What is the significance of exchanging rings when we say ‘I do’?

The custom of swapping gold bands goes back to ancient Roman and Egyptian times, and it is thanks to them that we wear wedding rings on the third finger of the left hand, as they believed that the vein from this finger led directly to the heart.

The ring itself represents the sealing of the marriage. The unbroken circle marks the eternal commitment that a couple makes to one another and the gold symbolises the value of the relationship.

According to tradition, the wedding band should be made of the same metal and be of a similar style to the engagement ring. Before the wedding ceremony, etiquette dictates that the engagement ring should be transferred to the third finger of the right hand so that the wedding ring can be placed on the correct finger without obstruction – the engagement ring can then be transferred back to the left hand after the ceremony.

It is supposedly bad luck to wear the ring before the ceremony or drop the ring during the service. And if the groom can’t get the ring past the second knuckle of the bride’s