Groom Style: Alternative Ring Options
So you just got engaged,
and now you have to find a ring for your groom.
There are so many options for groom’s rings. Wooden ones made out of whiskey barrels, gold and silver ones with gemstones, Qalo rings for the adventurers, and for me a sweet symbol tattooed on my ring finger.
I’m always a fan of the non-traditional way of being and doing anything. Black sheep? Love them.
But it all comes down to what the groom actually wants. My wife got me a cool wooden wedding ring. It broke within a few weeks (maybe wooden rings aren’t the most durable?). I did get it replaced for free, BUT. I wanted a tattoo because our marriage is so sacred and so permanent for me. She’s my soul mate. And the “entire universe has conspired” to help us find one another. The symbol I chose is an alchemist symbol meaning “earth.” Because she grounds me. She IS earth and mother and all that embodies creation.
But this is us. And maybe you want to go about it a different way.
AND THAT’S OK!
Like everything else, do what is best for you. But don’t be pressured. Don’t stress out about it.
Your love is bigger than a ring.
Your love is bigger than a symbol or a tattoo or lack of one. You get to spend the rest of your life being connected to someone who knows you and loves you with the depth of the ocean. And that’s pretty fantastic. And exponentially greater than a small circular cluster of atoms that resides on your “ring” finger.
Side Note: most men didn’t wear wedding rings until the 1940’s. This is thought to be because of WWII and men going off to war, BUT its probably more likely because the diamond industry started marketing like CRAZY. And we are all still products of the biggest marketing scam in the history of earth.
But that’s another blog post… that I may or may not write.
(If you care to know more, Watch season 1, episode 2 of Adam Ruins Everything on Netflix.)
That being said, I do want to be helpful and offer some suggestions.
First, make sure you know your man’s ring size. This is a bit obvious but needs mentioning just in case.
Look on Etsy. They have beautiful unique options!
Qalo.com has great silicone options perfect for guys who go outdoors a lot or work with their hands. You can also get these at REI.
If you’re opting for an in-store experience, take him with you. Let him pick out different ones he likes and then come back and surprise him with whichever one you guys loved later! :)
If you’re opting for gemstones, don’t just think about the color. think about what they mean, how they make you feel, etc.
have fun with it!
Whatever you decide, just know that you always have options. You don’t ever have to do something just because it’s been a tradition. You GET to do something (whatever it may be) because you WANT to. And that is the beauty of living life in freedom.
extra tip:
Silver and Sage in Scottsdale, AZ makes one of a kind mala bracelets and necklaces. You can build your own, or order from a set of pre-made malas. I encourage you to look them up and check them out. These could be used for special gifts to each other or for family members. Each gemstone used is precious and of the highest quality. They all carry their own vibrations and meaning. So you can feel them out, choose a special bead that means something, and handpick the stones used in each personalized bracelet/necklace.
Written by Rich and Shelby Satnam