Do you wear your engagement ring on your wedding day?

The reason for moving the engagement ring is purely practical. During the ceremony the wedding ring is placed onto the ring finger of the left hand, and tradition has it go on first, so it ends up sitting below the engagement ring and closest to the hand. That is only possible if the ring finger is bare at the moment the band is exchanged. Most brides solve this by sliding the engagement ring onto the right ring finger before walking down the aisle, leaving the left finger clear. Once the vows and the wedding band are done, the engagement ring moves back to the left hand and sits on top of the band. Some brides keep the engagement ring on the right hand for the whole ceremony and the photos, then switch it back later. Either way the ring is still worn on the day, just briefly on the other hand.

There are a few alternatives. The neatest is to have the engagement ring and wedding ring soldered together by a jeweller before the wedding, so the pair goes on as a single ring during the ceremony and there is nothing to move; the trade-off is that the join is permanent. You can also hand the engagement ring to your maid of honour or a trusted family member to hold during the ceremony, then put it back on afterwards. Some brides thread the ring onto a necklace for the ceremony, though wedding planners often advise against it, since a chain can catch or break while you are hugging guests and dancing. Leaving the ring at home in a safe spot is the simplest option of all if you would rather not think about it on the day. None of these is more correct than switching hands; it comes down to what feels easiest for you.