As with many things at a wedding, there are details people don’t think about until a decision is suddenly due. In this case, it’s engagement ring etiquette. When should you take it off? Which hand should you wear it on for the ceremony? Do you switch hands once you’re married? Whether your ring features a lab created or natural diamond, there are a few simple etiquette guidelines worth knowing.
There are long-standing traditions about where to place your engagement ring and wedding band before the wedding, on the day itself, and after you’ve said “I do.” As a wedding photographer I’m asked about this all the time, so here’s a clear, modern guide you can follow—or tweak to fit your style.
Engagement ring etiquette
During your wedding ceremony
On your wedding day, tradition says to wear your engagement ring on the third finger of your right hand (your right-hand ring finger). This keeps your left-hand ring finger free so your partner can place your wedding band there during the vows. By the end of the ceremony, you’ll usually have a ring on each hand—your engagement ring on the right and your brand-new wedding band on the left. Many people then slide the engagement ring back so both rings sit neatly together on the left hand.
The practice of using the left-hand ring finger is often attributed to ancient beliefs about a vein that ran from that finger straight to the heart—a romantic idea that helped cement the symbolism of the wedding band. If you like adding meaning to your day, you might enjoy a special moment like a ring-warming before the vows—here are some ring warming ceremony ideas—so your bands carry blessings the second they’re exchanged. At the end of your ceremony you should have a ring on both hands, ready to stack.
After your wedding ceremony
Once you’re married, the classic order is simple: wear both rings on the left-hand ring finger, with the wedding band closest to your heart (at the base of the finger) and the engagement ring stacked above it. This arrangement is comfortable, secure and instantly signals your status at a glance.
If you prefer a particular style or setting—say a low-profile band for everyday wear—you can still mix things up. Many couples choose practical options for daily life and keep heirloom or statement pieces for special occasions. If you’re currently shopping, browsing engagement ring designs can help you imagine how the two rings will stack.
You could also ignore tradition
Etiquette is a guide, not a rule book. For more help planning the details, explore our Wedding Ideas for your Big Day. Plenty of people keep wearing their engagement ring on the right hand permanently, skip it day-to-day for comfort, or fuse the engagement ring and wedding band into one piece by soldering. Do what feels authentic and practical for you.
Trends change, too. For instance, the “traditional” white wedding gown only became popular in the 1800s—before that, the common hue was actually blue. So if you prefer a different stacking order, a minimalist single band, or an evolving stack with anniversary rings, you’re in great company.
Quick tips to make it easy
- Before the ceremony: Move your engagement ring to your right-hand ring finger.
- During the ceremony: Wedding band goes on the left-hand ring finger.
- After the ceremony: Stack both on the left, band first, engagement ring above.
- Personal preference wins: Comfort and meaning matter more than strict rules.
Final thoughts
Following engagement ring etiquette can add a touch of tradition to your day, but your love story is yours to style. Whether you keep it classic, modernise the stack, or design something entirely unique, the best choice is the one you’ll enjoy wearing every day.
Lauren and Nic held their wedding at the historic bed and breakfast known as Oliver’s White Hill, with their reception taking place in the nearby chaff shed that connects up to the nearby Oliver’s Taranga winery. The weather was absolutely stunning throughout and the location always provides for some wonderful photo opportunities. I was chosen to be their wedding photographer for 4 hours of their day which saw me taking photos from just before their wedding ceremony through to around an hour of their reception.
Prior to the ceremony
As usual I arrived a little early so I had a bit of time to walk about, setting up my virtual reality video camera and take a few shots of Lauren and Nic getting ready, although they didn’t expect me to be on site for another 30 minutes or so. They were both being prepared in different rooms of the Oliver’s White Hill bed and breakfast so it was fairly easy to flit back and forth between the two.
Oliver’s White Hill wedding ceremony
The original Oliver family was part of the pioneering history of wine making in South Australia, having established the White Hill property in the 1840’s the Oliver family still to this day maintains the property and cultivates the nearby winefields. Today the rustic old house has been the backdrop of a wide variety of different celebrations, with the first wedding taking place there over 100 years ago. The setting Lauren and Nic chose as the backdrop to their own wedding ceremony was the lovely little lake down at the foot of a large grassy area – looking away from the house itself. It provides a wonderfully Australian backdrop complete with gumtrees and causes the sun to cast it’s light over the wedding ceremony in such a wonderful way.
Glamour Photos
Directly after the wedding ceremony and family photos, we had a short walk around the grounds to take a few glamour photos before heading up to the Chaff Shed for the reception.
Oliver’s Chaff Shed reception
On the same grounds as the Oliver’s White Hill homestead is the Oliver’s Chaff Shed where the owners has transformed an old chaff shed into a cosy little function room, complete with separate bar and modern toilet and kitchen facilities. It would be tricky to host a large gathering here but for small intimate weddings such as Lauren and Nic’s, it’s a wonderfully rustic setting.
Thanks to Lauren and Nic for having me be a part of their lovely wedding at the Oliver’s White Hill homestead! It was a wonderful day, and I hope they like their photos! 🙂
Alexis and Matt were married nearby the Belair National Park at the (now closed) Belair Park Country Club with the original aim to use a grassy area to the front of the complex for their ceremony. This wasnt to be due to the weather, so instead they used the interior of one of the reception halls available on site. I was lucky enough to be chosen as their wedding photographer for the entire day, and despite the early weather, the day turned out brilliantly!
Preparation
I started the day with Matt and his grooms men who were being prepared at their parent’s place in Semaphore Park. One of the first things that Matt said to me was that we wasn’t a smiler 🙂 Nothing wrong with that though as his grooms men were more than keen on playing about, hanging on his nerves 🙂
Lexi was being prepared down the road in a room in the Lakes Hotel. The girls were waiting for me as they were sitting about casually having a bit to eat and joking about. More than happy to help me set up my photos 🙂 The only thing that was dampening the mood was the potential for rain, but if all turned out great in the end!
Belair Country Club Wedding Ceremony
The Belair National Park is one of the oldest National Parks in Australia and it boasts quite a bit of natural flora and fauna. The country Club built nearby in the 90s takes advantage of this incredible setting being surrounded by 835 hectares of the most beautiful scenery you could imagine.
It was a very warm period of the year when Alexis and Matt were wed amongst the Belair National Park, however the weather turned for the worse overnight and the original plan of using the grassy area in front of the Belair Country Club was cancelled due to fear of the ground being muddy. So the Ceremony was moved indoors which turned out to be a wonderful turn of events as it was stunning.
Belair National Park Glamour Photos
Directly after the ceremony and family photos, the bridal party first head out to where the ceremony was originally going to be held to mimic a shot I took at a wedding last time I was here – only to find the ground was fine. We then used the entry driveway of the country club to take photos of the cars before travelling to the Belair train station. We then went for a bit of a trek through the Belair National Park after having realised the ladies had left their flats at the Country Club – so it was pretty difficult going for them walking around in their heels, but we managed! 🙂 It was well worth it too, as we took some stunners!
Belair Country Club Wedding Reception
We head back to the Country Club for the reception, which took place in the upper reception room on site. The room is a lovely setting, complete with a private bar just outside, and room for a large number of guests. The area was decorated with long pieces of beautiful cloth which really completed the entire look of the room.
I;d very much like to thank Lexi and Matt for having me capture the wedding photography at their Belair National Park wedding, and I wish them all the best in the future!
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