Tattoo Ideas: Wedding Ring Tattoos
91
On the left hand ring finger of my girlfriend, Danielle, there is a tiny black and red tattoo that haunts my days though I try to convince myself otherwise. It is a tattoo of the letter "N", and it is the first initial of her ex-girlfriend. Likewise, her ex has a black and red letter "D" tattooed in the same place. Although gays and lesbians cannot legally marry, during the five years that they were together they decided to celebrate their commitment by getting the tattoos in lieu of engagement/wedding rings.
Speaking of lesbians, out actress Portia De Rossi tattooed the initials "FG" on her ring finger while engaged to girlfriend Francesca Gregorini. When the pair split after three years, Portia announced plans to remove the tattoo saying, "I'm not saying it's anything I regret doing, because I don't, but it just doesn't make any sense now." Colin Farrell & Amelia Warner also exchanged ring tattoos on their ring fingers before divorcing just four months later along with dult entertainment superstar, Jenna Jameson, who had second husband Jay Sterling's first name inked on her wedding ring finger. They filed for divorce after 3.5 years of wedded bliss. One of the most famous examples of wedding ring tattoos involve buxom blonde "Baywatch" star, Pamela Anderson, and her ex-husband Tommy Lee. Instead of exchanging rings, Pamela tattoed "Tommy" onto her ring finger. Tommy, on the other hand, tattooed "Pamela" on his genitals.
Some people get wedding ring tattoos as a place holder until they can afford a real ring. Others rebel against actual rings altogether, using tattoos as an alternative in lieu of diamonds, and still others opt for tattoos because they work at a job (construction, for example) where a real ring would easily get destroyed. Choosing a tattoo is a careful process. The tattoo you decide on should be a reflection of your commitment to one another as well as your own individual personalities. Some people like the literal option of getting a ring design tattooed on their fingers while others choose to get the first name, nickname or initials of their loved one. Some people go for a deeper interpretation, like an image that has sentimental value, the numbers that represent the day they met, or a quote or series of words that have a meaning only the couple can understand. Either way, a tattooed wedding ring is a representative of solidity and commitment, a testament to love that you can never take off and leave behind or accidentally drop down the sink in the kitchen.
Of course, with the divorce rate in America being so high these days, we cannot talk about wedding ring tattoos without mentioning the possibility of splitting up. Unless you have scores of money like the celebrities mentioned above, laser tattoo removal is out of the question. The image you select is going to be with you for the rest of your natural born life. Getting the name of your favorite band or the traditional butterfly on your ankle is one thing--even if you end up disliking the group ten years later, you can chalk it up to the experience and view it instead as a permanent reminder of youth or freedom, a memorial of who you used to be, who you would not be now without the past that led you here.
Wedding ring tattoos, on the other hand, are a much more serious commitment. Think long and hard before taking the leap (into both marriage and tattoos.) As I discussed in my Don't Regret Your Next Tattoo hub, a common argument against tattoos of this nature is "What if you break up?" What I usually say in response to that is just because something doesn't last does not mean it didn't happen. Maybe you'll stay together forever and and live happily ever after and maybe you won't. If you don't, the tattoo can serve as a reminder of a time when you were happy and in love, a memorial to a bygone era. You learned everything you could from each other and had to move on. Keep in mind that every step you take leads you to where you are now; even if you are now with someone new and no longer have any contact with the person whose name is tattooed on your wedding ring finger, never forget that you needed to go through that experience in order to reach the happiness you've now achieved with your new partner. That's how I choose to look at it in regards to Danielle, and besides: a ring finger tattoo can always be covered up by a real one :)
BOOKS
|
Body Type: Intimate Messages Etched in Flesh
Price: $8.24
List Price: $19.95 |
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Interesting Hub. You make very important points about the permanance of a tattoo and the relative impermanance of modern relationships. I particularly enjoyed the last 2 paragraphs -- very insightful, Jaclyn!
For the amount of time that people stay together now a days and how long a tattoo lasts, I wouldn't be getting one of those.
You say, "Maybe you'll stay together forever and and live happily ever after" too many people think this way. Marriage is not a happily ever after life (well sometimes it is but not always), it is and always will be a work in progress. If you think things won't ever get rough, don't ever get married or get a tattoo after doing so. If more people fully understood the commitment of marriage, less people would have tattoos like these to regret.
I have one of those wedding band tattoos. Mine's a key, my wife's is a heart shaped lock. While we're now getting divorced, I don't regret the tattoo. It's just part of life. Even though that tattoo will always be there it doesn't bother, or haunt me from having got it. I understood the permanence of it and what it will always mean when I had it done. I can live with my desicion.
I like the seventh photo from the top. Great hub! You can always take your wedding ring off, but you can't take off your finger...
5 years ago, on our 20th wedding anniversary, my husband and I discussed getting WR tats because neither one of us wear our rings (for various reason). We just hit 25 yrs. together and still no tats, so thanks for the inspiration to rethink our idea.
Re: relationships not lasting, it's true, we have moved into an era where many of us are in shorter term relationships. Some people accept this as the evolutinary step it is, while still others think the goal is to stay married forever. Whatever works for a couple is the way it should be. I love this quote: Your neighbor's vision is as true for him as your own vision is true for you. Miguel de Unamuno Let's lift that whole "I've failed at my marriage" mindset and embrace the fact that we are diverse, complex and adaptable beings. How long you choose to stay married is up to you and your S.O. Sound hypocritical from a 25 yr. marraige veteran? Not really, I've was fortunate to have a robust love life prior to marriage then married someone who lets me be me, unconditionally. BUT a marriage that lasts forever, happy or not, is no greater an accomplishment than someone who follows their heart and loves multiple times with abandon.
I think on the side works better than the actual ring appearance. Although, I like the look of them, I've never seen one last without a good deal of fading and wear.
Don't get married if you think you may divorce someday...what's the point of getting married if you don't belive you'll be together forever?...listen to the words of the priest during the cermony - instead of the ASS of the bridesmaid, OR maybe Jay-Z will also help you: "don't treat the one that you're loving, with the same respect as the one that you're humping"...happyness is the one thing we all can have it, but few of us really posses it...why? Think about this, and please live "happly ever after"!
P.S. I think this tattoos are great for those who really respect marriage! PEACE!
We are renewing our vows after a year apart and he is in a job where a ring is not the best choice and my hands swell so I can wear rings in winter but not summer. this idea appeals to me greatly and his is up to him, but I will get one.
An excellent article, very informative for the inquisitive, and with insights to consider for the intellectual browser. - The only thing you might have wanted to add are a couple of other facts about finger tattooing; although, I suppose your article is focusing on the symbolic, rather than the physical, aspects of the tattoos. I'll list what I would have added just in case any one is interested:- Fingers and hands are extremely sensitive, the skin on hands even when callused is often quite thin, and is absolutely chocked full of nerves. Your hands are delicate sensory instruments meant to feel even the slightest pinch or pressure, consider that when you are thinking about sticking needles into them.(Hands are in fact one of the paces that tattoo artists often recommend *against* tattooing, for exactly that reason; when the professionals in that business are concerned for the amount of pain you will feel, pay attention.)- Fading. How often do you wash your hands, have your hands in light, rub your hands together, stretch out your fingers, hell:move your hands at all? Every movement is a form of wear, tattoos on parts of the body that get a lot of use often fade quickly, and sometimes don't fully take at all. (if the skin is stressed too much during healing) Therefore, they require a certain acceptance of the fading they will endure, and the possible extra pain of touch-ups they may require. Hands aren't the kind of place where you can keep any tattoo even relatively pristine, and anyone even considering the idea should be aware of that.--------Aside from that, I think the idea of wedding band tattoos is awesome. (I plan to get one in place of a ring when I marry)Marriage is meant to be forever, so I see no issue with commemorating it with something which is likely to be with you for the rest of your life (faded or not). That the divorce rate is as high as it is, that as many people are dissatisfied with their tattoos, and that there are so many unplanned pregnancies/unwanted children: doesn't serve to prove that we shouldn't marry, get tattoos or have sex and children, what it means is that we should make all of these decisions more carefully.Acting on those wants is not the issue, acting rashly and without true (or any) consideration is the problem, in all of those cases.Patience isn't just a virtue, is a useful tool for ensuring less pain and frustration in life; everyone has a different length of time they should wait before they act, double the length of time in which they would usually change their mind about something is my suggestion ... which may mean I'm suggesting you wait five years because you usually change your mind after two and a half - the other option is learn to live comfortably with your mistakes. Take your pick.
I just got a ring tattoo last week -- sort of a Christmas present for my wife of 23 years. This was my first (and probably last) tattoo, and yes, it was painful, but the pain is short-lived. I got a solid band, but it only goes half way around my finger because I was told that tattoos on the "working" side of the hand wear off very quickly.
The disappointing thing was that the finger is a lousy canvas for the tattoo guys -- especially my 47-year-old hand with all its pores and wrinkles. So don't envision some fancy, intricate design -- you have to keep it extremely simple. Right now mine is in the scabby, healing stage, so I don't yet know if the little letters I embedded in the band will be legible at all. Still, no regrets yet, and if it ends up looking ugly I can always go back to wearing a real ring to conceal it.
I deeply love the man that I will marry in September and will work very hard to ensure that it lasts! We plan on getting ring tattoos and wearing our rings so that the tattoo is special for us.
Hey, just wanted to recommend this great site that did my Arabic tattoo design http://my-arabic-tattoo.com
here is an idea that i came up with to shut all the people up about getting a ring tattoo just put a single letter like mine is going to be an M with a design through it and it looks like a W from my point of view but in my line of work i cant wear a ring and it upsets my wife so we decided to keep her happy to get a ring tattoo but when we went to get it like a lot of people we were told not to incase we devorced but with just the last name initial it really wont matter 30 or 40 yrs done the road my initials wont change wether i am married or not
hiiiiiiiiiiii
Hi i want to get my husbands name tattoo under my wedding ring just want some advive i only have a thin band and want to no if u can get them small enough so u wont be able to see it when i have my ring on, he only has 5 letters in his name.
Whitney05 says:
2 years ago
My tattooest tatttooed his ex-wife under her wedding bands with the date they got married. He doesn't really reccommend it becasue the ink tends to spider off (if that makes sense). The pictures you've posted look great, so maybe it was just at the size she had hers... ? Her's was barely readable shortly afterwards...
But, now their divorced...