Father/Son Sentiment Ring

My step mothers family are from Ireland and this is very common. I wouldn't argue with him that the band is not a traditional wedding band and therefore should not be used. This ring is typically given to a person by their parents and is worn on their right hand. When they start dating, they turn the ring on the right hand. When they become engaged, it moves to the left hand and when married, it is turned around again. It's a cultural item that has significant value to many people. Unfortunately, it's on his hand and ring finger 24/7 and should be something that he loves and cherishes. It would be wrong to tell him that he shouldn't wear it because you're not crazy about its appearance.

That being said, he can always order a new claddagh from Ireland specifically for your wedding and use it as his band. That way, you could argue, his current claddagh could be passed down to a future child.

I would let him wear whatever ring he wants to. It's important he likes the ring as he is the one who has to wear it everyday.

I think Courtney's idea is great. Would you be open to him getting a new claddagh and passing the one he has onto future children?

I really like @Courtney's suggestion about maybe getting a claddagh ring that you both choose together. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't be super thrilled either, but if he won't budge then you're the one that has to give in on it. Have you really sat down and calmly let him know that you feel like his ring represents the bond between him and his father and not the bond that the two of you will have a married couple? I know you said you've talked about it, but sometimes it's the words used or the tone that don't get the point across.

I don't see anything wrong with the style. He should like it since he will be wearing it the rest of his life. That being said, I wouldn't want FH wearing a ring that signified anything other than our marriage. I like the idea of getting a new claddagh ring.

I'd let him wear it.

I would tell him to wear it on his right hand and that during the ring exchange during your ceremony you want to put the ring on his hand that YOU selected.

He is correct about the symbolism of the claddah. Wearing it different ways and even on different fingers/hands has different meaning.

If it has meaning to him now it will only have more meaning if he uses it as his wedding band. If he is forced to get something different he may hate it and come up with excuses not to wear it. (My FFIL had never worn his ring in 30+years because he calls it an "occupational hazard". He is an ACCOUNTANT!

Let him wear it. It does have importance and it is widely used-- i've even seen people use them as engagement rings for women. I own one myself though its not from my FH, its from my childhood best friend (who's family came from Ireland.) Even if it doesnt have big significance to your relationship, it stands for all things good. Love, family.... you get the point. If he likes it, he likes it, and theyre actually pretty cute in my opinion. Unless you have to wear it every day, there isnt a reason he should have to switch to a band that doesnt hold as much importance to him. If anything you should feel happy that he'd want to share an important ring for your marriage.

I really like Courtney's idea as a compromise. i have one i wear on my right hand my FH got it for me when we first started dating.

As others have said, it will only become more important to him. Any ring he wears will be his wedding band, so why not one that's already special to him?

If he likes it then let him wear it

I would have no problem with him wearing a claddagh, in fact I think that's really great personally as my family is Irish and I love claddagh rings. But the fact that it has meaning for him and his dad and none for him and you would bother me. It would feel like he didn't have a wedding ring at all to me. This is one place where I would sit down and really have a heart to heart and explain why it bothered me. I would perhaps suggest we go and look at other claddaghs that he could use but that would just be our wedding ring and not his father-son ring turned wedding ring.

Thank you everyone for your input. Very helpful. Good insight. I really appreciate it! And so will my fiancé!

My dad's wedding band is a claddagh. He is the only person I know to do that, so claddaghs always make me think of him. He and my mom were married in Ireland.

Does he already wear it? Or did he get it then intending to use it as a wedding ring in the future? If the former, then maybe no, but if it's the latter then yes!

He has to wear it for the rest of his ode, is let him chose.

Agree with Ashley. This is a lifetime commitment. I'd let him wear what he feels most comfortable with.