The scenario where a man immediately pulls a ring from his pocket the moment the woman agrees is highly improbable-except, perhaps, in Victorian novels. In real life, it is wise and sensible to understand her tastes beforehand. A fiancé might visit the jewelry store alone to state his budget and select a few candidates, then bring his fiancée along so she can choose the one she likes best. An even simpler approach is for the couple to go shopping together.
The woman might opt for a traditional diamond ring or prefer a gemstone associated with her birth month. If there is a family heirloom, the groom can allow the bride to select a setting that suits her personal taste. Today, many women prefer larger gemstones, and smaller diamonds are losing their appeal. Aquamarine is a top choice as an alternative to the solitaire diamond; amethyst, citrine, and clear tourmaline also make excellent options for engagement rings.
The engagement ring is worn in public for the first time on the day the engagement is announced. In the United States, it is worn on the ring finger of the left hand, though in some countries, it is worn on the right. During the wedding ceremony, it is removed to make way for the wedding band.
Many wives never have an engagement ring at all. Others receive one long after the wedding because their husbands could not afford the ring they wanted earlier. Some brides prefer to save the money intended for an engagement ring to furnish their future home. A daughter might even wear her late mother's engagement ring instead of getting a new one.
The wedding band can be purchased at the same time as the engagement ring, or selected during the engagement period. Shortly before the wedding, it is customary and practical for the groom to shop for the wedding band with the bride. Since she has long looked forward to wearing this ring, she should be allowed to choose a style she likes. Nothing is more tasteful than a simple band of pure gold or platinum.
If the groom also wishes to wear a ring, the bride might buy a simple, slightly wider gold band to match her own, or choose one that he likes and she can afford. Like women, men should wear their rings on the fourth finger of the left hand.
The wedding band can be engraved with a message chosen by the groom to express his feelings. Many years ago, it was just as common to engrave more than twenty-five words onto wide rings as it was to engrave initials. Handcrafted rings featuring intricate designs were also popular; sometimes, the couple would even craft the rings themselves. Such beautiful, handmade rings often held even more significance than expensive diamond rings.
