Byzantine wedding rings: Protection, Faith, and the Origins of Wedding Traditions

This ancient Byzantine wedding ring dates back to the 6^th century. It’s an octagonal ring adorned with eight scenes depicting the life of Christ.  The scene decorating the flat surface of the top of the ring depicts the Ascension.

Byzantine ring offered protective powers and more

In Byzantine times, jewelry was far more than decoration, it carried spiritual meaning and protective power. Rings in particular were often crafted to commemorate important milestones such as betrothals or weddings, and many bore inscriptions drawn from scripture. One such example is a ring inscribed with the words, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3), a phrase that would have served as both a declaration of faith and a blessing upon the union.

Unlike the later Victorian keeper rings, which focused on safeguarding the wedding band itself, Byzantine rings often featured engraved scenes from the life of Christ. These images were believed to combine into a “prayer in pictures,” imbuing the piece with protective power. The tradition reflected a broader belief in jewelry as a spiritual safeguard — talismans against misfortune, woven seamlessly into the rituals of love, commitment, and marriage.

Beyond its amulet-like role, Byzantine jewelry served many of the same purposes it does today. It marked life’s milestones, adorned the body with beauty, and displayed the wealth and status of its owner. Jewelry was not limited to women; men and even children wore it as a sign of prosperity and identity. At the same time, it held a practical function, considered a form of “liquid wealth,” pieces could be melted down or traded in times of need, making jewelry both a treasure and a safeguard.

Byzantine Style Wedding Rings Today

The appeal of Byzantine-style wedding rings has found new life in the modern era. As cultural interest in the Medieval and Byzantine periods has grown, fueled by books and films like The Da Vinci Code, The Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, so too has the demand for jewelry that carries an air of history, mystery, and romance.

According to Culture Taste, a designer specializing in handcrafted Byzantine-inspired rings, “a romantic mood creates and strengthens this revival. This jewelry is mainly for those who want something more than the mainstream wedding jewelry, something different—with history, mystery, and mysticism.” For couples seeking a symbolic connection to the past, these rings offer both beauty and a sense of timeless meaning.

A Tradition That Endures

From the protective inscriptions and spiritual symbolism of the Byzantine Empire to the romantic revival of their style today, wedding rings have always been more than just adornment. They carry stories of faith, love, wealth, and identity, a tradition passed down through centuries. Choosing a Byzantine-style ring today is not only a statement of individuality, but also a way to honor a heritage where jewelry was both personal and sacred.

For couples seeking something beyond the mainstream, these rings offer more than beauty: they carry with them history, mystery, and a connection to the timeless human desire to mark love with meaning.

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Photo credit: wikimedia.org

Victorian keeper ring

Keeper rings, like many wedding traditions, are surrounded by a variety of legends. One of these dates back to Victorian era (1837-1901) when the keeper ring is said to have represented the idea that the receiver was worth “keeping.” It was considered a kind of pre-engagement or betrothal ring and was presented a year before the official engagement. While the Victorians gave the keeper ring a romantic symbolism of being “worth keeping,” the design itself was not new. In fact, the tradition of the keeper ring goes back several generations earlier.

 

Keeper rings origins

The Keeper ring first appeared in England in the 1760s–70s. They were originally wedding gifts from husbands to wives. The idea was that the ring would “keep” the more precious and elaborate engagement ring from slipping off the finger. This is where the name keeper comes from.

Keeper ring meaning

Whether you believe the ring goes back to the 1700s or that the Victorian keeper ring started this trend, the romantic “you’re a keeper” sentiment attached to the ring makes it a popular choice today as a unique wedding ring, engagement ring, eternity ring, and even an anniversary band. These keeper rings continued into the Edwardian era with styles that included elegant braided gold rings.

King George III era keeper ring

King George III Era Style Ring

Another story dates back to 1761 when King George the III gave his bride, Queen Charlotte, a wedding ring band encircled with diamonds. Diamond rings were a popular ring choice in the mid-eighteenth century, and a second ring – a keeper ring – was worn to protect the more valuable ring from accidentally sliding off the finger. These were also known as guard rings. These antique keeper rings came in a variety of styles from plain gold or enameled bands to diamond or gem-set bands similar to today’s eternity ring.

Modern guard rings are designed to enhance the ring they protect.

Over time, the diamond ring took on the role of a betrothal ring, and the keeper ring evolved into the wedding band. Today, a keeper ring is basically a band that’s worn alongside another ring, most often an engagement ring, to help protect it and keep it in place. While it started out as a symbolic gift centuries ago, it’s now just as popular for its practicality as for its meaning. Some people still see it as a promise or anniversary ring, but plenty also wear it simply as a stylish stacking band that adds a little extra sparkle.

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Photo credits: Joe Hardy, amazon

5 strange marriage customs around the world

When you think about it, many wedding customs can seem unusual compared to regular everyday life. I mean when else do you think about wearing something old, new, borrowed or blue? But as out of the ordinary as customs like that can seem, there are some really strange marriage customs around the world that top that by far. Here are five you won't believe.

5 strange marriage customs from around the world

1. India: Marrying a Tree

Can you imagine a bride marrying a tree before she is allowed to marry her groom? Believe it or not, this is a real custom in India. In some Hindu traditions, a woman whose horoscope shows Mangal Dosha (a Mars affliction that is believed to cause misfortune in marriage) must first symbolically wed a tree, often a banana tree, peepal tree, or even an idol of Lord Vishnu.

 

This ritual, known as Kumbh Vivah, is thought to neutralize the harmful effects of the planetary alignment. By marrying the tree, the “curse” is transferred to it, protecting the future husband from potential misfortune, such as an early death. After the ceremony, the tree is usually cut down or immersed in a river, symbolically ending that union and freeing the Indian bride to marry her human partner.

For those who believe, this practice is a way to ensure harmony, longevity, and eternal joy in the real marriage that follows.

 

Blackening the bride.

2. Scotland: Blackening of the bride (and groom)

If you thought marrying a tree was unusual, wait until you hear about the Scottish wedding tradition known as “Blackening of the Bride.” This messy pre-wedding ritual is all about preparing the couple for the challenges of married life. Traditionally, it involved the bride alone, but nowadays grooms often get “blackened” too.

Here’s how it works: Friends and relatives ambush the couple and cover them in the nastiest concoctions you can imagine—spoiled milk, rotting food, flour, soot, sticky treacle, even dead fish. Imagine cleaning out the worst-smelling science experiments from your refrigerator and dumping them in a bucket, then hurling it over the bride and groom while parading them through town for everyone to see.

And it doesn’t end there. After the slimy spectacle, the bride (and sometimes the groom) is taken out for a night of drinking and then tied to a tree. Why? The tradition symbolizes resilience. If the bride can endure humiliation, discomfort, and chaos, she’ll be ready to weather whatever storms marriage brings.

It’s messy, it’s smelly, and it’s unforgettable—but in Scotland, it’s all in the name of good luck. 

 

3. Germany: Piles of broken porcelain

In Germany, marriage celebrations can get a little… destructive. Before the wedding day, friends and family gather for a ritual called Polterabend—which literally means “noisy evening.” The centerpiece of the event? Guests smash porcelain dishes, cups, and even toilets into a giant pile right in front of the couple’s home. (Glass is avoided, since it’s thought to bring bad luck.)

 

Piles of broken porcelain dishes to clean up.

 

The crashing sound is believed to scare away evil spirits, but there’s another symbolic layer: once the fun is over, the bride and groom must clean up the mess together. The lesson is clear, if they can cooperate to tackle this mountain of broken pottery, they’ll be able to face life’s challenges hand in hand.

It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s surprisingly heartwarming, a reminder that teamwork is at the heart of a successful marriage.

4. France: Chocolate, champagne and the toilet

France may be famous for romance, fine wine, and gourmet food, but one of its wedding traditions is far from elegant. After the reception, when the bride and groom should be celebrating in style, friends surprise them with a strange challenge: eating chocolate and drinking champagne… out of a toilet bowl (or more often these days, a clean chamber pot).

Originally, the concoction wasn’t so sweet. In older versions of the ritual, guests would scrape leftovers (or worse) into the pot, forcing the couple to consume the unappetizing mix. Thankfully, modern versions have evolved into something far more palatable: melted chocolate, bananas, and bubbly champagne.

The idea behind the custom is symbolic. Sharing this unusual “meal” is believed to give the newlyweds strength for their wedding night and beyond. It’s quirky, messy, and a little gross, but for the French, it’s all about starting married life with laughter, resilience, and a story no one will forget.

5. Indonesia: Honeymoon - 3 days housebound with no toilet

If you think newlyweds deserve a relaxing honeymoon, the Tidong people of Borneo, Indonesia, would disagree. Their marriage custom requires the bride and groom to stay inside their home for three full days and nights—and here’s the kicker: they’re not allowed to use the toilet.

During this time, the couple is given only small amounts of food and drink, and relatives keep watch to make sure the rules are followed. The idea may sound extreme (and definitely uncomfortable), but the purpose is deeply symbolic. It’s believed that enduring this shared trial will bless the couple with a happy marriage and healthy children.

What better test of love than surviving three days together under those conditions? If you can make it through that, you can probably make it through anything!

The thing that’s interesting with these strange marriage customs around the world are the superstitions attached to them. But really, the reasons many of our wedding traditions exist are superstitions. After all, wearing a wedding veil originated to hide the bride from evil spirits.

Photo credits: Mind Midst, pxhere.com, pexels.com

Popular 1950s engagement ring syles

By the 1950s, the world had started to move beyond the trauma imposed on many different markets from World War II, including the jewelry trade. Metals like platinum which had been scarce during the war were once again available, and white metals including platinum and white gold became the popular choice for 1950s engagement ring styles. This is still a popular choice for engagement rings today because diamonds reflect better in white metals than yellow making a lower grade diamond have the preferred appearance of a lower color. This along with a greater access to diamonds influenced engagement ring styles in the 50s.

 

 

 

Popular 1950s stylistic elements

Stylistic elements found in engagement rings from the 1950s include engravings or braid details in the setting. They also featured progressively larger stones. One of the most popular styles representative of the 50s were engagement rings featuring a large center diamond nestled among symmetrical smaller diamonds or baguettes, on either side of it. Popular cuts included round cuts, Asscher cuts, emerald Cuts and marquise Cuts. The diamond’s cut is what gives it the ability to reflect light.

 

 

Engagement rings of 1950s Hollywood stars

The 50s enjoyed the excitement of being a decade with its own royal wedding when Hollywood star Grace Kelly, whose dress inspired Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, married Prince Rainer of Monaco. She wore a 10.15 karat Cartier emerald cut solitaire engagement ring. 

Princess Grace wore 10.15 karat Cartier emerald cut ring.

If you think that’s big, Elizabeth Taylor was given a 29.4 karat emerald cut Cartier engagement ring by Mike Todd. But while these rings where topics of conversation, one of the biggest engagement/wedding band trends of the ‘50s still going on today was started by Hollywood’s Audrey Hepburn − stackable rings. Her fiancé Mel Ferrer presented her with three rings, a baguette cut white gold eternity band along with two wedding bands, one yellow gold and the other rose gold. He figured she could mix and match them to suit her mood and outfit. 

 

 Audrey Hepburn − stackable rings

 

The fun thing about engagement rings of the 1950s is that many of the ring trends popular then are still popular today. So if you’d like to wear a vintage ring that looks current or rather buy a vintage-inspired ring, the 50s offer a nice selection with options you’re sure to love. 

Photo credits: wikimedia.org, glamor magazine, British Pathe, grandrapidsbride