The  Sumptuary Laws dictated what could be worn by married and
                unmarried women in the upper levels of society.  These laws categorized the
                gifts a fiancee gave his betrothed into the "donatio" (the groom's dowry for
                his bride) and the "mancia" (jewelry given to the bride after consummating
                the marriage).  These gifts grew to become the visible proof of what the bride
                was bringing to the union, and could also give the groom the appearance of
                being wealthier than in actuality.  These gifts were not only a matter of
                economy between the two families, but also of the families' honor and class
                    standing.

                    Initially engagement jewelry took the form of a brooch or pin, and the
                ring was saved for marriage.  For the lower classes, the ring often times was
                carved from bone or was made from braided straw.  It was common for the
                peasants to wear no ring at all (as a straw band wouldn't hold up for long).
                The  wedding band was only worn by women, marking them as unavailable
                to other men and potential suitors.  The band symbolized endless
                consistency, bringing longevity to the union.

                    At the wedding reception, pieces of cake would sometimes be pushed
                through the wedding ring.  A custom amongst the farming communities in
                England was to drop the wedding ring in a bucket of syllabub (a festive drink
                of milk and wine).  Participants would then take turns with the ladle, and the
                lucky recipient of the ladle containing the ring would be next at the altar.