Wedding Education
From ancient symbolism to cherished modern traditions, the story of wedding rings is a journey through culture, love, and legacy. For thousands of years, rings have represented eternity, devotion, and unity. Explore how today’s beloved wedding band tradition evolved across civilizations.
The tradition of rings as symbols of eternity began with the ancient Egyptians, who viewed the circle as endless and the ring’s center as a gateway to the unknown. Their ouroboros rings, depicting a serpent eating its tail, represented life’s eternal cycle.
After Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the Greeks adopted the custom, giving rings as tokens of love featuring Eros or Cupid. The Romans later continued this practice, first using iron and copper rings—often decorated with key motifs symbolizing household authority—and eventually crafting gold rings to display wealth.
The popular fede ring, showing two clasped hands, symbolized unity and marriage. Both Egyptians and Romans believed the fourth finger contained the “vena amoris,” or the “vein of love,” a romantic idea that led to today’s tradition of wearing wedding rings on the ring finger.
In Medieval Europe, wedding rings began featuring precious gemstones rubies for passion, sapphires for heaven, and diamonds for strength. Roman fede and portrait rings remained popular and later inspired the creation of gimmel rings, made with interlocking bands that couples joined together at marriage.
By the 1600s, the Claddagh ring, with hands holding a heart, became a meaningful symbol of love and loyalty. During the Renaissance and Elizabethan eras, poesy rings inscribed with romantic poetry gained popularity.
In colonial America, however, Puritans rejected jewelry as frivolous. Instead of rings, they gifted thimbles, which were often repurposed into rings by removing their tops.
In Medieval England, marriage was once informal. Couples simply exchanged consent and a ring, known as a “wed,” to signify their union. By the 8th century, this custom was common, but questions about legitimacy arose because no clergy or witnesses were required.
In the 12th century, the Christian Church formally declared marriage a sacrament, establishing mandatory ceremonies and the exchange of rings as part of the ritual. From that point on, rings gained official religious meaning, and the distinction likely emerged between engagement rings, given as a promise, and wedding rings, exchanged during the church ceremony.