Typically the first thing you hear when you tell someone you’re getting married is, “Let me see the ring!”
But what if you’re iffy on wearing either an engagement or wedding ring?
In many Western cultures, like ours, both men and women wear engagement and/or wedding rings on the fourth finger of their left hand. This originated from the Egyptian belief that this finger has a vein running directly to the heart, according to brides.com. (This belief is false, by the way. All of your fingers have veins running to the heart.)
And while a ring may seem like a big deal, especially when you’re engaged, consider that you don’t need one to get legally married.
Many people choose not to wear engagement or weddings rings for reasons including:
- Not liking jewelry
- Working in a hazardous profession
- Playing a sport
- Privacy
- Health concerns
- Other beliefs or choices
And instead of exchanging rings during the wedding ceremony, many couples instead choose to exchange other jewelry or tokens of love, including letters or artwork.
Still like the ring idea but not that into jewelry or don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? During the wedding ceremony, some couples tie string around each other’s fingers to symbolize commitment and literally tie the knot! Others choose to get tattoos either on their ring finger or elsewhere on their body. And still others buy rings from places like Amazon or Etsy – Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis famously bought theirs for $90 and $100 on the online marketplace, respectively.
Bottom line: You don’t need to wear or exchange rings to get married. Consider the alternatives we’ve presented, or get creative and come up with something on your own.
And to learn more about how brides are “bucking tradition,” read our blogs on wedding cakes, the bouquet toss, the garter toss and whether white is always right.
