Best Shot Monday: How Important is Your Wedding Band?
I was quite surprised to see this flyer posted on several neighborhood trees. I had lost my wedding band several years ago, and it never occurred to me to go out of my way to find it. It was an inexpensive, simple, white-gold band. I didn’t even bother wearing it all that often. I still don’t bother wearing my replacement band most days. I just don’t attach that much emotional significance to my ring. It seems to me that the strength of my marriage has nothing to do with this, or any other, symbol.
What about you? Is your wedding band important to you? Do you wear it every day? And if you ever lost it, would you be willing to pay a reward that’s higher than the rings’ actual worth to the person who finds it?
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Bonnie responds:
Posted: April 13th, 2008 at 8:02 pm →
My wedding ring still doesn’t fit since I had the kids. I’m too stubborn to go get it sized. I keep telling myself I will be able to wear it again once I lose the baby weight. My youngest baby will be FIVE in September. Who am I kidding ?? But still … I refuse to get it sized !! So … no, I don’t wear it much.
Jill responds:
Posted: April 13th, 2008 at 9:33 pm →
I do wear it, always. But I don’t think I would be willing to pay a reward if I ever lost it.
Julie responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 3:51 am →
I thought I lost mine once and I WAS upset, but not so upset to offer a reward…especially since my original ring was only $300 at a pawn shop
Brittany responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 9:16 am →
What a neat Best Shot!
I lost my engagement ring, about two years ago. It meant so much to me, because when my hubby bought it for me he was a teenager (we got married young) and bought it with MONTHS worth of savings. We searched high and low. Sent out fliers. Called everywhere I had been. It was horrible. We never got the original back. I did, however, on our 5th anniversary (about 9 months after I lost the original) get a new one…and he even got on one knee.
Computer Addict responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am →
Like Julie, I thought I lost mine once (it had slipped off my finger as I was going through a drawer crammed with stuff - I have since taken to wearing it on the other hand which has a slightly thicker finger!) and was upset - but not enough that I would offer a reward for it. I’d probably just go out and get a new one, as there is nothing particularly special about it - it’s not as if this was a family heirloom going back 3 decades
megan responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am →
even though i never wear mine, i do feel for that poor couple so desperate to find theirs. it hurts to lose something you value. neat that you would think of it for BSM!
Chris responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 10:40 am →
I lost my first one five years ago and replaced it 2 years ago before we went on our vacation. My wife insisted I that i should wear one on our vacation. I guess she’s just marking her territory.
Thanks for the compliments about my site’s new look.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 10:59 am →
@ Bonnie: I can understand why you refuse to get it resized. Don’t give up!
@ Jill: I know – you are one of those who don’t even take it off when they go to sleep. Ido is the same.
@ Julie: $300 at a pawn shop is kind of romantic… it’s a good story!
@ Brittany: I’m so sorry about the lost ring! But your story has a happy – and romantic – ending.
@ Computer Addict: this is pretty much how I felt about my wedding band.
@ megan: I agree. That couple is SO SWEET. It makes me want to meet them!
@ Chris: there’s definitely an element of letting the world know you are taken.
Dawnomite! responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 11:44 am →
Hi there! Interesting best shot - I would have snapped a pic of that flier too.
My feelings about my wedding ring are similar to yours - the ring has very little to do with my relationship with my hubby. So whenever I see other wedding rings that are very expensive, very custom-made, or very heavy on symbolism, I try to remind myself that the relationship I have with Dave is what matters, not the jewelry. We bought our inexpensive bands in a shop in Budapest, where we were missionaries during our engagement. So I guess they have a little significance after all.
Thanks for giving me something to consider during the fun that is BSM!
Maggie responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 11:58 am →
I had a friend who’s mother had lost her engagement ring shortly after she got it (when she was 18) while she was on vacation. When we were seniors in high school, someone called her mother - the ring was found at the bottom of a lake, and they traced it back to her….25 years later. Funny how things have a way of just showing up, isn’t it?
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 12:16 pm →
@ Dawnomite: “We bought our inexpensive bands in a shop in Budapest, where we were missionaries during our engagement” – wow. That’s an amazing story!
@ Maggie: another amazing story. I guess wedding bands have emotional significance, whether we care to admit it or not.
Childlife responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 12:33 pm →
Great shot!
I lost mine once - we offered a small reward, and tears were shed when it didn’t come back. But like you, it’s our relationship that matters - not the ring. We did replace it with one exactly like the first though. It’s special in the sense that it is something precious that my husband chose for me. Sentimental, but not the ‘embodiment’ of us.
kim responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm →
Ditto what Bonnie said….. exactly what she said. I do have a replacement cz band that I wear. I can’t stand being out with my kids and not wearing it.. I’m sure it has something to do with how I was raised, so I wear it everyday, while my real one sits in the jewelry box waiting for the pounds to melt away.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 2:58 pm →
@ Childlife: “Sentimental, but not the ‘embodiment’ of us” – exactly.
@ Kim: Like I told Bonnie… don’t give up!
Maya responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 5:38 pm →
Oh that just stinks!!! It would be hard to put a dollar amount on mine, just the memories are what makes it valuable!
Rose responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 6:21 pm →
I always wear my ring but I don’t think I would put out a reward for it, I would hate to lose it, but it’s only a physical representation of our commitment and love for each other.
natalie responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 6:25 pm →
At first I thought it was rather silly. But after a moment’s consideration, I realize I am rather attached to my ring. It’s the outward symbol of my relationship with my husband. I doubt I’d offer a reward if I lost it, but I would be upset about the loss.
I love the unusual MBS. Great idea!
Jenn responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 7:10 pm →
Well, I am not married anymore - though I did look at my ring as an outward sign of my love for my husband. though, after the marriage was over, I did not even really blink when I sold it, perhaps that means something
phyllis responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 7:28 pm →
this *is* an interesting picture because i’m with you, i’m not sure that i would pay more than the value just for sentimental-sake…i think my marriage goes far beyond the symbol of the ring.
mandy responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 7:32 pm →
I wear a cheap, silver band that my husband bought us a matching pair in Cabo for our 10th anniversary last October. It has more sentimental value than my original ring (which I still have but it doesn’t fit right now) but not sure I would pay a huge reward for it. It’s too indescript to post a lost ad for. But I think that photo of the ad is very sweet and says a lot about the couple’s love for each other.
Christina responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pm →
What an interesting question, and I enjoyed reading the responces too! I too fall into the “it no longer fits very well” category. I wear it during the day, but take it off at night. Some days I forget to put it on tho??? But even if I don’t always wear it, I’m glad to know it’s always there.
Meredith responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 8:12 pm →
When we got our rings, my wife said we’d have to keep the guy’s name in mind so we could get a replacement when I lost mine. We got them in November 2004 and I haven’t lost mine yet! (Knock on wood…) I would be really upset if I lost it though. It was a major symbol of commitment for the two of us; in fact since we can’t get legally married, it’s our only symbol of commitment. Yes, I could technically get an identical ring, but I’m extremely sentimental and I would want the same one back, so yes I probably would try to find it. I’ve had a couple of close calls, and I’m not sure they’d all be suitable for “reward offered” notices, but I’d try anyway.
I think the phrasing in the notice you posted is really sweet.
Elaine responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 8:24 pm →
I am pretty attached to my ring. I wear it all the time. I would be crushed if I lost it. I mean yes, it has monetary value, but nothing compared to what it symbolizes to me. It’s just a part of me now. I would definitely offer a reward to try to get it back.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 8:48 pm →
@ Maya: I agree – it’s the memories. I don’t know why for me, the ring is empty of memories. I guess it’s personal?
@ Rose: “it’s only a physical representation of our commitment and love for each other.” – pretty much how I feel. By the way, my name means Rose in Hebrew.
@ natalie: I too thought it was silly… then I thought it was sweet. But I still felt it’s something that I wouldn’t have done.
@ Jenn: glad you sold it… at least you got something out of it.
@ phyllis: “i think my marriage goes far beyond the symbol of the ring.” – I agree. This is how I feel.
@ mandy: I think yours is a great example of how monetary value often has nothing to do with the importance of an object. And yes, that couple sounds really sweet.
@ Christina: I really enjoyed reading the comments too. It’s interesting too see so many different approaches to such a basic question. It’s interesting that you sometimes forget to put your ring on, yet it’s important to you to know that it’s there.
@ Meredith: funny that she assumed you would lose it, and I’m glad you didn’t (knock wood).
I think there’s actually a good chance that gay marriages would become legal in our lifetime.
@ Elaine: so basically you feel just like Mark and Tatiana. It’s so romantic! I think I envy you.
Jaimee responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 9:34 pm →
I never take my rings off–In fact, right now, I don’t think it would come off because my hands are swollen from being pregnant. I would DIE if I lost my rings…plus the hubby would probably kill me
. But, I doubt I would pay more than the value of the rings to get them back. I would just feel sick over it forever!
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 14th, 2008 at 10:25 pm →
@ Jaimee: yes, husband was quite annoyed at me for losing my ring.
melody is slurping life responds:
Posted: April 16th, 2008 at 9:44 pm →
My husband and I had matching engagement/wedding bands made before the wedding. He lost his 3 months into the marriage and we replaced it with a plain band. Mine is still on my finger. I’d be heartbroken if I lost it.
JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, You responds:
Posted: April 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am →
I would go out of my mind if I lost my ring. It has a deep sentimental value to me … offer a reward? I don’t know - perhaps. There aren’t many things in my life that I would go bananas for if I lost them.. but my ring would be one of them so who knows
anyway… I don’t take it off so
MomGrind responds:
Posted: April 18th, 2008 at 5:59 pm →
@ JEMi: Wow. That’s a strong statement. I hope you never lose it!
Pinay Jade responds:
Posted: April 21st, 2008 at 8:36 pm →
The ad was really touching.
As for me,l I hardly take my rings off. I have both my engagement ring and wedding ring in my fingers all the time. They have great sentimental value to me too but I think I wouldn’t pay a reward if I ever lose them…the most important thing is we have each other and that is far more important than pieces of gold.
My husband would probably agree with me on this.
tracey responds:
Posted: April 30th, 2008 at 10:20 am →
I love that ring first of all. It’s so sweet!
And yes, I too lost something from my ring (my antique diamond) and I thought I was going to die! I ended up finding it in the clean cloths hamper (YAY!) but not having it for those few hours broke my heart. I am sentimental that way I guess. I would have been SO SAD to have lost something I enjoy wearing every day.