Contact My Style The Lifestyle Project About Me Work With Me Travels

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

To Ring or Not to Ring

Our backpacking trip to Central America is getting closer every day and my brain is spinning with all the items I’m trying to keep track of on my pre-travel to do list. With our trip now six weeks away, one of the little details that’s come up lately is the issue of whether or not to travel with our wedding rings. 

At this time last year we were counting down the days to our honeymoon in Jamaica. Since we were going to a Sandals all-inclusive, we figured that the resort would be secure enough that we didn’t have to worry about being robbed or anything like that and we could safely walk around with our rings on.

wedding-ring-photography
Our wedding rings. Photo courtesy of Dave and Charlotte

As it turned out, security was not the issue. My husband’s ring managed to slip off his finger while he was snorkelling. Even though he noticed it was missing just minutes after it happened, with the waves, current, and shifting sand, sadly his original wedding band still sits somewhere along the bottom of the Caribbean Sea.

This side story is all to say that last year we learned a very expensive lesson that we will not be repeating. We’ve agreed that we'll wear our gold and diamonds while in Canada and the States, but definitely not when we’re travelling (at least not in our budget backpacking style).

Despite that, I like the idea of jewellery, albeit much simpler pieces, acknowledging that we’re married. I found the cutest rings on Etsy when I was pulling ideas for my recent post Pinning Lately. 

travel-rings
Knot ring / Midi rings / Eternity rings / Stacking rings

After debating whether to order a “travel ring” from one of the options above, this weekend I finally decided to hold out and wait to buy something once we arrive in Central America. As beautiful and simple as these handmade rings are, I think it’ll be so much more meaningful to pick up matching pieces for Matthew and I from local artisans somewhere along our backpacking route. 

For us, leaving our rings and other expensive jewellery items at home just makes sense. Aside from the risk of losing something again or having it stolen from us, we’ll be going into some pretty poor communities and I think it’s just bad taste to have our gold and diamond rings on display, don't you?

Though it may take several weeks to pick out our travel wedding bands, I’m looking forward to the days of exploring new areas, ducking into local shops, and browsing the markets to see what  little treasures I can find. As an added bonus, jewellery and other small accessories are my favourite souvenirs to buy when travelling. The pieces are so unique because they have a whole set of travel memories associated with them, plus it’s a great way to take small pieces of your travels home with you.

What jewellery do you wear when you travel? If you’re married or engaged, do you wear your ring on the road?

Follow me on Bloglovin / Email / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest   

12 comments:

  1. Candice ShawNovember 19, 2013

    I like this post. I wouldn't travel with my rings although I'm not married.

    I saw this post at such an interesting time. I was discussing wedding rings with my bf and we discovered we feel completely different about them. I don't think they're necessary and if I had one I doubt I'd wear it everyday and he thinks they're absolutely necessary and should be worn almost all the time. I would love to hear your perspective on that as well as your readers in a blog post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danielle @ The-Lifestyle-ProjectNovember 27, 2013

      Candice, thanks for this great prompt! I'd be happy to weigh in and will send you a quick message before the post goes live!

      Delete
  • Erica | cupcakes and coffee breaksNovember 20, 2013

    This is such a cute idea! As I don't have any engagement/wedding rings, I didn't really think about it, but I'd have to agree with you. Too many times when I was younger did my parents (one or both) lose expensive jewellery to a body of water or an expanded item of jewellery. Once my mom swiped a ring off with a piece of bathroom towel and threw it in the garbage - 30 minutes of scrounging through public toilets hand towels, she got it back but... yuck.

    Buying rings in Central America will not only give you a cute and less-painfully-lost token of your love for each other, it will be a really great souvenir to bring home and remember the trip by! Great post Danielle :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danielle @ The-Lifestyle-ProjectNovember 27, 2013

      Yuck is right! Back in my teens I remember rifling through public garbages a couple of times as well in search of lost retainers lol. Not fun. Let's hope we'll be able to keep this set on our fingers! Thanks, as always, for leaving such a thoughtful comment Erica :)

      Delete
  • Jessica HobinNovember 20, 2013

    I don't have a wedding ring because I'm not married, but when I backpacked in Europe I wore no jewelry. I just didn't want the stress of having to worry about it. I bet you'll find something nice abroad that you can wear together and remind you of your trip while you're there!
    www.thisanalogadventure.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danielle @ The-Lifestyle-ProjectNovember 27, 2013

      Thank you Jessica, I'm hoping so! :D When I travelled through SE Asia I (very stupidly!!) wore my diamond studs to the beach, lost them, found them, and will never ever again repeat that mistake. Oy the stress! Costume jewellery this around...

      Delete
  • Donald JosephNovember 24, 2013

    Although I am not married, I don't think I would bring my ring while traveling, especially backpacking. It just adds unwanted stress and wondering whether you will get mugged or even just losing it. The idea of buying another band in Central America is really neat, and I think you guys should do it. It's inexpensive, and you won't have to sob over your lost wedding rings!

    Great post Danielle!

    xo Donald

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Danielle @ The-Lifestyle-ProjectNovember 27, 2013

      Completely agree Donald. As I mentioned to Jessica above, I've had my own issues with losing jewellery on the road and won't put myself through that stress again. In Jamaica it was our honeymoon so of course we wanted to show off our rings, but never again! I've learned my lesson!

      Delete
  • ashley nicoleDecember 11, 2013

    My husband didn't have money to buy my engagement ring when we wanted to get engaged, so he just bought me a simple, inexpensive (we're talking like $15) band that I wore for the first few months of our engagement and then got me my ring in time for the wedding. Whenever I'm worried about losing my ring, I just wear my original engagement ring--the simple band :)

    **ashleynicole

    ashleynicoleholmes.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  • Md shojulJanuary 13, 2014

    Looking hot the ring which i wan to take for my engagement. I have liked the ring. I am sure the ring will be popular all over the world. Keep it up.
    John Blaha

    ReplyDelete
  • charlijayJanuary 16, 2014

    Nice post! I'd never have thought of this, but I guess when you're newlyweds you're reluctant to leave your beautiful rings behind, and I love the idea of buying a simple ring to go in place of your wedding ring. Those ones from Etsy are gorgeous, you should've bought one!

    Anyway, hope you have a good trip!


    Charli @ Diamond Heaven

    ReplyDelete
  • Marry JessiFebruary 16, 2014

    Great!This article is creative.there are a lot of new idea about rings.it gives me inspiration.I think I will be also inspired by you and think about this rings which is more looking too nice....

    cheap ring

    ReplyDelete

09 10