Do You Wear Your Engagement Ring on Your Wedding Day? (2024)

After months (or years!) of organizing the details of your dream wedding, you've officially completed all the major checklist items and are now left with just a few small details to consider. One important thing to think about? Where you'll put (and how you'll wear) your engagement ring on your wedding day.

Since you're probably used to wearing your sparkler on a daily basis, the idea of taking it off might seem very strange. But wearing it on your big day likely doesn't seem right too, as your partner will be putting yourwedding bandon that very same finger. So, what do you do? In short, you can wear your engagement ring on your wedding day—there are a few traditions surrounding this decision—but the choice is ultimately a personal one.

To help further answer this engagement ring question, we tapped wedding planners and jewelry experts to learn more about the rules surrounding wearing your sparkler on your big day. Plus, we share helpful ideas on where you might be able to store your ring should you choose not to wear it at all. Read on for more.

Meet the Expert

Neil Lane is a Los Angeles-based jeweler with an eponymous collection at Kay Jewelers.
Lara Mahler is the founder and chief planner ofThe Privilege Is Mine, a New York City-based wedding planning company.
Tiina Smith is the owner ofTiina Smith Jewelry,a rare vintage jewelry brand.
Megan Kothari is the designer and founder ofAARYAH, an engagement ring and fine jewelry company.
Sandy Ip is the founder ofSevun, a luxury jewelry retailer, and a member of the Brides review board.

Key Takeaways

Tradition dictates that you wear your engagement ring on your right-hand ring finger during the wedding ceremony, and move it over to your left hand, above your wedding band, once you've exchanged vows.
You can also decide to wear your engagement ring on your left-hand ring finger, and place your wedding band on top of your sparkler once you've exchanged vows.
If you don't want to wear your engagement ring during the ceremony, you can choose to store it in a safe place, like a ring box or at home, or give it to a trusted person for safekeeping until after you've said "I do."

Standard Etiquette for Wearing Your Engagement Ring on Your Wedding Day

According to wedding planner Lara Mahler, “Standard etiquette for wearing your engagement ring on your wedding day would be on your ring finger on your right hand." Why? As per tradition, a wedding band is worn first—"to keep it closer to your heart"—and an engagement ring is then placed above the band, explains jewelry expert Tiina Smith. "Your wedding band would be placed on your left-hand ring finger, and then after the ceremony, you can put yourengagement ring on top of your wedding band," Mahler explains.

However, rings can be worn in any way you see fit, so you don't have to follow the above guidelines if you prefer to do something else. One option? You can opt to wear your engagement ring on your left-hand ring finger, and simply place your wedding band on top of your sparkler when exchanging vows. "[You can] wear the ring on your left hand, then [your partner] can place the band on top of it," shares Neil Lane, founder of the eponymous Neil Lane jewelry collection. "They can re-stack it for the reception." Another option would be to wear no rings down the aisle, then have your partner place both your wedding band and engagement ring on your finger during the ceremony.

Do You Wear Your Engagement Ring on Your Wedding Day? (2)

Additional Ideas for Holding or Wearing Your Engagement Ring on Your Wedding Day

While transferring your engagement ring to your right hand during the ceremony is customary, there are plenty of other options for keeping this special piece of jewelry safe.

Use a Ring Box

Jewelry designer Megan Kothari suggests storing your engagement ring in a ring box until after the ceremony if you'd prefer not to wear your sparkler on the big day. Be aware, however, that if you take this route, you'll miss out on having your engagement ring captured in your wedding photos.

Move Your Engagement Ring to Another Finger

Want the ring with you during the ceremony? According to Mahler, another option is to simply keep the engagement ring on another finger on the left hand (if it fits properly). Ultimately, you have the freedom to wear your engagement ring however (and wherever!) you like, says Kothari. "How you style your jewelry on yourweddingday should hold meaning for you and give you confidence on your day," she adds.

In fact, according to jeweler Sandy Ip, wearing your engagement ring on another finger until after the ceremony is traditional in some countries. "In Hong Kong, brides often opt to wear the engagement ringon their left middle finger. Once they get married, they shift the engagement ringto theirring finger. So, aringon the middle finger means engaged and aringon thering finger means married," she explains.

Have Someone Hold Your Engagement Ring

If you don't want to wear the ring, put someone in charge of holding it, Ip suggests. "Have someone trusted who is attending thewedding, such as a family member or a close friend, hold onto your ring until after the ceremony." After your new wedding band has been placed on your fourth finger, you can slip the engagement ring on above it.

Leave It at Home

For some people, leaving the engagement ring at home is the best option; you'll know it's safe and sound, and you won't have to worry about moving it between hands, asking loved ones to hold it, or storing it in your bridal suite. There are other benefits to not wearing your engagement ring, too: Namely, your brand-new wedding band will get its chance to shine. "If you want your wedding band to be the star of the show, then leave your engagement ring at home in a secure place like a locked box," Lane explains.

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