Wedding Ring Question?

Q: Is the wedding ring supposed to be a plain band or is it supposed to have a stone on it? Is it supposed to be gold, silver?

A:I think "usually" the wedding ring is plain.... but not always. I am engaged.... we are getting married Sept. 21, 2002. We did something different for symbolic reasons. Both the engagement ring as well as the wedding rings are custom-made. The engagement ring is a diamond with smaller diamonds in a half circle on one side of it. The wedding ring is the other half of the semi circle forming a complete circle of smaller stones with the big diamond in the center. It symbolizes the two of us with Christ in the center. Depends. Some religions require that the wedding band be plain, with no jewel on it. Others don't care. In most cases, you don't even need a wedding band to make a valid marriage, just as you don't *need* a ring to have a valid betrothal. Or, in some, only the bride *needs* a ring, but not the groom. It's supposed to be a precious metal. Silver is not as expensive as gold, and some would discount it on that. Other folks like the durability of platinum, but that's way more expensive even than gold. My parents have plain, gold, matching bands which they did not buy until they'd been married, oh, 20 (?) years or so. I have my grandmother's platinum/diamond wedding band, and my fiance will have a new gold ring with an intricate celtic design and a green stone. My parents original rings were $3 silver rings bought at some hippy faire in 1970. Their marriage has lasted 32 years and is still going strong. The rings are supposed to be something that is meaningful for

you, which you will take pleasure in wearing either for symbolism, aesthetic beauty or both. In my case, I *love* this ring... and coincidentally the engagement band belonged to *his* grandmother and is also platinum and diamond, though I will never wear them on the same hand as the designs are so different. That is one large central diamond surrounded by filigreed petals with smaller diamonds in them. My grandmother's band is simpler, marquise and round diamonds alternating in bezel settings. They're both lovely and more "me" than anything gold could be. And yes, had the wedding bands been silver from the Saturday Market, I'd have been content.