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Engagement Rings & Wedding Rings
The Meaning Behind Engagement Rings & Wedding
Rings
The history of engagement rings goes back to around
1477. The first recorded event involving an engagement
ring took place at this time when Archduke Maximillian
of Hamburg gave his bride-to-be a “betrothal ring”,
which just so happened to consist of diamonds. The
Europeans looked upon the new tradition as a status
symbol displaying wealth and power. The Romans were said
to have worn “betrothal rings” on their left hand just
as we do today. They were believed to have done this
with their engagement rings because they thought this
finger contained a vein that led strait to the heart.
Most of the western world feels a bit differently about
engagement rings today. Engagement rings are seen as a
symbol of love and a promise of commitment. In the past
engagement rings varied in size, shape, and style, but
almost always contained diamonds. Today, with the modern
bride and groom at the wheel, rings are becoming more
non-traditional.
Engagement rings of today are no longer socially
required to contain the tradition stone of love, the
diamond. Rings with different stones are being presented
with even the most expensive rings containing colored
jewels. Men are catering to what females want, making
their purchases more personalized. Engagement rings are
reflecting more about the bride and her preferences than
they are reflecting history and tradition. This being
said, some grooms still feel the traditional diamond
solitaire engagement ring is the best option and their
brides-to-be agree.
Wedding rings also have a historical past with links all
the way back to the caveman days. Wedding rings are
traditional symbols of marriage. They are used in almost
every type of wedding ceremony you can imagine. Wedding
rings have changed a bit over time, however the
traditional wedding band is still the most popular
option. The unending circular shape of the wedding band
has come to represent the feelings a couple may feel for
each other. The band is complete, without breaks, which
is how most people want to view their marriage.
The wedding ring usually has a large part in the wedding
ceremony as well. The officiator may talk for several
minutes about the symbolism of the wedding rings. This
is but one example of how society values the wedding
rings in a traditional wedding and marriage. Couples
today may forgo the engagement ring, as many do not see
it as a necessary part of a wedding. Young couples, who
are just starting out, often do not have money for an
engagement ring. However, there are very few that forgo
a wedding ring for the ceremony. The wedding ring is a
symbol of love and commitment and is a constant reminder
of those feelings throughout the marriage.
With jewelers marketing engagement rings and wedding
rings strongly over the past twenty years, it is no
surprise that the ring is one of the biggest focuses of
the engagement and wedding process. One of the first
demands from the bride-to-be’s friends is to see the
engagement ring. Although many look at the engagement
and wedding ring as a status symbol, it is not meant to
be.
The engagement ring and wedding ring are meant to be a
symbol not of wealth, but of love and everlasting
commitment. So, whether you are a woman who is just
dreaming of her possible engagement and wedding or a man
who is trying to choose the perfect engagement ring,
keep in mind what really matters. It is the steps in
one’s life that the rings represent and the promises for
the future.
Related Articles
Interesting & Unusual Engagement Rings
These unusual engagement rings are not the best
option for the traditional woman who wants the fairy
tale wedding. They are more fitting for the artist, the
musician, or the realist who simply loves being
different.
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