It remains a fact that, in the UK, more women than men are likely to wear a wedding ring. But even if they’re not going to wear it all the time, a man should always have one.
Reasons of tradition and safety are frequently cited by men for not wearing a wedding band, and many women suggest more suspicious motives for a male’s aversion to displaying the evidence of his marital status. But if he doesn’t have a wedding ring then a man is missing out on a large part of his wedding – and his marriage.
Men haven’t always worn a wedding ring
Historically, women were much more likely to wear a wedding ring – and with men more likely to be working with machinery in industrial Britain that was hardly surprising. Men working in factories today are often banned from wearing their bands for safety reasons, and many men in other manual trades choose to leave rings at home to avoid damaging either their finger or their ring itself.
Since the Second World War, though, it has become increasingly common for both bride and groom to have a wedding ring at the service. But many men – perhaps following a precedent set by their fathers – still choose not to wear one.
Another reason given by men for choosing not to have a wedding ring is that they don’t want to have their status defined by their jewellery. The same argument is used by many women who take “Ms” instead of “Mrs” or “Miss” as their preferred form of address.
A wedding ring is part of the wedding day
But those women can always change in future – whereas the man who chooses not to have a wedding ring has missed the boat as soon as the service is over. Buying a wedding ring later – even if it is to coincide with a silver, gold or diamond anniversary – is still going to be second best to sharing the wedding together, including rings, at the time.
The safety argument doesn’t hold water nowadays, either. Plenty of men are able to take a ring off before departing for work, or performing dangerous tasks at home. (It should also be noted here that the urban myth about titanium wedding rings – that they cannot be removed in an emergency – is untrue. They can be removed quite easily using a jeweller’s ring cutter or another specialised tool.)
Different ways to wear a wedding ring
Men also have the option of having the ring and wearing it in a non-traditional way -- on a chain around the neck being the most common, but men have also attached wedding rings to watches and bracelets in the past.
Despite the emergence of male celebrities like David Beckham who are happy to wear jewellery and others who wear it as part of a ‘bling’ culture, men do not have many opportunities to wear jewellery. A watch, a chain and the odd ring is all they are generally permitted. Every man should grab the chance to wear a wedding ring for that reason alone, if nothing else.
Some may be glad they don’t live in America – where, as well as wearing a wedding ring, a man is increasingly likely to wear an engagement ring. Even for bling’s most outspoken advocates, that may yet be a step too far.