Rings 101 (Part 3) - Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

I would like to start off with a big congratulation to all of you who made it to this stage! And for those who haven’t, don’t lose hope!! Your time to shine will come shortly.

A lot of people today get quite confused when buying a ring. To top it off and make a man’s life difficult, there are promise ring, engagement ring, and wedding ring, wedding bands, and exchange ring. So, to simplify this for all you men out there, a wedding ring, wedding band or exchange ring all means the same thing! Once upon a time there was slight differentiation of the ring’s meaning itself; however, as time goes by, they have essentially become the same thing. Besides, how many rings can you fit on one finger!

Now that we have that cleared up, the only thing left would be an engagement and a wedding band/ring. Traditionally speaking, an engagement ring is given at time of, or soon after the acceptance of your wedding proposal while a wedding band/ring is to be exchanged at the wedding ceremony and worn until the end of time.

In terms of cost and design, engagement rings are the ones with big dollar sign and shiny diamond that can vary between the three popular style of solitaire, three stone or multi-stone. This is not to say there are only three styles but simply the three are the more traditional or popular choice that most jewelry store carries.

A wedding band or a wedding ring in comparison is less fancy and can vary in its style to suit the different need of individuals. The most popular choice is wedding band that compliments the engagement ring where it is often sold as a set. This way when doing the ring exchange at the ceremony, you simply put the wedding band to the engagement ring to make it a set. While this is a popular choice, others may choose a wedding ring instead of a wedding band that does not compliment the engagement ring. Why? Some people choose this because of the fear of damaging the engagement ring through their daily work routine or activities while others may find it carrying an undesirable undertone. Hence a simple wedding ring may still be exchanged the same way a wedding band would be at the ceremony. However, most people will then only wear the wedding ring in their daily life as oppose to the engagement ring and the wedding band together as a set.

Ken Hsueh

Associate Wedding Planner

I am 26, 100% made in Taiwan and flown across the Pacific Ocean in 1999 to this place called Canada. I’ve lived In Calgary, Alberta ever since and grew wonderful feelings about this city until winter… I have completed my study in the field of hospitality and have worked in the industry for over 7 years. I am happily married with 0 kids at the moment, which is great as we intend to travel more before we settle down with a family! 

Winter Lotus Photography

Rings 101 (Part 2) - Promise Ring

During my last blog I had talked about the common symbolic relations of rings to marriage as well as the norms of how to wear your ring in Canada. This week, I will be sharing with you one of the three types of rings that have made its stand in the different stages of one’s relationship today.

Promise Ring. As the name indicates, it is a promise or vow made between couples who want to make a stronger commitment in their relationship where a full engagement may not yet be appropriate or feasible. And by exchanging that ring, it symbolizes an agreement or a commonality that has been reached between the couple as they move forward to that path in life together.

And as time goes by, you reaffirm your affection for one another till the two of you have finally reached that agreement together. Then, it’s time to say good bye to your saving and say hello to engagement ring! But what if…NO! Stop right there! We live in a perfect world where there is no what if, so don’t ask what if you never got there!!! Alright, seriously, I would say bring it to a pawn shop…I mean return it to the person…

When is the right time to give the promise ring and are there any rules as to what they should be? In terms of timing, you should really be asking yourself how comfortable you and your partner are towards making a commitment together! Some may takes longer while others may be certain from the get-go! Don’t ask me how, we’ll say it’s a blessing!

As for the ring itself, it is generally quite simple such as matching gemstones, birthstones or engraved ring with either name, initial or your promise to one another. Remember, this is a promise ring, not an engagement ring! Hence you should not need to spend a lot of money on it nor should it be so elaborated that people mistaken it as an engagement ring!

Stay tuned for my next blogs about engagement rings and wedding bands!

Ken Hsueh

Associate Wedding Planner

I am 26, 100% made in Taiwan and flown across the Pacific Ocean in 1999 to this place called Canada. I’ve lived In Calgary, Alberta ever since and grew wonderful feelings about this city until winter… I have completed my study in the field of hospitality and have worked in the industry for over 7 years. I am happily married with 0 kids at the moment, which is great as we intend to travel more before we settle down with a family!

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