Wedding Rings - How the Tradition Has Changed
The symbolism of wedding rings dates back centuries, though there are some modern trends that are changing the look of wedding rings. One current trend is the use of metals other than silver and gold for wedding rings. Arguably the most recent addition to the material used for wedding rings is titanium. This metal is typically associated with the need for strength but titanium can also be an incredibly pretty material for wedding rings. Even black titanium wedding rings are finding a niche and becoming increasingly popular.
While wedding rings were once very simple affairs, the trends in this department have also changed. Both the wedding ring and engagement ring are often studded with stones. Diamonds, of course, are usually the stone of choice but there are many stones used in both the engagement and wedding rings. Opals, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and even semi-precious stones can make the ordinary engagement and wedding rings extraordinary.
Another trend with regard to wedding rings is interlocking rings. In these sets, the engagement rings fit inside the wedding rings and lock together. Only the specific engagement and wedding rings made for each other will fit and many couples seem to prefer this style over engagement rings and wedding rings that are sold separately. Some couples choose a set of wedding rings that are initially cast as one ring, then split apart. The bride and groom each wear half of the ring which stands for the fact that the two have become one, and are a part of a larger whole.
The shape of wedding rings is the first and some say the most important symbol of the wedding ceremony. The circle is never-ending as the couple's love for each other is supposed to be unending. But where did the tradition of the wedding ring originate? It was apparently the Egyptians who first used wedding rings as part of the wedding ceremony and to indicate the married status of the wife. The inclusion of a man's wedding ring as part of the wedding ceremony is a fairly recent addition, though there have been symbols of the married state for both men and women aside from the wearing of wedding rings for centuries. In some cultures, the men who are married grow beards and women wear their hair differently or dress differently from their unmarried counterparts.
