A Short List Of The Most Common Engagement Traditions
Today engagement traditions are very diverse. Some couples go out for a date, some have dinner at the parents’ house, while others may even travel to another place together before getting engaged.
Engagement ring
One tradition that is still common today is an engagement ring. The tradition of exchanging rings comes from the Romans who gave each other iron rings during betrothal. During Medieval times in Europe, it was said that if a couple wore their rings on the right hands they would be blessed with fertility. For this reason, many European cultures continue to exchange their engagement rings on the fourth finger of the left hand (the one next to your pinky). While diamond rings are typically used as engagement rings, moissanite is growing in popularity as an engagement ring because it is affordable. Buying an oval moissanite engagement ring can be ten times cheaper than a diamond ring of the same design. When it comes to brilliance, moissanite matches or even exceeds diamond. Moissanite also does not lag far behind a diamond when it comes to durability and hardness.
Engagement Party
A common tradition in the United States is the engagement party, which is thrown for the couple by their family and friends before they get married. The party celebrates their love and commitment while also testing how well they work together as a couple. Other traditional engagements include giving and receiving gifts, which are now part of the engagement party activities. Usually, men give women flowers or jewelry while women give men cuff-links, neckties, etc. This gift-giving tradition is not to be confused with wedding gifts.
Engagement Announcement
Depending on where you live and what culture your family is a part of there could be a long list of traditions involved for engagement announcements – from who gets to tell whom first to whether or not it should be a surprise. It can even vary by religion, with some religions being more open about sharing the news than others. It can also vary by culture, where engagements are announced through newspapers – with details about where and when the party will take place as well as the people hosting it.
Throwing A Shower
Another tradition is throwing a bridal shower for the future bride-to-be. It prepares her on some level for what she will be experiencing leading up to the wedding day, such as preparing meals and household chores that will need to be done after getting married.
Engagement Portrait
What we call a pre-wedding shoot or engagement shoot today actually dates back nearly two centuries. This is tradition is one where couples have their engagements professionally photographed. The idea of having an engagement portrait taken originated in Victorian England when upper-class women used to wear a special outfit called a “war-paint” before getting married. They would sit for hours as their outfits were painted with different colorful pigments by artists who wanted to capture her image before she changed her dress for her wedding day.
These are only some of the most common engagement traditions around the world today. Besides exchanging rings there are now countless ways that people make this important milestone in their lives truly unique.