Wedding Ring Superstitions

Weddings are riddled with supersitious beliefs, sometimes couched as tradition, sometimes connected with the idea of good luck and bad luck being transactional - you do something that guarantees one or the other.

Arguably,  there are more superstitions attached to wedding rings than to any other article, including the wedding dress.

Many of those beliefs cancel one another out, and all of them originated before men started to wear wedding rings, so all of the beliefs apply only to the bride.

Which will be a relief to all those male tradies out there who, for safety reasons, will be removing their rings before they go back to work!

Superstitions about trying your wedding ring on

Someone is sure to tell you that it is unlucky for the bride to try the ring on before the ceremony, but I can assure you, it won't be anyone in the jewellery store. Or any celebrant, for that matter. You need to know your ring is the right size.

Celebrant version of this superstition is that it is unlucky to skip trying on the ring for size before the ceremony because you run the risk of having a too-small ring forced onto you ring finger, making it swell up and go purple or not being able to get the ring on at all. Or having a too-large ring drop off your finger later, causing a frantic hunt.

Another belief, reflecting a total lack of understanding of the fact that metals are impervious, is that a ring bought in a store, or bought second hand may have absorbed bad luck from someone who tried it on in the store, or had an unhappy marriage.

Superstitions about the ring being dropped

My favourite conflicting superstitions are these two

• If the ring is dropped before it is placed on the bride’s finger it is most unlucky.

• But, all evil influences and spirits will be shaken out of it if it is dropped before being placed on the bride's finger, ensuring a happy marriage.

Needless to say, you know which one I share with the guests if there is a ring mishap on the day!

On the other hand, it all depends on where it is dropped. Sand, grass, hard floor indoors, all present challenges in finding the ring.

Superstitions about taking the ring off after the wedding

Should you dare to take your wedding ring off? Ever? Someone is sure to tell you that your wedding ring should never be removed once it has been placed on your finger during the ceremony. It seems that the traditional promise “Till death us do part” has become attached to the ring in many people's eyes. This belief has been so engrained that it is not uncommon for a patient's wedding ring to be covered with sterile plaster when having surgery, instead of being removed.

However, there is apparently a workaround, with many people believing that if you slip the ring on and off your finger once, before leaving the church (I've never heard anyone say wedding venue instead) and immediately put it back on, you won’t have bad luck if, for any reason, you have to take the ring off later, in fact, taking it off that once might even bring good luck.

And the practical ones, who go for the sunset clause version -  asserting it is unlucky to take your wedding ring off until you have been married for a year (or seven years)