Symbols Of Our Love

Prince William made headlines last month by deciding to go without a wedding ring, and people the world over took the opportunity to speculate as to whether this was the “right” decision and whether both partners in a marriage should always wear wedding bands.

In our marriage, my husband and I both happily wear wedding rings every day. In our eyes, our rings are beautiful symbols of our love and commitment to one another, reminding us that we are not alone throughout each moment of joy, sorrow or frustration. Stephen and I stand behind one another and support each other in all that we do, and our rings are one of the many ways we share that perspective with each other and with the world.

That said, if a couple chooses to forgo wedding rings, or if only one partner wishes to wear one, I don’t feel that it’s in any way a bad decision. After all, marriage is about understanding one another and doing what’s best for you as a couple, and if that involves making the decision not to wear a ring, what right does anyone else have to pass judgment?

In the aerospace engineering world, there are also certain career paths that don’t allow employees to wear wedding bands daily when working around high-tech equipment. In light of this, I realize that there may come a time when Stephen will no longer be able to wear his ring while on the job.

Would I feel sad about this? Yes, because when Stephen wears his ring, it makes me feel as though I am symbolically with him even when we are apart. But would I become angry or incredibly upset? Absolutely not. After all, a ring may be a beautiful symbol, but at the end of the day, it’s just that -- a symbol. Marriage, of course, is about so much more.

Do you and you husband both wear rings? Would it bother you if your spouse chose not to wear a wedding band?

(Photo Credit: Alex Neumann Photography)

Saturday Spotlight: Southwestern Style

Bring on the turquoise and Mexican food! Stephen and I are vacationing in New Mexico for a few days, soaking up the sun and enjoying the rich culture of the region.

In honor of our trip, here are a few touches of wedding inspiration, straight out of the Southwest.

Has a certain region or location inspired your wedding theme?

(Photo Credits: Keg Design & Google Images)

Wedding Week Countdown: Sweet ‘Somethings’

On my wedding day, I’ll be a classic bride with my…

Something Old

The gorgeous heirloom diamond in my engagement ring, which belonged to Stephen’s late grandmother, Jan.

Something New

My Alfred Angelo wedding gown!

Something Borrowed

My sister’s cute ivory clutch.

Something Blue

The tiny bow on the inside of my garter, which is a wedding day surprise for the groom!

What are your special “somethings”?

Wedding Week Countdown: With This Ring…

Stephen, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Heather, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

In just four days, Stephen and I will stand before our family members and friends as we speak these simple yet powerful words to one another. It all feels so close, and yet still so surreal.

I can’t wait.

(Photo Credit: Stephen Walrath)

I Cheated…

…on my ring!

A couple months ago, after having my engagement ring resized (hurray for weight loss!), I noticed that one of the small stones along the band had fallen out. I was bummed, but luckily, the jeweler agreed to repair it right away within the week.

This was good news, but it definitely felt strange to be without my ring for even a few days. So strange, in fact, that I instead took to wearing a sapphire birthstone ring on my wedding finger.

While many people didn’t even notice the change, those who did had nothing but compliments about the blue stone. In fact, some acquaintances I rarely see assumed that this fill-in was my actual engagement ring!

Though I was overjoyed to get my classic diamond back, in the end, it was fun getting so much attention for wearing a non-traditional style. Here, a few out-of-the-ordinary designs I love, including the Irish Claddagh ring.

In Irish culture, if the heart on this ring is pointed inward and worn on the left hand, it means the wearer’s heart has already been won. But if it’s facing outward and worn on the right hand, it means the wearer is still looking for love. This tradition is so much fun, I may try to tie it into my wedding day somehow!

Do you have a non-traditional engagement ring, or would you consider wearing one?

(Photo Credits: Sun Jewelry & Google Images)

Wedding Ring Bling for the Groom?

My fiancé Stephen is by far the most easygoing and patient man I’ve ever met. Calm and organized, he knows what he wants and gets things done without a lot of stress or indecisiveness.

Picking out his wedding band was no exception. While we considered a few different ring styles with diamonds, etchings and engravings, my future husband ultimately chose a traditional 5 mm yellow gold ring in the style his father has always worn.

The ring is classic and timeless, suiting his style perfectly. I love its simplicity.

Here, several styles we considered…

And the winner…

What type of ring does your groom have his eye on?

(Photo Credits: Zales & Jared)

Heirloom Engagement Ring

For a few brides I've known, being completely surprised with a beautiful, never-before-seen ring during the proposal was part of the fun. But when Stephen and I started talking about tying the knot, I told him that I hoped to choose my own engagement ring.

After all, my ring is something I plan to wear every day for the rest of my life!

This spring, before the proposal, Stephen's father honored him with the ring that belonged to his grandmother, Jan, who sadly passed away several years earlier. As we started to envision our engagement, wedding and life together, we hoped to find a way to honor her memory while also celebrating our own history as a couple.

To do so, we decided to have his grandmother's diamond placed in a ring setting of my choosing. Today, I have a lovely ring that is both an heirloom and uniquely my own. When I look at my ring, I see not only a symbol of a truly special person, but also a reflection of my own individuality.

As our wedding approaches, we may use the gold from Grandma Jan's ring as part of Stephen's wedding band, or may instead have it molded into a pendant for one of our future children. Either way, we'll continue to keep her always with us.

What about you? Did you choose your ring, or at least give your fiancé a hint about what style you wanted? How do you plan to honor special family members or traditions during your engagement and at your wedding?

(Photo Credit: Stephen Walrath)