Engagement Ring vs. Wedding Ring: What Are the Differences?

In 2020, over 1.2 million couples got married.

If you’re putting a ring on it this year, you’ll want to make sure you’re proposing with an engagement ring and not a wedding ring.

In this engagement ring buying guide, we’ll show you what the engagement ring vs. wedding ring is.

The Engagement Ring

The engagement ring is presented to the woman during a proposal.

It’s easier to spot because it’s more glitzy than the wedding ring. Traditionally, the band features a gemstone like a diamond, but some couples opt for something more unique, like a birthstone.

In modern times, the engagement ring is more likely to represent the personality and preferences of the bride. She may even choose a rose gold band instead of white gold.

Instead of buying an engagement ring, some men receive a ring from an older relative. An engagement ring from generations past will always add a timeless, vintage flair.

It’s more standout than an engagement ring that has one gemstone as the centerpiece. Sometimes it will have a cluster of smaller gemstones around it. For this reason, they’re almost always more expensive than the wedding ring.

After the engagement ring comes, the first thing you’ll want to do is look into venues. This venue in Las Vegas offers an affordable package with a beautiful lakeside view.

The Wedding Ring

The wedding ring doesn’t draw nearly much attention as the engagement ring. This is because, in most cases, it’s simply a band. These are the rings that the happy couple exchange on their wedding day.

The wedding ring will snuggle right up against the engagement ring on your “ring finger.” This is the finger to the right of your pinky on the left hand. Conventionally, the wedding ring goes on the inside.

Since this is the case, a lot of brides move their engagement ring over to their right hand during the wedding. This is so the groom can slide the wedding ring on her finger. Afterward, she can layer the engagement ring on top.

You can even have the rings welded together. This process, called soldering, creates a cohesive look and minimizes your chance of losing both rings.

This is one of the reasons that the wedding ring is only a band. It makes it easier to stack with the engagement ring. Of course, you can forgo tradition and wear a wedding ring with a gemstone. Or wear them on other fingers.

You don’t have to worry about them not matching either. If you want them to match, though, you can buy the engagement ring and the wedding ring as a set.