I am very new to being a widow... Only eight weeks into it. I still consider myself married. I wear both my wedding rings. I imagine it will be a long while ( if ever) before I take them off.
Having said that, I also think it is a very personal choice. You should do what feels right for you.

My attitude was - she can't wear hers, I won't wear mine. I bought a heavy duty padlock and put the two rings on it & threw away the keys. They sit in a clear designer vase on my dining room table.

I have a girlfriend and she has no discomfort with not only the rings, but all the pictures still displayed throughout the house of my wife. Smart girl.

My husband died 8 years ago. After a time I put my wedding ring on my right hand, With another simple ring next to it. I've been remarried 5 years now. I have my silver band on my right hand and the gold band on my left hand. My new husband has cancer. If he should die before me I'll place the gold band on my right hand. Next to the silver band. A symbol that I've had the opportunity to love 2 of the best men that ever lived.

I'm four weeks widowed. I still wear mine and wear his wedding band on a necklace. It is a personal choice for sure. For now I like looking down and seeing what is still a huge connection and symbol of love.

I wear both of our wedding rings. The inscription is not complete when they are separated. It is a promise we made until both of us leave this world. Meaningful perhaps, only to each other. I suppose in its own way, I still feel as though we are holding hands, albeit through a fence of dimensional separation. Meanwhile, I am looking passively/actively looking for a trustee that will pass them onto some couple that I hope the blessing follows to. Life has dealt some wild cards and being without blood family is not one I ever expected to be dealt. But I am not without blessings and as an ex-military the slate is not blank which is something I have to constantly remind myself of. My fellow Veterans have not let me down but age sure has and it has become increasingly difficult to stay connected. Sorry I did not mean that to sound as though I am on my deathbed (in fact there is a lot of spunk left) but these are the realities and challenges, of being alone.

I did not even consider taking off my wedding rings. It sounds like most people who have found someone else, feel obligated to do this.I understand that thought-- but at this point (10 months) I cannot fathom losing this link to our 47 years together. It is a part of my eternal link to Johnny.

I belong to the group that thinks there will never be another person for me. I am happy for those that can find comfort in boyfriends etc., I am still finding the way to make it all bearable. The ring symbolizes all that our marriage meant. Jean

Cliff died 8 years ago. At that time, we both wore 2 wedding rings - one from our original ceremony and one from our vows renewal. I also had my engagement ring and two eternity rings. I know, a lot of stuff... When he died, I had a family ring made to go with the eternity rings - it has our birthstones and our sons' birthstones (mine is diamond). I replaced my wedding rings with that and moved them to my right hand.

Eventually Acuriousfish(Mark) and I got together and married 5 years ago. His rings are on my left hand, and I wear different combinations of Cliff's rings on my left or wear two of them on a chain as a necklace. Cliff's hands were so big that my ring fits inside his and it looks like one of those circle pendants. My wedding bands from Cliff are white gold and yellow gold, and Mark bought me one in rose gold to wear with them on my right hand like stacking rings - they look really good together, and Mark has no problem with that. He is not threatened by that - as a widower he understands.

Cliff was buried with his first wedding band. There was no way to remove it without desecrating his body. It has "Mxx to Cxx" and our wedding date engraved in it. I like to think a thousand years from now that some archeologist will find it and know he was loved.

There is a photo of the rings as a necklace in my Profile photos.

I stopped wearing the eternity rings except on special occasions for fear of being robbed. The world's not such a safe place anymore....

One of the nicest ideas I have seen was what another widow here had done; her and her husband's rings were reshaped into two hearts and put on a chain. I will ahve to see if I can find that.

Whether to wear your rings or not, whether to move them or not, are your own choice. There is no right way or wrong way, only what is right or wrong for you. And the etiquette mavens say the same thing - it is up to the bereaved.

Hope that helps....

Love and Hugs,
Martha

I found the photo I was looking for:

http://www.dailystrength.org/people/2496082/photos-videos/item/1202479

It was brokenhearted40's rings - I don't know if you can see it...

It has been seven months for me and I have no intentions of taking my ring off EVER! We were married thirty years and he is and was my only love.

Originally I wore my wedding ring set and believed I would wear them forever. After 3 years I was still comfortable wearing them even in social situations. Others did comment why I wore them and I replied how I felt, "I'm married to my husband even though he isn't here "
You and only you decide what to wear and when to change if/how to wear them.
Some felt it meant that I hadn't moved on with living - that was ridiculous! It's a ring!! My ring!!
The choice is yours.
I must add, in all honesty, the time came when I chose to remove them, but that was my choice too. Sharon

I have moved mine to my right hand. I have mixed feelings about it myself. I still feel married and I act as such. I don't have any plans to start a new relationship (not that moving them or removing them signifies that) I feel guilty sometimes but I think that's from my own inner voice saying that in some way I am minimizing my love for my husband. I know in my heart that's not the case but the grief is a powerful force.

What ever you decide is what works for you. Take care

My husband designed and had our rings custom made. Mine never really fit right and he really only wore his when we went to a special event. It didn't really matter that much to either of us. I have been thinking of getting my ring sized, but in the meantime I brought myself a ring for Christmas that he would have liked me to wear. It has 5 amber stones in different shades of orange, one for each of the animals that I live with. I wear it on my right hand.

I could not wear my rings for a long time. It hurt too to know that I wasn't married anymore, except in my heart. Then, with no income, I had to sell what I could, until I could get on disability. I had started the process before Bob died, but it took the usual eternity to go through. I am now wearing Bob's ring. I like it, and it brings that closeness to my heart. I am happy just how things are, though, at times I do miss him dreadfully. I don't have any desire to remarry. I have tried dating, but I find that other men don't care for my independent spirit. Besides that I have health issues that I wouldn't push on anybody else. Bob is now the husband of my heart.

The wedding ring puzzle is really an individual decision and
it is almost impossible to suggest a one size fits all solution.

I saw a soldier lose a finger due to a ring being caught in some
equipment during the Vietnam era and I took off all rings for
most of my life. Didn't wear one in my first marriage and didn't
in my second marriage until we renewed our wedding vows
in 2004. I was so in love with her ( still am ) that I suggested
I would wear a ring for the first time in decades. She slipped
it on my finger during the renewal and I told her aftwerweard\
that I would never take it off.

I am now preplanning and prepaying my own funeral as I
don't want any of my family to have to deal with all of the arrangements. I have already include in instructions that
the ring is to go with me. I will keep that promise to her.

At 70, I have no plans to remarry. So, the ring will never be
an issue in that regard.

Besides, the ring gives me a bit of comfort amongst the
chaos of grief. I roll it on my finger and think of the day
and the exact moment she slipped it on my finger. She
was so beautiful. She was looking up at me and smiling
and, as she slipped it on my finger, she said, " I love you
and will always love you. ".. So, that memory alone is
enough for me to reach an easy decision.

Blessings to all -

Darrell

I feel naked without it.
it has almost grown into my finger, to the bone.
This is not even a question to me.