French Bridal Ring Traditions

French bridal ring style tends toward the simple with smaller diamonds. This gorgeous marquise cut diamond solitaire fits the mold perfectly. Photo © EraGem Jewelry   Information about French bridal rings proved a bit difficult to track down. In addition, the few accounts available offer conflicting information without traceable references. That being said, what little I found proved intriguing enough to warrant this brief article about French bridal ring styles.  

Mutual Engravings & Diminutive Diamonds

According to Planet Wedding, French bridal bands often include special mutual engravings. For example, the bride's ring might feature her name and part of the wedding date, and the groom's ring bears his name and the remainder of the wedding date. Thus, when united on the wedding day, the two rings form a complete whole. Apparently, the French frequently dispense with diamonds. Even when they select a diamond engagement ring, they opt for smaller sizes, ranging from 0.3 - 0.4 carats. The source of this tidbit, a woman from America who married a Frenchman, reports that among her French friends the choice in wedding bands tended toward simple bands or mixed-stone rings. (source)

Tri-Color French Bridal Bands

As reported by Expatica, the most popular French wedding style involves three interwoven bands of varying colors. Again, no reference point is offered for this information and a search on Google for multi-colored French wedding bands directs the seeker to Cartier, creator of the famed Cartier Trinity Rings. It is not clear whether this is truly French tradition, or whether this is simply one French company's brand of romance. According to Vicki Howard, who wrote the book Brides, Inc.: American Weddings and the Business of Traditions, the custom of exchanging wedding rings in France traced its roots to the liturgical practice of the prevailing religious tradition, French Catholic. She notes that the first account of both men and women donning rings during the wedding ceremony appears in the 16th century. She makes no mention of the traditions surrounding engagement rings in French culture.  

Modern French Bridal Ring Style

I found Becoming Madame the most credible source for information on current French wedding ring styles. In particular, her guest post on Emily in the Glass describes her firsthand experience of planning a French wedding according to her family-to-be's strict French traditions. (source) As she notes, these traditions may not be customary to all of France, but they certainly were important to her new French Catholic family.

A Hollywood Proposal

She first discusses the tradition of the engagement ring. While her fiance opted for what the French call a "Hollywood proposal," where he got down on one knee and presented her with a ring, this gesture proved completely lost on his mother. Indeed, his mother expressed that she felt "less than pleased" to find her future daughter-in-law wearing her engagement ring prior to the customary les fiançailles.

Les Fiançailles

According to French tradition, the man proposes betrothal by asking the simple question, "Will you marry me?" If the woman accepts, then the man must don white gloves before asking her father for permission. Once her father grants consent, the family makes a formal announcement. Then the couple shops together for the engagement ring. He purchases the ring and keeps it safe until les fiançailles. At this formal event, the parents of the bride and groom meet for the first time over a hearty feast. Following the feast, the couple receives a special blessing during Mass. Traditionally, the groom presents the bride with the engagement ring during this ritual and not before.  

Salon du Marriage

The French enjoy a custom akin to American bridal shows called Salon du Marriage. During these trade fairs, couples often choose their wedding attire and stationery, sample the wares of various caterers, hire their musicians and photographers, and even choose their wedding rings. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, our Madame left out the "little" detail of exchanging the wedding rings. However, she did share the delightful tradition of une Pièce Montée, a pyramid made of "small, golden, cream-filled balls called les choux mounted with caramel glaze." As the stand-in for the many-tiered wonder we call a wedding cake, I think it sounds absolutely delightful! Which French wedding ring traditions appeal to you? ~Angela Magnotti Andrews