Do You Wear Your Engagement Ring on Your Wedding Day?

This wedding look features ‘The Rose’ ring and ‘The Lily’ bridal necklace.

If you’re getting ready to tie the knot, you’ve probably spent a ton of time thinking about what you’re going to wear. From veil to heel, you’ve handpicked every little detail so it goes together beautifully and complements your sense of style. Naturally, you’ll plan to top it all off during the ceremony with the star of the show — your wedding band. But what about the engagement ring? When does that come into play? We’re answering that question for you so you positively dazzle on your big day.

The Ring Protocol on Your Wedding Day 

So, let’s get right down to it. Are you supposed to wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? Like most things regarding weddings and their traditions, the answer is: it’s totally up to you. Most brides wear their engagement rings for their big down-the-aisle debut, but it is by no means required. If you do decide to take this route, there are a couple of key things to keep in mind.

• Enlist the Help of a Bridesmaid — Traditionally speaking, you’ll wear your wedding band closest to your heart, which means you’ll have to remove your engagement ring to put on your wedding band during the ceremony. It’s important that you take this into consideration while at the altar. Have a trusted bridesmaid or the maid of honor hold onto it while you exchange your vows. Provide her with a ring box or pouch she can discreetly carry.

• Keep It for Photos — We don’t know about you, but we’re pretty much obsessed with all things wedding photos and we love the creative ways couples capture their rings in pictures. While it may be tempting to keep your ring locked up in the safe while you get hitched, you’re missing out on a pretty big photo op if you take that route. Make sure to have your photographer snap some pics of your rings together on and off your finger. 
• Consider a Stand-In — The wedding day is, to put it mildly, chaotic. It’s understandable if you prefer to keep your ring locked away safely at home. With that being said, you might consider rocking a stand-in for photos to keep things cohesive. Our gorgeous but affordable engagement rings are the key to reducing wedding day worry because they look gorgeous and glamorous but don’t cost an arm and a leg. They also make awesome stand-ins for traveling, work and anytime you’re working with your hands and don’t want to risk it.
• Go for a Stacking Style — If you’re a fan of stacked wedding rings, make sure to have your stacks ready to go for photos and the big exchange. We’d recommend sticking to just a single ring exchange during the ceremony in order to prevent awkwardness or confusion, but you should have your trusted bridesmaid hold all your rings so you can put the stack together after the fact. You’re going to need a few good pics of your favorite combos.

Whether or not you wear your engagement ring on your big day is a personal decision and there’s nothing wrong with either choice. If you’re going all-out minimalist and want as few things to worry about as possible, you might consider focusing exclusively on the wedding ring and keeping your engagement ring at home. If you want to showcase your sparkler and make sure it’s featured in your snapshots, you should absolutely wear it every single day, including on the biggest day of your life.

Modern Gents is here to help you untangle the complex world of wedding jewelry and all its many traditions. Be sure to explore our complete of collection of rings to find something to wear every day for the rest of your life.