Tied in a Bow March 2015 | Page 34

Ring Finger Tattoo vs

Traditional Wedding Ring

by Sheriann Kirby

re the traditional wedding rings about to become a thing of the past? Will all these beautiful matching wedding ring tattoo designs slowly push the wedding band into extinction? My guess would be no.

A

A new wedding trend that has recently popped up is for couples to get matching tattoos on their ring fingers instead of the traditional wedding band. For some couples this may be a perfectly viable option, but for the mainstream couples, the couples who aren’t into the hard core tat culture, this may be something that you really want to think over before diving into something so permanent.

If you and your intended are not already hardcore tat canvas, then this may not be an option for you. Tattoos are a beautiful expression of feelings that are painfully and permanently painted into your skin. They are with you forever. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your intended BEFORE going to the tattoo shop...

1. Are you a person who changes your mind a lot? A tattoo ring is permanent. Although some tats can be slightly changed with a cover-up, it can be expensive and painful to change that design.

2. Do I really want something permanent on my finger that cannot be removed in the event of a divorce? Or in the event of becoming a widow and wanting to remarry one day?

3. Is this just a trend that will soon pass and will I regret not getting traditional wedding bands?

4. What happens if you later regret this decision and purchase a traditional wedding set? The thing to remember is this, the wedding set will likely be ‘smaller’ than the tattoo ring. So it will not cover it and you will now have a ring floating around the middle part of your tattoo design. Is this something that you really want to have happen? What if the wedding set doesn’t match the tattoo ring? It may look silly and make you very unhappy.

5. Are you doing this to shock your traditional parents with a new and risque trend? Yes, this is something that you really should ask yourself. Sometimes brides get caught up in the idea of doing something so shocking that their parents will be appalled. You may accomplish the shock factor, but later in life, will this end up being a decision that you will later regret?

6. Will a tattoo around your finger emotionally feel the same as a traditional wedding band does? Most people, if they answer honestly, will say no. Most people like the physical sensation of having a real wedding band on their finger to validate their devotion to their marriage vows. Yes, one of the benefits of having a permanent tattoo ring on your finger will not allow your spouse to take his or her ring off in order to have an affair. But in all honesty, if you are even tossing this idea around in your head, then maybe you need to re-evaluate the relationship you have with this person.

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