In almost every culture there is something that allows those who are married to be recognized by something. The most well know in America being a ring on the 4th finger on the left hand. Other symbols, even in America, exist. For instance, the wife generally taking the husband’s surname.
Other cultures the females wear necklaces, some wear bangles…some have some very weird traditions and ceremonies that you can look up at your own risk.
As I was talking with my roommate the other night, we started talking about rings. If you Google how much to spend on a wedding ring, usually the answers will say that you should spend 2 months worth of salary on a ring. After I died inside, I started thinking about this. What does it mean? What does spending 2 months salary on a ring symbolize.
I understood that by spending this money you are showing your (hopefully) future bride that you value them at such an incomprehensible height that you’re willing to disobey all sensibility to buy something that has no benefit to daily life except snagging her finger on blankets for the rest of her life.
And truthfully, you are showing that you are willing to sacrifice money to show how much you truly do value her.
I get that. And I’m even willing to concede that this does do that. It does show a women that the man cares for them so much he is willing to do that.
But as I thought about it, it seemed so much better to do something that may not cost the fee, but makes up for it in thought and time.
I have a friend who is a blacksmith and welder, and he made his and his wife’s rings. They are some of the coolest rings I’ve ever seen. Steel ring encased around wood. Obviously not everbody is a blacksmith to be able to do this, but it’s the customization and time that went into it. Designing something.
Who cares about there being a little stone on the ring that someone somewhere decided was worth however many thousands of dollars. What kind of ring can you contribute to or work together on that will have something that can’t be bought? A ring that has time, thought, and maybe even some real work into it?
Much of this comes down to what you value most. If money is what you value most, maybe an expensive ring is what will best symbolize the love you want to display. But if time or serving is more important to you, maybe you should think outside the box for this ring.
What could you do that no one else would be able to?