What Do People Exchange Wedding Rings For?

A wedding ring or wedding band is usually a small finger ring that symbolizes that its holder is already married. It is normally made of silver or some other precious metal, and usually is forged on a metal disc. The wedding ring may be one with a gemstone in it, or may just be a plain band with a plain gold or silver band. Wedding rings are usually worn by the man in the relationship, while the woman's wedding ring is usually given to her on the day of the wedding. Either way, the wedding ring goes with the wedding outfit. However, some couples decide not to wear a wedding ring, and there are many reasons why these couples choose to do so.

One of the reasons why some couples don't wear wedding rings is tradition. In the olden days, the wedding ring wasn't introduced until the fourth century, four hundred years after Christ. This means that most of the people had never seen a wedding ring before, so there was no tradition at all. At first, the idea of giving and receiving wedding rings as an exchange was purely symbolic. After some time, maybe when money was more important than tradition, exchanging rings became a more practical concept and one which could actually mean something.

For instance, in ancient times, it was really quite common for a man to give a ring to his wife on the day of their wedding, as a symbol of their eternal love and commitment. Of course, today most men give nothing but diamond rings, and this is because they are so precious and signify so much. In fact, diamonds are considered to be more valuable than gold, and a diamond engagement ring alone is worth a fortune! However, it's not just money that motivates men to give diamonds as wedding rings. The cut, shape, colour and clarity of the diamonds in a ring speak for cincin nikah.

Another reason, which has helped to transform the traditional wedding ring into a contemporary trend is simply due to our ever-changing perceptions of what is beautiful. It's no longer considered unmanly or crass to wear a wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. In the past couple of decades we have watched celebrities and fashionistas wear more elaborate rings on the big finger of their left hand, which, in itself, has become a style statement. Many women wear their wedding rings with thick gold bands, while others prefer to wear their engagement rings on the thinner, more delicate fingers. Some women even wear their engagement rings on their right hand if they cannot get their wedding rings to sit properly on their left hand!

When it comes to style, the traditional wedding ring has definitely gone out of fashion. Nowadays, it is worn alone, sometimes with a simple diamond, sometimes with a coloured stone, and sometimes with both. There are many examples of this nowadays, from the elegant filigree style which can be seen on some modern jewellers' rings, to the more simplistic yet just as stunning Celtic style which is frequently seen in wedding ceremonies all around the world. Today, the wedding ring is almost as much a part of the overall wedding outfit as the wedding dress itself.

Another reason, which is credited for the contemporary wedding ring is the fact that more people wear it on their non-dominant hand. In the past it was usual for people to wear their wedding ring on their dominant or 'preferring' finger: either their left or right. However, recent times have seen a huge rise in the number of people who are wearing their wedding ring on their non-dominant finger. This is partly due to the ever increasing popularity of inter-racial weddings and the need for jewellery which does not come in stereotypical forms but rather pieces that convey different meanings and ideals.

This is also partly due to the ever growing popularity of tattoos. People are starting to feel free to express themselves in more outlandish and cutting-edge ways than they did before. As a result, many brides and grooms are wearing more outrageous and bizarre wedding bands such as animal shaped ones, Celtic crosses, Gothic crosses etc. However, even more brides and grooms are wearing traditional styles of wedding ring which is still very popular.

Brides exchange rings during pre-wedding preparation as well as immediately after the wedding ceremony. The exchange of this ring symbolizes a commitment between the two partners to their marriage. It is recommended that this exchange should be done in an elegant and formal setting such as a church or a reception hall. This is because the ring must be looked at closely to ensure that no creases have been made, and that it is perfectly aligned. Many a time, couples exchange their wedding rings during rehearsal dinner or the wedding shower if they are related. This is done so that the bride and groom will be able to identify each other's rings at their wedding.