My Bow Wedding Ring

So many people have been curious about my bow wedding ring, that I thought it was time to give you a little history.

Cole and I were married in Dec 2oo2, but before that we were engaged for three years. So if you do the math, that makes me only 18 and Cole 19 when we decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

Being poor college students, we didn't have very much money and what little we had, we spent like typical college students, meaning mostly on beer. During this time I had a few different engagement rings. My first was a $5 dollar ring that Cole had bought on the spot to propose. My second was a more expensive simple silver band. And for my third, Cole had spent almost a year saving. This time it was an actual engagement ring that also had a matching wedding band. Since he was only working part time during school and making just barely above minimum wage for back then, the sacrifice truly meant so much. I absolutely cherished my ring.

As happy as we were, many people tried to knock us down by making fun of my beautiful ring. They would comment on how small the diamonds were and calling it names like "sweet" and "delicate." It used to absolutely infuriate me. I was so proud of my ring and the sacrifice Cole had made for me and here everyone was tearing it down. However, the more they made fun of it, the more I loved it.

In May 2003, Cole and I graduate from Michigan State University and promptly moved to Boston, MA. This was our first time living away from Michigan and in a "big" city. It was all very intimidating and a bit frightening. It was during this time, in my first post grad job, that I met a girl whose mom was a jewelry designer. This girl had the most amazing bow ring I had ever seen. Knowing how much I loved the ring, my coworker asked me if I wanted her mom to make a different version for me.

My first thought was "Yes, please!" my second was "no way can I afford that." So I came home telling Cole all about this magnificent ring. I could tell he was thinking about it seriously and not just brushing me off. After some thought he told me to find out how much it would cost and if he could save the money, he would give it to me for our first wedding anniversary. I was of course ecstatic. So I got it all squared away with the girl, finding ways here and there to make the ring more affordable, and after a few short months, the ring was mine.

There was only one hitch, the ring was supposed to go on my right hand, but it was too small. Since there was no way I parting with it, even to have it resized, I started wearing it on my ring finger with my wedding band and engagement ring. After some time, I grew tired of wearing so many rings on one finger, so Cole and I decided that since the bow ring so truly fit my style and personality, that I should wear it instead of my wedding rings. Now it's such innate part of me that I don't think I could ever imagine wearing anything else.

I hope you enjoyed this little bit of history!

Don't forget, I'm offering 20% off everything in my O Captain shop!!

Yours,