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The institution of marriage is one which is drenched in tradition. Over the years as it has been celebrated by different cultures and through different era’s a whole range of conventions and customs have arisen. Not least, the giving and receiving of the wedding ring. It is said to be a symbol of everlasting love between two people. The circular shape of the ring strengthens the idea of an eternal bond which cannot be broken. It is believed that the very first rings were exchanged in Ancient Egyptian times around 5000 years ago. These would have been made from twisting and braiding reeds. In a range of traditional cultures the ring represents a sign of eternity and the void in the middle was thought of as a gateway. The wedding ring is worn as custom, on the third finger of the left hand. This convention began in Roman times due to the belief that the vein in this finger connects directly to the heart. It therefore seemed fitting to bear an emblem of love. Throughout history the ring has had other connotations linked in with the idea of partnership and marriage. In Roman times if a woman was given a ring, it then meant that she was owned by the man that bestowed it upon her. In these times rings were often made from strong metals such as iron, which again reinforces the idea of possession and being bound by the jewellery. The idea of marriage and what it represents has continually evolved throughout history. The giving of a wedding ring was not always about the love between two people, far from it. In fact, originally it represented a financial bond rather than an emotional one. The more money the groom and his family had the better, as this meant security and status for the bride and her relations. It is said that on the day of the wedding it was customary for the groom to hand over a leather purse filled with gold and silver coins to the bride. The materials which rings are made from have like the meaning of the ceremony itself, changed over the years and are of course symbolic too. After the initial use of grass, ivory and leather rings began to emerge. These materials were a lot more hard-wearing and therefore suitable to represent a long lasting bond. Now it is precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum and rare stones such as diamonds and rubies that are used to impress today’s contemporary brides. If you are planning your big day why not get a special wedding invitation from bride and groom direct created. Bride and groom direct wedding invites offer a range of styles and designs to choose from.
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