key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger

Love is supposed to be pure, yet it always seems to be around when money is exchanged. In the early days, the groom was required to give gifts to the bride's parents as part of the marriage agreement. Since the parents of the bride were losing her to another family, they needed to be compensated. During these times, the engagement ring was not only given as a symbol of the groom's intentions, but also as partial payment for his future wife.

The engagement ring has gone through many changes. Some of the earliest rings were nothing more than plants wrapped around the woman's finger. Of course, these had to be replaced each year. Some rings were made of iron, to symbolize the permanent nature of marriage. Early Roman rings were simple bands with a carved key. Some thought the key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger

t. Since the parents of the bride were losing her to another family, they needed to be compensated. During these times, the engagement ring was not only given as a symbol of the groom's intentions, but also as partial payment for his future wife.

The engagement ring has gone through many changes. Some of the earliest rings were nothing more than plants wrapped around the woman's finger. Of course, these had to be replaced each year. Some rings were made of iron, to symbolize the permanent nature of marriage. Early Roman rings were simple bands with a carved key. Some thought the key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger

but also as partial payment for his future wife.

The engagement ring has gone through many changes. Some of the earliest rings were nothing more than plants wrapped around the woman's finger. Of course, these had to be replaced each year. Some rings were made of iron, to symbolize the permanent nature of marriage. Early Roman rings were simple bands with a carved key. Some thought the key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger

Of course, these had to be replaced each year. Some rings were made of iron, to symbolize the permanent nature of marriage. Early Roman rings were simple bands with a carved key. Some thought the key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger

key symbolized a woman unlocking her man's heart; while others believed the key was a sign of ownership, because after marriage, the woman would get half her husband's wealth.

The ring finger appears to have more mystery than the ring itself. The fourth finger on the left hand, has long been regarded as the ring finger. Legend has it that a vein of love connected the fourth finger to the heart, but of course this wasn't true. In fact, some cultures believed it was the third finger that had the vein of love. Before the 1500s, Christian tradition required rings to be worn on the third finger of the right hand. In some European countries, the ring is worn on the left hand before marriage and is moved to the right hand during the ceremony.

Since grooms aren't paying the family of the brides any more, what is the purpose of the engagement ring? The bride will get a wedding ring, so are two rings really necessary. When you consider the costs involved with a wedding,