Photo Credit: One Fab Day

Wedding Traditions Explained: Engagement Ring & Wedding Ring

Have you ever wondered why we have the traditions of two rings, both an engagement ring and a wedding ring? These traditions that we still follow today can be dated all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans. Parts of these traditions have evolved over the time, but their original concepts still hold true today.

Photo Credit: White Sapphire Engagement Rings

The first engagement ring dates back to 1477 when Archduke Maximilian of Austria gave his fiancé, Mary of Burgundy, an engagement ring. The ring was made out of flat diamonds shaped into an “M.” Since most people wear a wedding band on the fourth finger of their left hand, it only seemed fitting to also wear an engagement ring on this finger as well.

Photo Credit: Status Chicago

Wedding bands stemmed from the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, who would give their brides a ring to wear on their finger to signify their marriage contract. A circle shape was chosen for the ring, because it had no beginning and no end, a symbol of eternity. Now why do we wear a wedding ring on the fourth finger of our left hand? This tradition can also be traced back to the ancient Egyptians. They believed that a vein in this finger connected it directly to the heart.

Photo Credit: Mazel Moments

Diamonds became the traditional gem of engagement and wedding rings, because they are the hardest natural stone. This represented strength in a marriage. As with many wedding traditions, it was also believed that diamonds warded off evil spirits. Men didn’t begin wearing wedding rings until Greece started the tradition in the early 1300s. America didn’t adopt the dual ring tradition until World War II. During this time many men had to leave their wives behind for war and wanted to bring a reminder of their wife along with them.

Looking for more wedding history? Take a look at our other blog posts here.