From a simple, elegant gold band to elaborate bespoke pieces to show your undying affection, wedding rings are a special, staple part of a wedding, one that often remains even in more unconventional ceremonies.
It is not difficult to see why; outside of perhaps signet rings, wedding rings offer the most scope to personalise and find a perfect design with the perfect central stone and accoutrements that convey how much a married couple means to each other.
This is not about the most expensive ring or the largest stone; we have seen, created and set beautifully elaborate wedding rings that encapsulate a married couple that did not cost the earth, figuratively and literally, thanks to lab-grown diamonds.
However, do you need a wedding ring to have a beautiful ceremony? And does it need to be a traditional gold and diamond band adorning the third finger of your left hand?
Of course, there are some particularly elaborate wedding rituals; there was the famous sword wedding, which went viral several years ago, and was as captivating as it was truly unique.
Much like there are alternatives to a conventional wedding, such as a civil partnership or a handfasting ceremony, there are alternatives for a conventional wedding ring, either by using another ring or another type of jewellery entirely.
Here are some of our favourites and some top tips for great wedding ring alternatives.
Can A Signet Ring Replace A Wedding Ring?
Did you know that most royal husbands do not wear a wedding ring at all? According to Marie Clare, whilst it is a very famous tradition for queens and princesses in the royal family to wear their wedding rings, kings and princes tend to eschew this tradition.
One of the reasons for this is practicality; for most people, a wedding ring is a symbol not only of the married couple and the vows they made to each other, but also to show the world that they are married.
This is far less necessary for royals, for whom their marriage is an event broadcast to the world, is on the front page of newspapers and is forever in the history books.
Instead, many royal husbands, including Prince William and the late Prince Philip, opt to wear a signet ring on their little finger, the traditional place for a royal seal to be worn.
The only exception to this in recent years was Prince Harry, who prominently wears a wedding band following his marriage to Megan Markle.
How Can You Wear A Signet Ring As A Wedding Ring?
Can you adapt this approach for yourself for your wedding? You absolutely can, particularly if you already own a signet ring or have a family crest.
There are two popular approaches to this; one is to wear a signet ring on your little finger with a symbol of your union, either a merging of two family crests, a shared monogram or any other imagery that signifies your marriage.
The alternative is to wear a signet ring on your standard ring finger and adjust the sizing and design to fit appropriately across the larger finger.
Do You Need To Wear A Diamond Ring?
The tradition of a gold wedding ring with a diamond feels timeless, but in reality, that is a relatively recent tradition, and there have been countless types of wedding rings that go all the way back to Ancient Rome.
They vary considerably in terms of styles, materials, engravings and even the fundamental design. Many of them are made of multiple rings with interlocking mechanisms to signify an eternal union, and they can make for a unique and meaningful symbol of love.
So too can the use of different gemstones; whilst diamonds traditionally are used because of how they represent the strength of an undying love, there are plenty of stones that can be used either with a diamond or in its place:
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Garnet stones represent the strength and protection that often make a union last, as two people who love each other take care of each other.
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Amethyst represents the clarity and peace that make a marriage last in the long term.
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Emeralds represent the growth that a married couple do together.
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Rubies represent the passion that often ignites a relationship and keeps it going.
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Sapphires represent the truth and honesty necessary for any relationship, let alone a marriage.
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Peridots represent the happiness that wedding days so often bring.
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Topaz represents the abundance, not only of the material aspects of marriage necessary for survival but also of love, affection and care.