Wedding Ring Tattoos: Everything You Need to Know

Wedding ring tattoos have blown up in popularity over the past few years, and with good reason.

Not only do they commemorate a wedding in a much more permanent way than a ring, but wedding ring tattoos also allow for more personalization, a tighter budget, and more flexibility for those who have careers that prevent them from even wearing a ring.

But just like traditional wedding rings, tattoo rings require a lot of research. We get a ton of questions from couples such as: What can I expect to pay? Will it hurt? Are they *really* impossible to remove? Read on to get the answers to these questions and more, below!

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Wedding Ring Tattoo Cost

The exact price of wedding band tattoos depends on where you live, the artist, and the tattoo’s design; however, you can typically expect to spend anywhere from $50 to $300. The cost gets higher the more complex a design is, but even the most intricate ring tattoo shouldn’t be more than $2,000.

Taking the unlikely $2,000 into consideration, tattoos are still much more affordable than actual rings. On average, Americans spend over $6,000 on engagement rings. This price doesn’t even include the cost of a wedding band, either — which run from $300 to $1,500.

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Finding an Artist

It’s best that you don’t choose a random tattoo artist or shop for any permanent ink, but you want to be especially careful when finding someone to do a wedding ring tattoo. Again, research is your friend.

Start with a simple Google search for tattoo shops around you. For each shop you consider, try to pick out one or two artists that you think would work best for you and your S.O. Shop websites will typically include a roster of their artists, including information about their experience. Fingers aren’t the easiest place to tattoo, so it’s particularly important that you choose someone who’s done them before. You can even ask them for photos of examples they’ve done.

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You should also read reviews on sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and more. You’ll quickly learn whether or not the shop is clean, safe, and if/who produces quality work.

Another interesting thing to note is that some states do not allow tattoo artists to ink below the wrist (or the ankle and above the neck) because these areas can be fairly sensitive (more on that below), so be sure to ask your tattoo artist if there are any restrictions before you make your appointment. Speaking of…

Planning Ahead

Not all tattoo shops allow walk-ins — in addition to requiring appointments, some artists even expect you to schedule a time to come in prior to your tattoo date. This way, you can both sort out the details of the design and its placement.

You’ll want to get the actual tattoo about one to two weeks before your wedding since it needs to heel. You may not want anyone to see the design beforehand, but it’s not worth waiting ’til the last minute only for the tattoo to be scabbed, bleeding, or causing pain. These are typical during the healing process, especially when the tattoo is on a sensitive place like a finger.

If you’re honeymooning somewhere tropical — or even a place that has a pool you’ll be swimming in — be sure to mention it to your tattoo artist. They’ll be able to recommend the best date to allow proper healing, and how to care for your wedding ring tattoos when it comes to water and sun exposure.

Things to Consider

Pain

Yes, there will be pain — how much, though, depends on who you ask since everybody has a different tolerance. But the fingers are sensitive. They’re full of nerves, and there’s not much skin, fat or muscle on top of the knuckle and bone. It’s okay to be nervous, but if you honestly don’t think you endure the (albeit quick) process, then you probably shouldn’t go through with it.

Permanency

Nobody wants to enter a marriage considering the idea of divorce. After all, you shouldn’t marry someone if you don’t want to be with them forever, right? But that doesn’t mean you should completely dismiss the notion of a future separation.

That said, yes, it is possible to remove a tattoo. However, that’s not the question you should be asking. Instead, consider this: Would you be able to commit weeks, or even months, to multiple laser removal sessions? These sessions cost anywhere from $50 to $500 each, depending on how long you’ve had the tattoo, its size, color, etc. On average, the total cost for the removal of a ring tattoo is a little over $1,000.

It’s not an easy process, either. Laser removal can be extremely painful, and even after treatments, you’ll probably be left with a scar.

There are other options, like surgical excision, dermabrasion, and even creams, but these also range in price, pain, and more.

You can always cover it up, too. Those who stay married and grow tired of the tattoo can also add to the design, or even pair the original tattoo with a ring for a unique look.

Care

There will be steps you need to take to maintain your tattoo even after the healing process is complete. Tattoos fade, and those with light colors will do so even quicker than ones with darker colors. Wedding ring tattoos also fade faster than tattoos in other places since they’re constantly being rubbed together and against things.

To prevent fading as much as possible, be sure to do things that you should already be doing: wearing sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, keeping your skin healthy, and so on. Your tattoo artist can always provide you with specific care instructions, too.

Choosing a Wedding Ring Tattoo Design

Personalize, personalize, personalize! The freedom that comes with designing a wedding ring tattoo is arguably the best part of getting one. We’ve gathered a few of our favorite tattoos, but even if you opt for one of them, be sure to add your own personal touch. 

If you’re looking for even more inspiration, some of the ideas we love that the both of you could get are:

• Your wedding date 
• Matching puzzle pieces
• Lock and key
• Sun and moon
• Half a heart
• Mr. or Mrs. or Him or Her
• 1/2 (Get it? Like one half? Or 1 of 2)
• Infinity symbol

No matter which wedding ring tattoos you get, make sure it’s meaningful to the two of you. They don’t have to make sense to anyone else…in fact, we think that’s even better. 🙂

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