With This Ring
Q: Please tell me the history of the tradition of the wedding ring. — Kim Evans, Little Rock
A: Wearing a ring as a public pledge to honor the marriage contract became customary during Roman times. Some of the earliest wedding rings were made of simple iron, but gold rings with gems became popular during medieval times. Rubies and sapphires were fashionable, but the most coveted gem was the diamond. Why, you ask? Two words: “the unconquerable” — the meaning of the Greek word adamas, from which the word “diamond” is derived.
Diamonds represented invincible strength. Ancient astrologers believed these precious gems promoted lasting love and warded off nightmares.
Why the fourth finger? That can be traced to the Egyptians, who believed the vena amoris (vein of love) ran directly from the heart to the top of the fourth finger.
Dual-ring ceremonies became standard in the United States during World War II, when young men had to leave their loved ones behind, not knowing if they would return. Wedding bands became critical to the war effort, as a solace to lonely soldiers and as a reminder for brides that their soldiers were thinking of them.
Wedded Bliss
Q: I want to submit my recent wedding picture to Arkansas Bride. How may I access the needed forms? — Jenny Caldwell, Hot Springs
A: It’s easy! Just upload your pics here. It can be a black and white or color photo. Please make sure it’s a close-up picture of the two of you. You can also mail the picture. If so, on the back, include your name and your fiance’s name, the church and city where you were wed and the name of your photographer. You can mail them to Arkansas Bride, Wedded Bliss, P.O. Box 3686, Little Rock, AR 72203. You can also e-mail them to weddedbliss@arkansasbride.com. Please remember that because we get so many pictures throughout the year, we can’t return photos.
To ask our editor a question, please contact her via email at advice@arkansasbride.com