Why do you wear a wedding band?

Ok not to be a buzz kill, but I am not wearing mine right now and I bet money that my DH isn't either. Why? because it does not define us or our relationship. I don't need a ring to show people I am not available, my actions do that and my words back it up. I don't need my ring to remind me of crap... I can remember just fine.

No issue with people that live and die in that wedding ring, but it just isn't a thing for me.


BTW forcing your S.O. to wear it will NOT stop him/her from cheating, flirt or be flirted with. PSA

This. We both have one-my set is very pretty and sparkly, I just wear it now and again. He hasn't worn his regularly for nearly 20 years as it is against regulations to wear any jewelry at his job. I don't have a problem with it. He chose ME and if he needs to look at a ring to stay with me, I'm doing something wrong.

To honor my commitment to my husband and our marriage. It's not a symbol that I feel like I HAVE to wear. I WANT to wear it.

I'm in a civil partnership (UK) and when I proposed I used origami hearts, chocolates and a compilation CD combining compilation tapes we made when we first started going out together. I didn't feel the need for a ring, especially as neither of us wear rings generally. We talked about whether to get one or something else symbolic for the ceremony but decided we didn't need to as it made no difference to how we felt.

Also it feels to me a little like ownership and I'm very against that - not saying that's what it symbolises for everyone by any means but it does to me to some extent. Plus marriage/civil partnership is sanctioned by the state and very normalised and I do tend to challenge that inasfar as I can, including not doing what's expected like wearing a ring, wearing a wedding dress etc. I have felt a bit of a sellout at times for conforming to state recognition of my relationship - doesn't diminish my love for my partner at all though - it's a political thing and also something I write about as an academic so it's hard to reconcile these things sometimes. Rambling now, sorry!

I don't wear mine. It doesn't fit anymore, and I haven't had it sized. I know I'm married. I don't need a band (that isn't even my style) to prove it.

Well it the symbol of unbroken love. I wear mine so I don't have to bring my wife along where ever I go. I am proud of her, and she will scratch the eyes out of anyone that doesn't respect it.

:flowerforyou:

I wear it because it is so special to me...It reminds me of our love and devotion for one another when we are not together due to our schedules...It reminds me of how much we have been through over the years and of how much we have grown together...My ring is a 3 stone diamond representing past, present, and future. At the time he purchased it, we didn't have much of a past since we married fairly quickly after meeting. Today we have a long past filled with ups and downs with several heartaches and bumps in the road, but together we have made it side by side....that's what my ring symbolizes to me, our endurance and love with a positive future

To answer your other question, I couldn't go without it. I take it off to clean, exercise, and bath- but rarely leave out my front door without it. I have once or twice and within a few miles felt uncomfortable without it.

I concur with the majority of responses. It is a symbol of the commitment of our marriage and pledge of love to each other. I wear mine except to sleep or workout. Right now it's too big, as I had it resized 3 years ago but I want to wait until I hit my goal before I pay to have it resized down again! DH had his resized a week ago as his was falling off. If we were on an island with noone else I would still wear it to show him I am still committed to us.

I think its just a symbol to yourself and the other person and the promise you made. Now with all that said I recently took mine off cause that promise has been broken!
Other people use it to see if your available though, which is a good thing cause that means they won't hit on you and if they do, well then you know what kind of people they are.

28 years ago I made a commitment to my best friend and he to me. We sealed that commitment with two very inexpensive (young sailors don't have much money) rings. I still wear that ring and always will. It's not a sign of ownership - we are committed, not owned. It's not to keep others away - my actions do that, as do his. It's not a guarantee that neither of us will ever cheat - only our hearts can guarantee that. It is a touchable, solid, ever present reminder of all we have, all we've been and all we have yet to look forward to. It is a comfort, a joy in my heart, an encouraging word when he isn't around to say them, a peace in times of stress. It is the one piece of jewelry out of all he's given me in the years since that still matters the most. Last summer someone broke in to our home and stole almost every other piece I owned. I had on my wedding band, my anniversary band, a simple birthstone ring and my grandmothers ring. Those are all I have left of 29 years of gifts to mark so many special occasions. Do I miss the bling and sparkle of the others? Yes. Did they really matter in the overall? No. I still have him and I still have the simple gold band that got me through his deployments, family losses, illnesses, financial stresses and all the other "things" that happen over a lifetime. I would wear it on a desert island, remote ranch or desolate mountaintop. I would also be just as bonded to him without out it. He isn't allowed to wear his at work for safety reasons. He takes it off and places it in a special spot before he leaves his truck in the morning. He puts it back on as soon as he leaves. He feels the same as I do about it. I know, because his ring was stolen several years ago and he was miserable until he got a replacement. The rings are ours, for us, about us and a part of us and our story.

I originally wanted one because I loved the book The Hobbit when I was growing up, and I always thought the ring was my mother's wedding ring, so when I got married I wanted one the same, and secretly hoped it would make me invisible. Then after I got married, I read The Lord of the Rings, and that gave me a totally different and much less appealing twist to the ring thing. I used to wear it most of the time because everyone always thought I was about 10 years younger than I was and it was a way to be taken more seriously (there's nothing more annoying at 25 than being mistaken for a 15 year old all the time!).

Now it's just habit.

I wear mine because I have a 2 carat diamond that looks freakin amazing!!! Sparkly!

I'm not married and I wore a band my man got me. Now it doesn't fit:frown:
I wore it to symbolize our committment to each other.

Wether in the city or in the country, I'd wear mine every where. the symbolic meaning that my husband is every where with me. the only time's it ever comes off is for cleaning.

Wether in the city or in the country, I'd wear mine every where. the symbolic meaning that my husband is every where with me. the only time's it ever comes off is for cleaning.

Cause that's when you can't find him anywhere.

I don't wear one mostly because I keep losing the damn thing...i am glad it was inexpensive (see how i didn't say cheap ) But I am a stay at home mom, and really the only other people I meet are either married or know that I am married (although for some people apparently that doesn't matter) But on the other hand I made a promise to my husband, I don't really need a ring to prove it. My actions speak louder than a ring could.