Do you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day?

18th August 2023

As with most aspects of a wedding, there are plenty of traditions that revolve around the rings – including the order in which your wedding and engagement rings should be worn. But whether you’re smashing traditions or sticking to the norm, one question comes to the lips of many a bride – “Do I wear my engagement ring on my wedding day?”

The answer: you certainly can, but you don’t have to. Read on to learn more about what to do with your engagement ring during your wedding day.

Which order do you wear your wedding and engagement rings?

While rings can be worn in any way you see fit, there is a tradition of keeping your wedding and engagement rings in a specific order. Tradition suggests that your wedding ring goes on the ring finger on your left-hand ring first. This is to keep it, and therefore your partner, closer to your heart.

The left-hand ring finger was chosen originally because the ancient Egyptians (the original ring-givers to show dedication and commitment) believed that this finger had a vein that ran straight to the heart, thus connecting two partners directly via their rings. Sadly this romantic vein doesn’t actually exist but this belief still got passed on and is the reason why many western cultures still wear rings on this finger.

But, because the wedding band goes on the finger first, many brides decide to not wear their engagement ring on their left hand during their wedding day to help make room for their new wedding band instead. So where could you put it instead? Here are some alternative options.



Wear it on your right hand

The tradition for brides and one of the options that requires the least amount of forethought is to simply put your engagement ring on another finger during your wedding. Once you’ve said the ‘I dos’ and the wedding band is on your finger, you can swap it back and enjoy the look of your new bridal set.

You can choose any finger you like for this. Tradition dictates that it's the ring finger on your right hand but as long as the ring fits well enough that it won’t fall off, you can wear it on any finger!


Use a ring box

Another suggestion is to store your engagement ring in a ring box until after the ceremony. If you'd prefer not to wear your engagement ring at all on the big day, there's no reason not to keep it stored with your belongings or in the bridal suite throughout the celebration.


Have someone hold your engagement ring

If you don't want to wear the ring, put someone in charge of looking after it. Ask a trusted bridesmaid or family member to be the keeper of the ring until after the ceremony. Once your new wedding band has been slipped on your finger, they can return it and you’ll have both rings right there ready for your wedding photos.


Leave it at home

Sometimes, simply leaving your ring at home is the best option. You’ll know it’s safe and sound and you won’t have to worry about losing it over the day. Make sure you leave it in a safe (but memorable) place or keep it secure in a safe for the ultimate peace of mind. Doing this also lets your new wedding band take the centre spot in photos.


Don’t do anything with it

This is an option that doesn’t really follow tradition, but might be the perfect option for you; don’t do anything with it. There’s nothing to say that you have to remove your engagement ring at all and most wedding bands will still easily slip onto your finger, especially if it’s a matching stacking bridal set. You can always switch them around before pictures or the reception.

Not found your engagement ring yet? Discover your ideal designs on our engagement ring inspiration page and find the perfect engagement ringfrom our stunning collection. And for the perfect wedding band to match your gorgeous engagement ring, browse our range of wedding rings.

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