How to Pick a Wedding Ring Tattoo Design

Tattooed wedding bands are becoming more popular among couples who wed or make a lifetime commitment. Because wedding ring tattoos are so personal and sacred, most couples prefer to design their own tattoos, rather than use pre-existing tattoo designs.

The most difficult part of getting a wedding tattoo is not sitting in the parlor chair under the needle, but sitting down with your partner to create a meaningful design. The steps below will walk you through the process of achieving the perfect wedding tattoo pattern.

Instructions

1. The first thing you and your partner should do is sit down with a tattoo artist and discuss possibilities and limitations of wedding band tattoos. If you've never had a tattoo before, there is a lot to learn about ink colors, fading, text size, and tattoo removal.

   With finger tattoos, you must consider how skin texture, hair, and weight changes can effect the tattoo. A design that looks good on your back or arm may not necessarily work on your finger.

2. Next, decide which part of your fingers to tattoo. Most couples tattoo wedding bands near the bases of their ring fingers. Some couples tattoo the inside edge of their ring finger. The latter placement allows more room for text, but can be more painful than a traditional ring tattoo.

   Also decide if you and your spouse want free standing tattoos, or images that complement each other. For example, each partner gets a half-heart that becomes whole when you put your fingers together.

3. Next, get some paper and pens and start brainstorming tattoo designs with your partner. Consider text patters, such as your names, dates, or vows. Look in tattoo design books for Celtic, Polynesian, or geometric motifs.

4. Make several dozen prototype wedding bands using felt-tip pens, paper that matches your skin tones, and clear tape. Draw the patterns on the paper with the markers, cut out the tattoo patterns, and tape them around your finger. Look at them from different angles to see what you like and what you don't like.

   (It's best to use a felt tip pen since super-fine lines cannot be tattooed.)

5. When you and your partner have settles on a tattoo design, take it to the parlor and have it inked.