Which Order Do You Wear Engagement, Wedding, & Anniversary Bands?

Important life milestones are often marked by celebrations, reflection, and tangible symbols. Significant dates in romantic relationships are no exception. If you are already engaged, you no doubt remember the anticipation and excitement of your proposal—the thrill of feeling your engagement ring as it slipped onto your finger for the first time, sharing your good news with friends and family, and planning for your wedding, the next big milestone. 

Like engagements, weddings are also made special by adding an additional tangible symbol to your collection: the wedding band. Complimentary to your engagement ring, your wedding band is a symbol of further commitment and love. But what comes after that? What is the next most significant date in a relationship? For some couples, it’s their one-year anniversary, the birth of their first child, or any other event that is uniquely significant for each individual couple. To mark one of these important milestones, an additional ring may be given: the anniversary band.

Choosing these three rings that you will wear forever as a symbol of your love and commitment to creating a beautiful life together is one of the most important decisions you will need to make—secondary, of course, to the person you choose to marry and your loved ones who you’ll get to celebrate with. Your rings should be selected with the utmost care, as well as careful consideration of style, color, and shape so that they can fit together seamlessly.

Keep reading to learn which order these three beautiful rings are traditionally worn.

 

When Did Rings Become Symbols of Love in the First Place?

Rings have long been used as symbols of commitment, dating back to ancient times. The circular shape of rings represents a continuation and never-ending commitment, in both romantic and non-romantic instances. Once churches became more involved in people’s lives, men were required to give betrothal rings to their future wives as a sign that the couple intended to get married. Nowadays, couples can choose for themselves to exchange and wear rings as symbols of their love and commitment regardless of whether or not religion is involved.

 

What Is the Difference Between Engagement, Wedding, and Anniversary Bands?

Engagement Rings

 

Engagement rings are traditionally given during proposals and worn throughout the engagement period as an initial symbol of commitment, and then into marriage. Typically, only women wear engagement rings. In most cases, due to the larger stones and more distinctive styles inherent in engagement ring designs, engagement rings prove to be the shining star of the three traditional styles. Since engagement rings are the first of the three to be chosen and worn, they often set the tone for what your wedding and anniversary bands should look like in terms of style, color, stone cuts, and shape. 

 

Many couples opt to select engagement rings and wedding bands at the same time to ensure that they match, which is usually a simple feat since most ring companies design matching sets. At June Rings, we have a range of engagement and band styles to mix and match.

Wedding Bands

Wedding bands are exchanged by couples during their wedding ceremony, and are worn by both partners. Wedding bands are usually more understated than the engagement ring and are often a simple metal band to accompany the more eye-catching engagement ring. However, many wedding bands do feature more intricate designs and stunning gemstones—it all depends on your personal preference and style, as well as the style of your engagement ring.

 

Browse our June Rings ladies bands here.

 

Anniversary Bands

While the name implies this band has to be gifted for an anniversary, that is not always the case. Engagement rings and wedding bands mark specific advancements in relationships and anniversary bands can mark any occasion that is significant to each individual couple. Possible special occasions and dates might include a couple’s first year anniversary, the birth of their first child, a later anniversary, or any other special holiday or date that bears an especially significant meaning for a couple.

Anniversary bands are most commonly an eternity style - meaning the gemstones go all the way around the ring. However, some people prefer wearing half-eternity bands, which only display stones on the front of the band. While half-eternity bands look more like wedding bands, they nonetheless serve as elevated symbols of continued love, renewed commitment, and significant celebrations in your relationship. A half-eternity band style is also less maintenance overall than an eternity band.

 

Visit our June Rings ladies bands collection to find the perfect ring for you.

 

In Which Order Should Engagement, Wedding, and Anniversary Bands Be Worn?

Wedding bands are traditionally worn closest to your heart, meaning they would be the first of the three rings to place on your finger, to show that the commitment you made at the time of your wedding is dearest to you. If your rings are designed to go together, it is likely that they feature curves and other design elements that encourage wearing them in a specific order so that they fit snugly together. 

Tradition around the order of these rings has been created over time, but the most important thing is always what each piece actually represents. Wear your rings in the traditional style, or mix them up for a unique look. While there are industry guidelines there are certainly no rules and every wearer & ring is different!