Wedding Ring Superstitions

Weddings are riddled with superstitious beliefs, sometimes couched as tradition, sometimes connected with the idea of good luck and bad luck being transactional - you do something that guarantees one or the other.

Arguably,  there are more superstitions attached to wedding rings than to any other article, including the wedding dress.

Many of these beliefs cancel one another out, and all of them originated before men started to wear wedding rings, so it will be you brides who will be on the receiving end of ring advice based on superstition! Which will be a relief to all those male tradies out there who, for safety reasons, need to take their rings off before they go back to work!

Superstitions about trying your wedding ring on

Someone is sure to tell you that it is unlucky for the bride to try the ring on before the ceremony, but I can assure you, it won't be anyone in the jewellery store. Or any celebrant, for that matter. You need to know your ring is the right size.

Celebrant version of this superstition is that it is unlucky to skip trying on the ring for size before the ceremony because you run the risk of having a too-small ring forced onto your ring finger, making it swell up and go purple, causing a panic. Or you might not be able to get the ring on at all, causing a real dilemma. Or a too-large ring could drop off your finger later, causing a frantic hunt.

Another belief, which reflects a total lack of understanding of the fact that metals are impervious, is that a ring bought in a store, or bought second hand may have absorbed bad luck from someone who tried it on in the store, or had an unhappy marriage. Thankfully, this is not a superstition we hear often, given the emerging (and lovely) trend I'm seeing of couples both saving money and being environmentally responsible by choosing an antique or vintage ring.

Superstitions about the ring being dropped

My favourite conflicting superstitions are these two which neatly cancel one another out!

• If the ring is dropped before it is placed on the bride’s finger it is most unlucky.

• On the other hand (see what I did there) all evil influences and spirits will be shaken out of the wedding ring if it is dropped before being placed on the bride's finger, and this will ensure that the marriage will be happy.

Needless to say, you know which one I share with the guests if there is a ring mishap on the day!

On the other hand, it all depends on where it is dropped. Sand, grass, hard floor indoors, all present challenges in finding the ring.

Superstitions about taking the ring off after the wedding

Should you dare to take your wedding ring off? Ever? Someone is sure to tell you that your wedding ring should never be removed once it has been placed on your finger during the ceremony. It seems that the traditional promise “Till death us do part” has become attached to the ring in many people's eyes. This belief has been so ingrained that it is not uncommon for nurses to cover a  patient's wedding ring with sterile plaster before having surgery, instead of removing it.

However, there is a workaround! Many people believe that if you slip the ring on and off your finger once, before leaving the church (I've never heard anyone say wedding venue instead) and immediately put it back on, you won’t have bad luck if, for any reason, you have to take the ring off later, in fact, taking it off that once might even bring good luck.

And then there are the practical people who go for the sunset clause version -  asserting it is unlucky to take your wedding ring off until you have been married for a year (or seven years)