The Steps are Ringing.

A couple of days back, a friend of mine took all my rings which left my fingers bare and boy, did they feel naked! Which brought me to my thoughts for the evening. It's a little shallow in comparison to my usual posts but, change is good, no?

The below may be considered the " norm " but do bare in mind that not everyone adopts such customs so, just read and accept it with an open attitude. However, this does by no way mean I believe in the below either. I'm just saying.. ( yes, I know. Rachel's ALWAYS just saying.. )

There are typically three steps to getting married. Three steps in terms of rings, I mean.

1. The Promise Ring.

I don't know how many of you have yet to hear about such a thing as the promise ring. Perhaps you would know it better if I referred to it as a " friendship ring " meaning there is no promise to marry. Of course this friendship rings turns into a promise ring when, obviously, there is a promise to marry. To put it simple, it is a pre-engagement ring - There is a chance of a future together. This is typically worn on the ring finger ( Fourth finger - Between the pinky and the middle finger ) of the left hand.

2. The Engagement Ring.

Of course everyone has heard of this and if you haven't well, maybe it's about time you crawled out from under that rock of yours. An engagement ring is a testimony to love and the commitment of the couple that is engaged to be married. A woman typically gets this after the guy proposes. This can go on to replace the promise ring. By giving an engagement ring ( normally a diamond or some other precious jewel ), the promise is sealed in " stone " ( do you get it now? Heee.. ) and is a way of telling the world that the person has made a commitment to someone else. Normally only the women wear an engagement ring but in the 21st Century that we live in, it is not uncommon for the male to wear the ring as well as to say to other women, " Hands off, he's mine!".

3. The Wedding Band.

I prefer the word wedding band as compared to wedding ring. It is worn by a couple that has been married. After the wedding, the wedding band is worn on the ring finger closes to the hand with the engagement ring above it (meaning closest to the tip of the finger). If the guy is creative, the rings may match and in certain situations, may sometimes interlock or are fused together to form one ring.

So yeah, I just thought that was interesting and it's something everyone should know. I mean, it's already common sense but if you didn't know that then well, at least you do now. I'm going to go have some ice-cream. Toodles! :)