Wedding Jewellery for Two Brides
Two brides means two sets of rings, two wedding looks and gifts for each other. This guide answers each question with a short answer and a full page for each part.
Wedding Jewellery for Two Brides
What this guide covers
When two women marry, there is twice the jewellery to plan: two engagement rings or none, two wedding bands, two wedding looks, gifts for each other and, for some couples, jewellery for two moms later on. This guide gives a short answer for each part and links to a full page on each one. Each page is written for two brides, wife and wife, and answers questions female couples ask online.
A good order to plan in:
- Engagement rings, if you want them, because the wedding bands are shaped around them.
- Wedding bands, once both engagement rings are on your hands.
- Wedding-day jewellery, once both outfits are chosen.
- Gifts for each other and for the people who help you.
Each step below links to its own page.
Two brides in Canada and British Columbia
Two women have been able to marry in British Columbia since 2003. The BC Court of Appeal delivered its judgment in Barbeau v. British Columbia on May 1, 2003, and amended it on July 8, 2003, striking down the bar to same-sex marriage, as recorded in the University of Saskatchewan Library law chronology. The federal Civil Marriage Act received royal assent on July 20, 2005, and opened civil marriage to two people across Canada.
The 2021 Census counted 46,780 same-gender couples of two women in Canada, next to 48,655 couples of two men. Together, the 95,435 same-gender couples made up 1.1% of all couples. In British Columbia, Statistics Canada counted 6,865 couples of two women, 3,565 of them in the Vancouver area and 3,230 of them married. Statistics Canada rounds these counts at random to a multiple of 5 or 10, as explained in its note on random rounding.
Fewer same-gender couples are married. Statistics Canada reported that 37% of same-gender couples were married, compared with 78% of different-gender couples. In downtown Vancouver, same-gender couples made up 8.5% of all couples.
Engagement rings for two women
In The Knot and Q.Digital LGBTQ Weddings Study 2017, a US survey of 821 people, 86% of women said they exchanged engagement rings at the proposal, 26% of those rings were custom designed, and the average spend on a woman's engagement ring was US$3,185. The same survey found that 17% of female couples both proposed.
Our page on engagement rings for two women covers how two rings look together on two hands: pairings that work, diamond shapes side by side, lab-grown and natural in one couple, two-stone rings, splitting one heirloom, sizing and settings for women who work with their hands. Read it first if you have not chosen engagement rings yet.
Wedding bands for two brides
Two brides can have matching wedding bands even when their engagement rings are different. Keep the metal, the finish and the stone size the same, and shape each band to fit the engagement ring it sits beside. A straight band suits a ring with a high setting. A contoured band, which curves along the edge, or a notched band, which has a small cut for the setting, suits a ring with a low setting.
The page also covers full and half eternity bands, whether to solder your rings together, and one strong band for a bride who has no engagement ring. Read wedding bands for two brides.
Bridal jewellery that goes together
Two brides are seen side by side all day, so their jewellery should share one link and still suit each outfit. Agree on one thing, such as the metal colour, pearls or the same earrings, then choose each necklace and pair of earrings for each neckline. The Knot's 2017 survey found that only 17% of women showed their wedding-day look to their partner before the day, so a trusted friend who sees both outfits can check that the jewellery fits together.
The page covers two dresses, a dress and a suit, and two suits, plus pearls, scale, hair pieces and something borrowed for two brides. Read bridal jewellery for two brides.
Jewellery for a bride in a suit
A suit adds four places for jewellery: the lapel, the collar, the tie and the cuffs. The shirt decides which of these you use. With a tie, wear a tie bar and a collar pin. With an open collar, wear a short chain. Cufflinks need a shirt with French cuffs. Size each piece to your own lapel and cuff, and keep one focal point near the face.
The page also explains lapel pins and brooches, watches, rings with a suit, and how to match a bride in a dress. Read jewellery for a bride in a suit.
Gifts between brides
A wedding with two brides has many gift moments. You may give each other a gift on the wedding morning. You will each want to thank the people who stood with you and the two mothers of the bride. Then the anniversaries begin. Agree on a budget range for your gifts to each other, and choose either something she can wear that day or something she will keep, such as a pendant engraved with the wedding date.
The page covers engraved gifts, anniversary jewellery between wives, gifts for bridesmaids and best women, and gifts for both mothers. Read gifts between brides.
Jewellery for two moms
Some couples of two women go on to raise children. Statistics Canada reported that among same-gender couples with children, nearly four in five (79%) were couples with two women. In a two-mom family, both mothers can receive a push present: the birth mother for carrying the baby, and the other mother for becoming a parent on the same day.
The page covers birthstone pieces for children, family rings and pendants, engraving for two moms and Mother's Day with two moms. Read jewellery for two moms.
More guides for same-sex couples
- Rings for same-sex couples: the main ring guide for two brides and two grooms.
- Who proposes in a same-sex couple.
- Do both partners get an engagement ring?
- Gender-neutral engagement rings.
- Engraving ideas for two grooms or two brides.
- Matching and coordinating sets.
A symbol for two women
The doubled female sign, two linked female symbols, has its own character in the Unicode standard used by computers and phones. Compart lists it as U+26A2 DOUBLED FEMALE SIGN, added in Unicode 4.1 in March 2005. Some couples use it in an invitation, on a card or on a piece of jewellery. If you want it on a ring, a pendant or a pair of cufflinks, ask us what we can make.
Choosing a jeweller
Female couples sometimes meet vendors who do not treat them well. In The Knot's 2017 survey, 30% of women said they felt turned away by, or uncomfortable with, a wedding vendor because they were LGBTQ. When you shop, notice whether staff ask about "the bride" and "the groom", or ask about both of you. You should be able to plan both brides' rings in one conversation.
How it works at Vanhess
- Every ring is made to order in any size and any width, so one design can be made for two different hands.
- Each custom ring is drawn on screen and quoted from the drawing before any metal is cast.
- A custom ring takes 5 to 8 weeks from consultation to collection.
- Hand engraving takes a day once a ring is made and sized. We can take fingerprint scans for engraving.
- Most solid gold, platinum and silver rings can be resized up to two sizes either way. Full eternity bands and tungsten or titanium rings usually cannot be resized.
- Ready-made pieces can be returned within 30 days. Personalised and engraved pieces cannot be returned.
- Every piece has a 2 year warranty, and shipping is free in Canada on orders over $60.
Vanhess Jewellery is at Unit 2424, 2929 Barnet Highway, in Coquitlam Centre, Coquitlam, BC. To start a custom pair, see our custom rings page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many couples of two women live in British Columbia?
British Columbia had 6,865 couples of two women in the 2021 Census, according to Statistics Canada table 98-10-0136-01. Of these, 3,565 lived in the Vancouver area and 3,230 were married. Statistics Canada rounds census counts at random to a multiple of 5 or 10, so each figure may differ from the exact count by less than 10.
Are same-sex couples less likely to be married than other couples?
Same-sex couples in Canada are less likely to be married than other couples. In the 2021 Census, Statistics Canada found that 37% of same-gender couples were married, compared with 78% of different-gender couples. Couples who are not married may still want matching rings, for a commitment ceremony or before a later wedding.
What share of couples in downtown Vancouver are same-sex?
Same-gender couples made up 8.5% of all couples in downtown Vancouver in the 2021 Census, according to Statistics Canada. Across Canada the share was 1.1%. Statistics Canada reported that same-gender couples were a much higher share of couples in the downtowns of large cities, with downtown Toronto at 8.6%.
What jewellery does each bride need for a wedding?
Each bride needs a wedding band, and many also wear an engagement ring, earrings and a necklace or a suit piece such as cufflinks or a lapel pin. Start with the rings, because they are worn for years. Then plan the wedding-day pieces around each outfit, with one shared detail, such as the metal colour, that links the two brides.
How much time do two brides need to plan wedding jewellery?
Two brides should start planning wedding jewellery at least 8 weeks before the wedding if any piece is custom, plus time for a fitting. At Vanhess a custom ring takes 5 to 8 weeks from consultation to collection, and hand engraving takes a day after the ring is made and sized. Choose wedding-day pieces once both outfits are settled.
How much do women in same-sex couples spend on engagement rings?
Women in same-sex couples spent an average of US$3,185 on an engagement ring, according to The Knot and Q.Digital LGBTQ Weddings Study 2017, a survey of 821 people in the United States. The same study found that 26% of women's engagement rings were custom designed. These are 2017 US figures, so Canadian prices today will differ.
What is the doubled female sign and can it go on jewellery?
The doubled female sign is a symbol of two linked female signs, often used for two women. It has its own Unicode character, U+26A2, added in Unicode 4.1 in March 2005. It can be used on jewellery as a pendant shape, a small detail or an engraving. If you want it on a piece, ask us what we can make.
Where can two brides buy wedding jewellery in Coquitlam?
Two brides can buy wedding jewellery at Vanhess Jewellery, Unit 2424, 2929 Barnet Highway, in Coquitlam Centre, Coquitlam, BC. Every ring is made to order in any size and any width, so two brides can order one design in two sizes. Custom rings are drawn on screen and quoted from the drawing before any metal is cast.
What is the return policy on wedding jewellery at Vanhess?
Ready-made wedding jewellery from Vanhess can be returned within 30 days. Personalised and engraved pieces cannot be returned, because they are made for you. If you plan to engrave a wedding band or a gift, check the spelling, the dates and the ring size before you order, since an engraved piece is final once it is made.
Does Vanhess ship wedding jewellery across Canada?
Vanhess ships wedding jewellery across Canada, and shipping is free on orders over $60. This helps if one bride lives outside the Lower Mainland or you are planning a destination wedding in another province. Every piece comes with a 2 year warranty. For a custom ring, allow 5 to 8 weeks from consultation to collection.
What warranty comes with wedding jewellery from Vanhess?
Every piece of wedding jewellery from Vanhess comes with a 2 year warranty. Keep your receipt with your rings' details, such as metal and size. If your hands change over the years, most solid gold, platinum and silver rings can be resized up to two sizes either way, while full eternity bands, tungsten and titanium rings usually cannot be resized.
How is a custom piece for two brides priced?
A custom piece for two brides at Vanhess is priced from a drawing. Each custom ring is drawn on screen and quoted from that drawing before any metal is cast, so you see the design and the price before you commit. When you order two rings, each ring is drawn and quoted, so you can compare the two and adjust either one.
Sources
- University of Saskatchewan Library, Gay Canada law chronology, Year 2003 (Barbeau v. British Columbia). Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Justice Laws Website, Civil Marriage Act (S.C. 2005, c. 33), royal assent 2005-07-20. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Statistics Canada, Number and distribution of couples according to their gender diversity status, Canada, 2021, 2022-07-13. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0136-01, Gender diversity status of couple family, type of union and presence of children: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2022-07-13. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Statistics Canada, note on random rounding of census counts. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Statistics Canada, The Daily: State of the union: Canada leads the G7 with nearly one-quarter of couples living common law, driven by Quebec, 2022-07-13. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- The Knot Worldwide, Personalization Prevails and Traditions Get A Twist Among Same-Sex Weddings, According to The Knot & Q.Digital LGBTQ Weddings Study 2017, 2017-06-23, survey of 821 US respondents. Accessed 2026-10-18.
- Compart, U+26A2 Doubled Female Sign Unicode Character. Accessed 2026-10-18.