How To Wear Engagement And Wedding Band

The short answer to “how should a woman wear her wedding rings?” is – how she pleases. There are no strict rules in the U.S., although there’s a specific traditional way.

Depending on the woman’s preferences, the symbolism she places on each ring, and practical considerations, she can refrain from the tradition and choose a different way.

The most popular ways to wear the engagement and wedding ring together are stacked on the same finger, on the same hand but different fingers, or on different hands.

Wedding Band, Then Engagement Ring

The traditional way to wear an engagement ring and wedding band together is to put on the wedding band first and stack the engagement ring on top of it.

If you look at pictures of bridal ring sets online, you will notice that most images display rings in this specific order.

This may seem counterintuitive because many women wear their engagement ring to the wedding ceremony, so the groom has to put the wedding band on top.

However, this tradition has a straightforward yet meaningful explanation – the wedding ring should be located closer to the bride’s heart.

If you want to stick with the tradition, remove your engagement ring before the ceremony or move it to the right hand. After the wedding, you can stack it on top of the wedding band.

This advice will help avoid awkwardly fumbling with your engagement ring during the ceremony. You may ask the ring bearer to also bring your engagement ring if you don’t want to spend a single day without it.

Another point in favor of wearing your rings in this order is visual appeal. Most ring designs simply look better when stacked this way.

If you also plan to wear an eternity anniversary band on the same finger, a set with a large solitaire engagement ring in the middle may look more balanced than if the ring was on the bottom.

Engagement Ring, Then Wedding Band

Although wearing the wedding band closer to your heart is a tradition, it isn’t set in stone. Many women wear the engagement ring first and the wedding band on the top.

It makes logical sense because that’s the order you’ve received your rings. The engagement ring represents the groom’s promise to the bride and carries a deep significance for many women, so why move it?

The wedding band, in turn, represents that the groom has fulfilled his promise. Wearing your rings in this order reflects the actual timeline of your relationship story.

The next step is to stack anniversary rings on top of your engagement and wedding bands. Another reason you may want to wear your rings in an unconventional order is the band size or design.

If your engagement ring feels a bit loose (after all, your partner has likely chosen it as a surprise, and guessing the size isn’t always easy), the wedding band can secure it in place.

If you have an engagement ring with a pear-cut or diamond, the wedding band placement may depend on the gem direction.

The wedding band will likely look better on the top if you wear the diamond with the sharp end towards the fingertip.

On the other hand, if you turn the sharp end towards your wrist, the wedding band will look better on the bottom. Such a placement visually balances the ring set.

Sometimes, it comes down solely to the design. You can try different engagement and wedding ring placement options if you aren’t sure which will look the best.

If you decide to wear your rings this way, you don’t have to take your engagement ring off before the ceremony or move it to a different finger.

On Different Hands

Although this isn’t a traditional way to wear engagement and wedding rings, some women wear them on different hands.

Typically, the wedding band is on the left hand as put during the ceremony and the engagement ring is on the right hand.

This option is excellent for women with shorter fingers concerned about the rings taking too much place. It’s also a solution if your engagement ring or wedding band is very wide or elaborate, and two rings seem too much.

Sometimes, the engagement ring and wedding band don’t match. Wearing them on different hands can help to conceal the discrepancy.

Wearing your rings this way may also feel natural if you’re moved the engagement ring to the right hand before the ceremony.

However, some women wear rings vice versa – the engagement ring on the left hand and the wedding band on the right.

Be careful about the cultural connotations. Wearing the wedding band on the right hand is customary in many countries. But in the U.S., it may indicate that a woman is a widow.

On the Same Hand, But Different Fingers

Sometimes, wearing two rings on the same finger feels uncomfortable, but having one on each doesn’t feel right either.

In this case, the bride can wear her wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand and engagement ring on any other, usually the middle or index finger – or vice versa.

It’s an excellent option for women who admire jewelry and want to reserve the right hand for cocktail rings or bracelets.

Note that the engagement and wedding rings should be somewhat matching, even if you wear them on different fingers because they are still located close to each other.

It’s also a simple solution for women whose engagement ring or wedding band is too big for the fourth finger. The middle finger is typically slightly larger, so changing the ring placement can prevent you from losing it.

Wear Both On a Chain

One of the most creative ways to wear a wedding and engagement ring together is to hang them on a chain. This option is perfect for brides worried about losing their rings.

Even if you plan to wear the rings the traditional way daily, consider getting a nice gold chain to use when you need to be hands-free.

Alternatively, you may only wear one of the rings on a chain. It’s a simple solution if your rings don’t match or you don’t want to steal attention from your exquisite engagement ring.

Furthermore, you can switch the rings depending on the occasion and your outfit without having to leave the second one at home.

In Other Cultures

Wedding traditions differ depending on the cultural and religious background of newlyweds. Sometimes, the same customs carry entirely opposite meanings in different countries. The traditional way to wear wedding rings also varies.

For example, in the U.S., the wedding ring on the right hand has historically been worn by windows (although nowadays, most people are free from stereotypes). Meanwhile, in Orthodox Christianity, a wedding ring on the right hand is a norm.

Before the wedding ceremony, the bride moves her engagement ring to the fourth finger of the left hand. If she decides to wear both rings after the wedding, she wears them on different hands.

In Jewish tradition, the wedding ring is placed on the index finger of the right hand during the wedding ceremony.

The bride is free to choose where to wear her engagement ring, and many choose to wear it on the fourth finger of the left hand, following the western tradition, or on the same finger as the wedding band.

A woman only has one ring in Islam because dating before marriage is considered haram. No engagement ring, no problem!

In Brazil, both the bride and the groom wear engagement rings, traditionally on the fourth fingers of the right hand. After saying their vows, they switch the rings from the right to the left hand.

Some Brazilian couples buy another ring pair and wear their engagement and wedding rings on different hands.

Brides in Germany and Netherlands also prefer to wear the engagement and wedding rings on different hands, but the opposite to Brazilians – the engagement ring on the left hand and the wedding band on the right.

In most European countries, the bride is free to choose how to wear the engagement and wedding rings together. The traditional way is the same as in the U.S., but no one frowns upon women who break the rules.

Modern Chinese brides expect at least a one-carat diamond engagement ring. However, historically, the Chinese proposal didn’t involve an engagement ring, so there are no set rules regarding its placement.

Meanwhile, the rules regarding wedding band placement are strict. The bride wears hers on the fourth finger of the right hand and the groom on the fourth finger of the left hand.

Thus, Chinese women can wear the engagement ring on any finger, but the wedding band only on the ring finger of the right hand.

Japanese women always wear the wedding and engagement ring on the left hand, but the finger placement may differ.