Left Or Right: Which Hand Should The Wedding Band Be Worn On?
In this day and age, virtually all individuals are well aware that the wedding band is worn on the fourth finger, often known as the ring finger. However, when it comes to determining which hand it goes on, that's where it becomes unclear for most. Fret not; we explore below the intriguing history of the customary ring finger placement and the reasons you could choose (or not!) to adhere to it.
The symbolism and history behind the fourth finger
The ring finger's meaning and tradition date back to ancient times, where legend has it that the vein of the ring finger runs directly to the heat – the vein of love, or Vena Amoris, was what the ancient Romans termed this. And because of this, rings were thought to bind lovers' hearts together. Resultantly, a wedding ring was affixed on that particular finger to symbolise the newlywed couple's shared romance, essentially uniting their two hearts to seal a union based on love.
Alas, the charming significance is destroyed by the fact that all fingers possess venous connections to the heart and that there is no such single vein, according to our current understanding of anatomy. Nonetheless, many couples remain faithful to the tradition and designate their ring finger as a symbol of their commitment to one another.
Left or right: The ring finger knows no rules
While the majority of couples in countries like Singapore and the United States wear their couple bands on their left hands, who's to say you can't don them on your right hand instead?
Some of these countries stay true to the right-hand wedding rule:
- Colombia - Venezuela - Jordan - Poland - Ukraine - Latvia - Norway - Hungary - Denmark - Bulgaria - Austria, and more!
Wedding bands or engagement rings: which comes first?
Now that the question of which hand is out of the way, a couple more might come to mind: Does the engagement ring or wedding band come first? Can I choose to wear both on different hands?
Again, there are no strict rules when deciding on the ring that comes first. However, if we’re looking at trends, most couples tend to prefer wearing the wedding band first as it is closer to the heart. The engagement ring then follows after.
Subsequently, to answer the latter question: yes! Cultural or personal preferences often influence the decision to wear both rings on different hands. But, some people may choose to wear the engagement ring on the right ring finger and the wedding band on the left. Ultimately, it is up to you whether you choose to uphold a long-standing tradition or start a new one!
Conclusion
Whether you opt to wear your hypoallergenic wedding bands or custom wedding bands on your left or right hand, the most important takeaway to remember is that there are no actual rules on which hand it’s supposed to be on. Some may choose to wear their wedding bands on the left hand, while others prefer the right hand. In some cases, there are some that don’t wear any at all! Whatever’s most comfortable to you and your partner should matter most, above all.
Now that we know the rings can be worn on either hand, the next step would be to decide if you’d like to match them with Love & Co.’s signature wedding jewellery collection. And if you ever need second opinions, feel free to book an in-store appointment with us! We will be happy to help you make informed decisions on your bridal jewellery purchase based on your needs or to measure your ring size, whichever you may need assistance with.
