Men's wedding rings - should a man wear one or not?

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A man never wore a wedding ring prior to the Second World War. At that time, it became customary for soldiers serving overseas to wear a wedding band to remind them of home, and their commitment to their wives and families. The popularity of wedding rings for men has since soared, but there is still divided opinion on whether wearing one is obligatory or not.

Although wearing a wedding ring for men in the past was not crucial, most modern brides would not hear of her new husband’s fourth finger going unadorned. The era of women's rights saw many women removing their wedding rings because it symbolised the ownership of women by their husbands.

Today’s brides view the exchange of rings as a sign of equality; symbolism that both husband and wife are proud to show the world that they are committed to each other, even when apart.

Some men worry that wearing a ring of any description is too effeminate. This view is somewhat dated, particularly as there are many masculine styles of wedding ring available to choose from now. Heavy rings, with a thick solid band, are a popular choice. You could consider a Celtic-style engraving or a simple plain band.

If you are worried about the comfort of wearing a wedding ring, try wearing a cheap substitute for a while to see if you can get used to the feel of it. There are comfort-fit wedding bands available which have curved edges — try on many styles in the jewellery shop to see if you can find a style which feels right on your finger. Generally, if you wear your ring for a while, you'll soon forget it's even there.

When choosing your wedding band, think about whether you would like the wedding bands to be a matching pair, with both bride and groom exchanging bands of the same colour and style. If the groom is certain that he would rather wear a particular metal and also match his bride, he must remember this when first buying the engagement ring.

Despite considering all these options, if you definitely cannot imagine wearing a man’s wedding ring for either emotional or comfort reasons, there are some other symbolic ways of acknowledging your marriage and commitment. Firstly, you could wear a watch or chain engraved with a message from the bride instead of a wedding ring. For the more adventurous, consider having a tattoo of a wedding band placed around your finger instead. Not for the faint-hearted, but it certainly demonstrates the groom’s level of commitment!

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Rings for Men