Your Guide to Wedding Ring Tattoos: Ideas, Cost, Aftercare & More

Key Things to Know When You’re Considering a Wedding Ring Tattoo

 

Wedding ring tattoos are a trendy, all-in way to honor a love that’s made to last – forever and always! But it’s not just their permanence that makes wedding tattoos appealing to so many couples. 

 

 Why Get Wedding Ring Tattoos?
 

There are actually a lot of benefits to tattooed wedding bands. They’re a great alternative if you can’t or don’t want to wear a traditional ring every day, either because of your job, sensory issues that make wearing a ring difficult, or style preferences. Wedding tattoos are also significantly less expensive than the average wedding ring, and you can’t lose them on your honeymoon. 

 

Related: How to plan an accessible and disability-friendly wedding ceremony

 

If you’re considering wedding band tattoos instead of traditional jewelry, this guide’s for you. We’ll cover cost, after-care, fading or cover-up concerns, popular styles, creative ideas, and more!  

 

 

A Simple Guide to Wedding Ring Tattoos

 

• How much does a tattoo wedding ring cost? You could save a lot compared to a traditional ring.

 

Simple ring tattoos can be very affordable, often running between $50 to $100 for a simple line band. A more complicated design might set you back about $300, depending on the shop minimum and a tattoo artist’s hourly rates.

 

This cost can be significantly less than a traditional wedding ring. This year, the average cost of a wedding ring or wedding band is between $700 to $1200! 

 

If you’re on budget, a wedding tattoo could be the perfect way to symbolize your love, or serve as a daily reminder of your promises while you save up for the ring of your dreams.

 

 

(Photo by Julian Scagliola / Unsplash)

 

 

• How much does a wedding ring tattoo hurt? (Spoiler: It’s going to sting.)

 

There’s no denying that tattoos are painful, but how much does a finger tattoo actually hurt? Many people place hand and finger tattoos at about an 8-out-of-10 on the pain scale, which can feel even more intense if you’re nervous. This pain level has to do with the amount of nerve endings in your fingers, and because “there’s less tissue between the skin and the bone” to soften the needle’s blow (artist Zakk Powers, Byrdie.com). 

 

Some people choose to use specially-formulated “numbing creams” to help reduce the pain of being tattooed, but we strongly recommend that you talk to your tattoo artist before purchasing one of these topical anesthetics. Some tattoo artists advise against numbing creams for various reasons, including changes to the skin’s texture while tattooing and allergies, while others say they’re harmless. Regardless, numbing creams won’t make your appointment completely painless, so expect some discomfort. But hey, love hurts right? And it’s worth it! 

 

Whatever you decide, never use a numbing cream on freshly tattooed skin. (Never.) These creams are only safe to use before your appointment, and new tattoos should be treated like open wounds. Which brings us to healing and aftercare…

 

 

(Photo by Haberdoedas / Unsplash)

 

 

• How long does it take for a wedding ring tattoo to heal? 

 

So, how far in advance of the wedding should you get tattooed -- and what does aftercare look like? Finger tattoos can take about 6 weeks to fully heal, although many signs of a brand new tattoo – such as redness, swelling, weeping, and scabbing – lessen after about 2 weeks. In general, smaller tattoos heal faster than larger pieces, and blackwork tattoos heal faster than color tattoos. 

 

For these reasons, it’s usually recommended that you get tattooed at least 3 to 4 weeks before your wedding date to ensure comfort, safety, and great photos on the wedding day. 

 

Of course, some couples like the idea of on-the-spot tattoos during the ceremony, while others schedule the appointment for after the wedding to keep the celebration going. If you plan to get tattooed after your wedding, consider temporary tattoos or silicone rings in the meantime.

 

Follow any tattoo aftercare tips provided by your artist carefully. This often includes advice like keeping your tattoo covered for a day or two after the appointment, using an aftercare lotion or moisturizer, keeping the area clean, and avoiding sun exposure.

 

 

• How to include a tattoo wedding rings "exchange" during your wedding ceremony

 

You don’t have to get tattooed in the middle of your wedding ceremony to include your symbolic ink in the celebration – just take a moment to show off your new wedding ring tattoos in place of a traditional ring exchange. 

 

How to do it: Your wedding officiant can explain any special symbolism behind your tattoo design, and say a few words about why you chose wedding tattoos instead of traditional bands. Then, you and your partner can hold up your hands to show off your ink, or clasp tattooed hands as a loving demonstration of your bond.  

 

Sample wording for a wedding ring tattoo “exchange”: 

 

WEDDING OFFICIANT: 

 

“Angie and Maya’s love has never been “ordinary,” and they didn’t want to exchange ordinary wedding rings either. Instead, they chose to get matching wedding ring tattoos, that they designed together in the months leading up to this special day. These permanent bands of black ink, bending delicately around a waxing crescent moon, are a symbol of their unique bond and the qualities that are most important to them in their relationship. They represent new beginnings, hope, growth, and joy. The impermanence of pain, and the lasting power of love. 

 

Angie and Maya, these tattoos are collaborative, authentic, and enduring – a perfect symbol for the exceptional love that you share and the future you’ll build together. 

 

Please show us your rings!” 
 
[Angie and Maya hold up their hands together, to show their ring tattoos to guests.]

 

 

• How long do wedding ring tattoos last? Do wedding ring tattoos fade? 

 

Wedding ring tattoos are permanent, but yes, they fade – and they’ll fade faster than tattoos on other body parts because of their placement, too. This means that you will need to touch-up your tattoo – both in the short term (after a few months), and in the long term (every few years), if you want to keep them fresh looking. 

 

Tattoos on fingers and hands are also prone to “blowout” – the blurring and bleeding of tattoo linework over time – so it’s important to keep this in mind. Tattoo blowout is permanent and can discolor the skin around your tattoo. Talk to your tattoo artist to choose a design you love that can handle the natural aging process.

 

 

• What’s the history of wedding ring tattoos? The tradition is older than you think! 

 

Wedding ring tattoos as we know them today – like simple black bands, infinity symbols, or hearts – are a new invention. They started gaining popularity in the 1990s and entered the mainstream in the early 2000s. But the history of wedding tattoos actually goes back much, much further. In some cases, tattoos symbolizing marriage can be traced back thousands of years. 

 

To name just a few examples: In Fiji, young women were tattooed with ‘veiqia’ to show their readiness for marriage, in an ancient practice that continued well into the 1800s; Maori women receive the moko kauae tattoo as a symbol they’d reached marriage age, in an ancient practice that continues today; and in the Atayal culture in Taiwan, young men’s faces have been tattooed with elaborate designs when they reached adulthood, symbolizing their majority and readiness for marriage since the earliest times. 

 

As our approach to marriage has changed over time, so have our marriage tattoos. Inspired by ancient Greek and Celtic wedding ring traditions and placement, today’s marriage tattoos incorporate a couple’s faiths, creativity, and personal styles. They symbolize not just the readiness to marry – but the couple’s unique bond, lasting commitment, and love. 

 

Modern & Stylish Wedding Ring Tattoo Ideas

 

Now that you know the basics, here’s a look at popular and creative wedding tattoo ideas we love! 

 

1. Simple Band

 

2. Infinity Symbol or "Forever Symbol"

 

 

3. Heart Outline

 

4. Roman Numerals

 

5. Partner’s Initials

 

6. Knot Symbol & Celtic Knot

 

 

7. Geometric Shapes

 

 

 

8. Meaningful Words

 

 

9. Religious or Faith Based

 

 

10. Floral or Botanical Designs

 

 

11. Cursive Name

 

12. Double Fine Line Rings

 

13. Full Finger Tattoo

 

14. Crown Tattoos 

 

15. Linked Chains

 

16. Minimalist Symbols

 

17. Pride Rings

 

18. Puzzle Pieces

 

19. Half-Heart on Each Finger

 

20. Script “Love”

 

21. Moon Phases

 

22. Lock and Heart

 

23. Constellation

 

24. Love in Morse Code

 

25. Zodiac Signs

 

26. Wedding Date

 

27. Coordinates of First Meeting

 

28. Infinity With Initials

 

29. Small Diamond

 

30. Norse Runes or Wiccan Runes

 

---

 

More Wedding Rings Ideas & Inspiration from AMM

 

• Silver, Gold, Black: The Symbolism of Wedding Ring Materials Explained
   
• Who Holds the Rings in a Wedding Ceremony? (And When Do They Hand Them Over?)

 

• What to Do With A Purity Ring During Your Wedding Ceremony

 

 

 

• The Magic & Meaning of Viking Wedding Rings

 

Click the link above to learn about Viking wedding rings! (Illustration of a Norse rune wedding ring tattoo by Jessica Levey)