TO HAVE AND TO HOLD: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WEDDING RINGS
Wedding rings date to as far back as the ancient Egyptian times, when wedding rings were woven from plants that grew along the Nile River. Eventually, the wearing of wedding rings was incorporated into the Christian and Jewish matrimonial ceremonies. It likewise became a practice for a bride to receive a ring when she gets married. And in the more recent past, both the bride and groom would receive a ring each on the day of their wedding.
Your wedding ring is a meaningful depiction of eternal love. It is a hallmark of devotion and of an eternal vow between you and your fiancé to love and cherish each other, till death do you part. Wedding rings are, naturally, circular in shape and this in itself speaks of your promises of eternity to one another.
A circle is the perfect shape for any “promisering” as it has no beginning or end. A circle befittingly symbolizes infinity. A circle is endless… as your love for one another ought to be. For many, the wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The reason for this is that the vein in this finger is believed to lead directly to the ring wearer’s heart. Notably, however, it is more customary for the wedding ring to be worn on the right hand in many European countries.
The basic assumption is that, by constantly wearing your wedding ring, you are publicly acknowledging your dedication and commitment to a loving union solemnized by either (or both) church and state. That you and your fiancé will be exchanging rings in the solemnization ceremony, you are actually exchanging a mutual commitment to love and fidelity. To be more specific, Father Stephen Wang (priest and author) explained in his book: “The ring that you wear does not represent your commitment to your marriage, your love for your spouse, your faithfulness. … It represents the commitment, love and faithfulness of your spouse TO you.” For Catholics, “the moment of the marriage is the exchange of consent and the speaking of the vows. The ring is a symbol of the union that has already taken place,” explained Paulist priest, Father Lawrence Rice.
For your own wedding, you can add a personal, romantic touch to your wedding band by having a short but meaningful inscription engraved on the rings’ in-side. This gives you an opportunity to “cast in stone” (well, in this case, precious metal) a special message that is most meaningful between you and your fiancé. It could be a short verse, a simple “I love you”, your initials, or the date of your wedding.
Any Singapore wedding videographerwould know the significance of the wedding ring. Wedding rings have been used as dramatic or meaningful openings to many a wedding cinematography video. Wedding videography packagesandwedding photography packagesare never complete without featuring the marrying couple’s wedding rings whether before, during, or after the entire coverage.
Choose the best, most personally expressive wedding rings befitting your love for your fiancé. And then treasure your wedding ring, along with the promises of love and loyalty, with all your heart. It is yours to have and to hold for eternity.