With this Ring, I observe an Ages Old Wedding Tradition

Wedding rings have come to be known as a symbol of eternal love and commitment. It has only been in the last 50 years or so that the idea of getting married would come from a long-standing relationship that grew out of romantic feelings towards each other. In fact, it is hard to think of other reasons to get married besides love. Here are a few reasons a couple might be married and a little history of wedding practices.

Expecting a Baby

In the past, there were other reasons a couple might get married. One was if the bride was expecting, it was the proper thing to do to make the baby's birth legal. However, this is an outdated practice and is no longer used. Couples do not have to get married for a birth to be legally recognized.

Financial Stability

Another reason a couple would marry was for financial security. A woman with little resources would accept the marriage proposal of a wealthy man to guarantee her financial future and her children's future. The woman would have to depend on the husband to earn a good living as not many women worked in that day and age.

Social Status

A marriage was also treated as a business transaction in wealthy or prominent families to ensure the continuation of their bloodlines. A young girl would often marry an older gentleman so her family could keep their social standing in the community.

Modern Wedding Traditions

Many people wonder where the tradition of wedding rings came from. In ancient times there was an exchange of goods or valuables from the groom's family to the bride's as part of her dowry, the rings could be a symbol of the gold and silver coins that were given to the bride.

The circle is a symbol of eternity, so the wedding ring symbolizes the financial commitment and their never-ending love for each other. It serves a dual purpose, it is a physical sign of their verbal commitment to love and honor each other inside the confines of the marriage union.

Wedding Favors

Small gifts, called wedding favors are given to the wedding guests attending the ceremony as a souvenir. Sometimes they are little packages of colorful candies or nuts, chocolates or other edible treats. Candles, crystal and glass jars full of homemade gifts may also be used.

Wedding Rings

Wedding traditions have changed drastically in the past few years. Wedding rings are a vital part of the wedding ceremony. The husband-to-be proposes to his fiancé and presents her with an engagement ring, a symbol of his intent to marry her and be responsible for her well-being. The wedding ring is presented during the ceremony and takes the place of the first ring as a permanent symbol of commitment. The two rings are often worn together with the wedding band closest to the finger and the engagement ring on the outside.

In previous years only women wore wedding rings. The men's band was very plain and often just a simple band with no decoration or embellishment. The bride-to-be would insist that her husband wear a wedding ring so that other marriage-minded women would know he was taken.

The focus of weddings today is about love, romance and happy endings. The previous reasons for marriage are no longer valid so when a couple does marry it is for love. Today, the reason for wearing a wedding ring is to show the world your commitment to each other and your agreement to love each other unconditionally.