Why Don’t All Brides and Grooms Exchange Two Rings —and Why Do We Exchange Rings at All?

The answer is both simple and steeped in history.

We’re all familiar with the tradition of the groom proposing to the bride with an engagement ring. But historically, it wasn’t just brides who wore engagement rings—grooms did too. These were often known as puzzle rings, designed to be incomplete until the wedding day. At the ceremony, the groom would add his ring to the bride’s, forming a single, unified piece worn by the bride.

However, as societies industrialized, puzzle rings fell out of favor. Men working in physically demanding jobs faced safety risks—rings could catch on machinery and cause serious injury. As a result, the tradition shifted. The puzzle ring evolved into two distinct pieces: the engagement ring and the wedding band. The bride’s engagement ring became a vestige of the original puzzle ring, and the groom’s contribution transformed into the wedding band.

Single vs. Double Ring Ceremonies

Historically, only the bride received a ring, a tradition known as a Single Ring Ceremony. But as work environments changed and societal norms evolved, it became more common for both partners to exchange rings. This modern tradition is known as a Double Ring Ceremony, where both the bride and groom wear wedding bands as symbols of their mutual commitment.

Rings as Symbols of Bonding

The deeper meaning of wedding rings goes back even further. In ancient times, couples practiced Handfasting—a ritual where their hands were bound together with rope or cloth during the vows, symbolizing their union. Of course, walking through life physically bound together isn’t practical. Rings became the elegant solution: a lasting, wearable symbol that the couple is “bound” to one another in love and partnership.

So whether it’s one ring or two, puzzle or plain, the tradition endures because the meaning remains timeless.