Post-wedding customs
After marriage, the ring is worn on the hand it had been placed on during the ceremony. By wearing rings on the fourth finger, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. This has now become a matter of tradition and etiquette.
One interpretation states that the woman wears the wedding ring below the engagement ring, thus making it closer to the heart. Another practice holds that the woman should wear the wedding ring above the engagement ring, thus sealing the atmosphere of the engagement into the marriage. Still others prefer that the wedding ring should be worn alone. Further, modern ring sets in the United States are often marketed as a three-piece set, including the man's wedding band, the woman's engagement ring, and a slender band that is mounted to the engagement ring before the wedding, converting it into a single, permanent wedding ring.
Some cultures exchange additional rings: In some parts of India, Hindus may use a toe ring or bichiya which is worn instead of a ring on a finger; although this is only for women, and increasingly worn along with a finger ring. In the eastern parts of India, primarily West Bengal, an iron bangle, or 'loha,' is worn by women. Increasingly, this bangle is given a gold or silver coating to improve its appearance. In Romania spouses celebrate their silver wedding anniversary (25 years of marriage) by exchanging silver wedding rings, which are worn on the 4th finger of the left hand along with the original (usually gold) wedding ring.
The wedding ring may occasionally be removed for comfort or safety. It is not uncommon for those who have professions that forbid the wearing of jewelry, such as police officers or electrical workers. In some jurisdictons, those in the food service industry may be required to remove all jewelry while handling ready-to-eat food, including wedding rings, unless they are simple, smooth rings. Physicians are also known to prefer smooth, simple designs; some may even autoclave their rings on a regular basis[citation needed]. Many times these people say they wear a "ring around their heart"—not around their finger. Some will wear it on a chain around their neck to compensate for the inability to wear it on a finger.
