What Hand Does a Wedding Ring Go On: Left or Right?
The wedding ring is a significant piece of jewelry for many reasons, but most importantly, it reflects your commitment and love to that very special person. The placement of the wedding ring holds meaningful symbolism, with traditions varying across cultures. The hand and finger chosen often reflect deep-rooted customs, representing love, commitment, and the joining of two lives. We don't want you wondering, "What hand does the wedding ring go on?" as you say your I Do's. Let's clear it up!
The Traditional Answer to What Hand to Wear your Wedding Ring on:
For the answer we need to go all the way back to the ancients! Specifically, the ancient Romans. They believed that on the left hand, there was a vein called the Vena Amoris (AKA the vein of love) making it the perfect spot for a wedding ring. After all, what better place to symbolize a bond built on love than on the hand connected to a vein named for that very emotion?
But how did we go from ancient Rome to the 21st century with the same tradition?
Well, in the 1700’s, the King of England, King Edward VI, decided that the thumb or middle finger (a popular place for wedding rings prior to his rule) was not a significant enough spot for a wedding ring. Monarchs at the time admired and adopted many Roman customs, particularly those aligned with love and loyalty ideals.
The decision to decree wearing wedding rings on the left hand could have been seen as a way to reinforce traditions that were already culturally significant. The idea of the "Vena Amoris" likely helped reinforce a romantic and meaningful gesture within the culture of marriage in England. Since then, modern medicine has disproved the existence of the Vena Amoris but the tradition still continues!
Cultural Differences
Just like there are cultural differences in wedding dresses, food, and traditions, there are cultural differences when it comes to what hand you wear your wedding ring on. As previously mentioned, historically wedding rings could be seen worn on every finger including the thumb. While today, it’s common to see wedding rings on the fourth finger on your left hand, many countries including India, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Russia traditionally wear their wedding rings on their right hand.
Similarly to the tradition of wearing your wedding ring on your left hand, the tradition of wearing your wedding ring on your right hand may have originated with the ancient Romans. At one point in history, the Romans believed that the left hand represented everything untrustworthy and unclean. Through the Orthodox Church, the tradition of wearing your wedding ring on your right hand became customary in order to dispel any worries of untrustworthiness within your marriage. This tradition is more prominent in countries such as Russia, Ukraine, India and Germany.
Photo by Danu Hidayatur Rahman
Then there are some who prefer to have a combination of both their left and right hands. For example, in Brazil it is customary for the couple to wear plain bands as engagement rings on their right hand. Then, when they say their vows, they switch the bands to their left hands. Couples in Germany and the Netherlands like to wear their engagement ring on their left hand and their wedding ring on the right.
What Finger Does Your Wedding Ring Go On?
Now that we know what hand, let’s talk about what finger the wedding ring goes on! Just like with the hand, the finger the wedding ring goes on varies based on traditions and cultures. In the USA and many other countries in the world, you will find people wearing their wedding ring on their fourth finger (next to the pinky finger) on their left hand.
In the countries that wear their wedding rings on their right hand, you will find that they also wear their rings on their fourth finger.
Those who follow Jewish tradition will have the groom place the wedding ring on the index finger (next to the thumb) of their bride because this is the most prominent finger. However, after the ceremony, the bride will typically move the band to the ring/fourth finger.
While it is rare, there are still some cultures and subcultures that choose to wear their ring on their thumb. For example, some in India who have had an arranged marriage will wear the ring on their thumb to represent a formal agreement rather than a love match. There are also some members of the LGBTQIA+ community who choose to wear their rings on other fingers to signify their unique bond or to break away from heteronormative tradition.
So the answer to the common question of “what hand does the wedding ring go on?” is usually the left hand. However, some cultures and countries will wear their rings on the right hand. And the answer to the equally common follow up question, “what finger does your wedding ring go on?” is usually the fourth finger (next to the pinky). But as mentioned above, there are some situations where you may see a wedding ring on a totally different finger.
Now that we’ve got that all cleared up, if you’re in need of some extra wedding planning help, we invite you to visit our blog’s home page to find help on a wide range of topics. And if you’re ready to find your dream wedding dress, our dress search tool is going to be your new best friend!
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Banner Image by: Irina Iriser