In many Western countries, the tradition of wearing an engagement ring on the fourth finger on the left hand, (the left ring finger on the ring finger guide below), can be traced back to the Ancient Romans. They believed this finger had a vein that ran directly to the heart, the Vena Amoris, meaning 'vein of love'.
Most countries prefer to wear the engagement ring on the left hand, but some others choose to wear on right. Most people prefer to consider all aspects of wearing the engagement ring because it is your most special and romantic jewelry.
Which Hand Does the Ring Go on When Proposing? When making the proposal, it is customary to place the ring on the same finger that she is going to wear, namely the fourth finger of the left hand.
Place the engagement ring on her finger – the PERFECT one you chose out of ALL the other engagement rings – and tell her that she is the most special person in the world to you. It all depends on what's special to you and your partner.
Your engagement ring goes on your left hand ring finger, the same as the wedding ring. For that reason, on your wedding day you'll have a couple of choices. Lots of people stack their wedding and engagement rings and wear both of them on the left hand ring finger.
The Ancient Romans believed that the fourth finger on the left hand had a vein that ran directly to the heart, the Vena Amoris, meaning 'vein of love'. Wearing your engagement ring on the left hand is not a global tradition. In Russia, Germany, Norway and India, engagement rings are worn on the right hand.
Rings worn on the right hand
Couples in Belgium, Russia, Poland and a few other eastern European countries prefer to wear their engagement and wedding rings on their right hands. Their tradition began years ago when the Romans ruled the world and believed that the left hand represented all that was untrustworthy.
The most traditional way to go about this would be the bride pays for the groom's wedding ring plus a gift and the groom pays for the engagement ring and matching wedding band for the bride.
A wedding band isn't given to her when you propose. You give her the engagement ring when you propose and you give her the wedding ring or band at your marriage ceremony. A wedding ring is a ring that may be tapered or otherwise designed so it is not the same thickness all the way around.
Traditionally, the man will buy his partner their engagement ring ahead of the proposal. Sometimes, the partner will choose their ring after the proposal.
When you decide to propose, your left knee should be on the ground, while the right should be up. Meanwhile, the ring box should be in your left hand and must be opened with your right hand. Some men bend both their knees while proposing, but we recommend you stay away from that.
Countries That Wear The Wedding Ring On The Right Hand
Several countries follow the right-hand wedding rule, including: Latvia, Hungary, Greece, Serbia, Russia, Belgium, Portugal, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Austria, Poland, Spain, Denmark, Cuba, Norway, Peru, Colombia, Jordan, and Venezuela.
A promise ring, sometimes known as a pre-engagement ring, is given in a relationship to signify commitment. Whilst for many young couples a promise ring means a vow of an engagement ring to come, others may simply use it to show their loyalty and devotion to their partner.
In general it's perfectly safe to wear your engagement ring every day. However, if you are doing any kind of rough work such as cleaning or gardening, sports or the gym. It's not advised to wear your rings in bed as the diamonds may loosen or catch on bedclothes and remove before showering.
After the wedding ceremony the engagement ring can be changed to the ring finger on the right hand and can then worn in front of the wedding ring. Of course, there are no rules for wearing engagement rings. Whatever hand the woman prefers to wear the engagement ring – as a symbol of love it is valid on both hands!
General Rule: You should spend at least 2 months salary on the engagement ring. If, for example, you are making $60,000 per year, you should spend $10,000 on the engagement ring.
While there isn't a steadfast formula to follow when picking the best time to buy an engagement ring, here's the bottom line: Aim to buy a pre-designed ring at least one month before your intended proposal date, while two months minimum should be allotted for custom diamond jewelry.
While $6,000 is the national average cost of a ring, the spend per couple varies. Our study found that roughly one-third of all respondents are spending between $1,000 to $4,000 on their engagement ring. In fact, 8% of ring shoppers are spending under $1,000.
How to Wear Your Engagement and Wedding Rings. Traditionally, you wear your engagement ring and wedding ring together on the fourth finger of your left hand. As far as how to stack them, tradition holds that you'll wear the wedding band inside the engagement ring so that it's closer to your heart (aww).
The person who pays for the honeymoon traditionally is the groom (or groom's family), since the bride's family traditionally pays for the wedding.
Dresses and Suits
The bride and groom are responsible for paying for what they will wear on the wedding day. Oftentimes the bride's mom will help pay for her dress and accessories. The groom should handle any costs associated with their suit.
In many cultures, the right ring finger symbolizes love and trust. In countries including Germany, Russia and India, wedding and engagement rings are worn on the right ring finger. This finger can also convey self-love and is often used for rings that celebrate a milestone or accomplishment.
Can I Wear My Engagement Ring to Bed? Put simply—no, you shouldn't wear your engagement ring to bed. Sleeping with your ring on can put pressure on the band and bend the shank and prongs out of shape. Your ring may also catch on your blankets, which can damage the prongs and pull out diamonds.
While many couples believe you should always wear your ring, it really is up to personal preference, and you won't know how your partner feels about it until you ask.