

Answer 10

Well I'm not married but my mom is and she was first given the engagement ring and then at the wedding received the wedding band. After being married for a little while she then received the wedding band set (engagement and band) I do believe that's how it works But like I said I not married.