Growing up I never saw my dad wear a ring. Wait, maybe I saw him wear one, once…on his pinky. I think it was the whole invoking the Godfather persona but other than that, no ring. I did date a guy who wore a gold ring with my name (awww) and his class ring, so that was probably my first experience with a man wearing a ring. Now that my beau and I are getting married I’ve wondered, does it matter if he wears a ring or not? And the answer there is no. I have left it up to him to wear a ring or not.

The only jewelry I’ve ever seen him (beau) wear was a gold necklace his mother gave him. When I asked my newly married friend if she minded whether her husband wore his ring or not she just about knocked my head off and said “HE BETTER”! She then turned the tables on me and asked my thoughts and I told her it was really up to him - I could care less. She was speechless.

Wedding rings are symbolic of many things, everlasting love, life-long commitment, you name it. But when I really think about it, I think a lot of wives put a heavy emphasis on the ring as a symbol of “back off ladies, he’s taken”. To me it’s really his actions. A piece of metal will not stop or make him act any different. Sure, it’s nice to see some “bling” on my man but it’s not a necessity on my part.

Although, there is this ring in development that will warm up every hour 24 hours before your anniversary. That’s pretty funny and will they make it for the bride as well?

I am starting to see that the planning of anything is the bane of my absolute existence.

I thought having a “destination wedding” would be easy. You just show up in Italy, say “I do”, party with the locals and be called a Mrs.

No way. Planning is planning is planning.

After getting engaged at the end of October, I just floated through life like it was any other day. Sure, people would ask about the ring and when the wedding date was but I just replied with “next spring”; moving on. I did not possess anything that even slightly resembled a bride gene in my body. I had no desire to search for dresses or anything of that nature. My girlfriends had more excitement in their voices than I did. It’s not that I dread getting married. I’m excited to be marrying my beau it’s just that, though; being married to him. That’s the cool part. The planning and expectations of a “wedding” are what I dread. I just want to show up.

Now, here we are first of the year and the count down is REALLY on. The pressure is mounting. Everyone wants to know the deal. The problem is…I have no answers.