Wedding Ring History

Exchanging wedding rings is a common custom nowadays, but how did it start?

Well, it appears from early hieroglyphics to have begun with the ancient Egyptians. Wedding rings made of hemp was a popular choice of wedding ring. Greek and Roman men gave a "wedding ring" to their future father-in-law, a bit like buying a bride! Early Roman brides only wore their gold wedding ring in public - a gold wedding ring being far too precious to wear on a day-to-day basis - and wore a less valuable wedding ring indoors. Roman brides also had wedding rings made of iron, and who knows that happened to the marriage as the wedding ring rusted away. In the mid-9th century, Christian wedding ceremonies saw highly decorative wedding rings, engraved with symbols of everlasting love such as clasped hands. 13th century wedding rings were much simpler, but the symbolism of everlasting love - a never-ending circle - lived on.

There doesn't seem to be any definitive reason for the custom on placing a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand. Romantic belief has it that the vein in this finger leads straight to the heart. A more practical reason might be that, as most people are right-handed, a wedding ring on the left hand would prevent damage. There have been departures from this custom though; wedding rings were often worn on thumbs during the reigns of George I and Elizabeth I; historically, Russian bridegrooms wore their wedding rings on the forefinger, and in Europe today the right hand is favoured.

Wedding rings have their superstitions too. A wedding ring that is too tight hints at jealousy or overbearance of one party to the other; and beware a wedding ring that's too loose as a parting of the ways might be indicated!