I’m not a big fan of tattoos. I’ve never really had one, and I’ve always been hesitant to get one. But there’s something about getting a tattoo with your partner that appeals to me. I think it would be so meaningful for us to have some kind of symbol that we could share. It would be our own unique symbol, something special just between the two of us.
But if you’re thinking about getting a tattoo with your partner, then I encourage you to take some time to consider what kind of design you’d like. Because while it might seem fun and exciting to get matching tattoos, there are some things to consider before you go ahead and commit to it.
Designs That Feel Specific to the Relationship
First, let me say that I absolutely love the idea of getting matching tattoos with my future husband. I love the idea of having something that shows how much we love each other. And I love the idea of being able to show off my tattoos in public and have people ask questions about them. (That will be fun!) But when I look at couple tattoos online, they all seem so generic to me. So many of them are designs that could work for any couple. They don’t feel very personal or meaningful to me. The only ones that make sense to me are those that are specific to the relationship — like wedding date tattoos, anniversary date tattoos, king-and-queen finger tattoos, wedding date ring tattoos, etc.
And then there are the “half-circle” designs that visually join when partners are together. Those are also pretty cool. I’ve seen several variations of those, but I don’t see many that are actually used by couples. If I were to do a half-circle tattoo, I’d want it to be something that was specific to my marriage relationship. I wouldn’t want it to be generic couple imagery.
Another category of couple tattoos that I love is subtle interconnected artwork. This can include anything from intertwined vines to hands holding on to each other to hearts entwined around a shared heart. These kinds of tattoos are beautiful and romantic. But again, I’d want mine to be specific to my marriage relationship. I wouldn’t want it to be generic couple imagery.
There are also couple tattoos that are designed as complementary pieces rather than identical matches. For example, if you have a flower tattoo, maybe you can have a tree tattoo. Or if you have a bird tattoo, maybe you can have a feather tattoo. But I still want these to be specific to my marriage relationship. I wouldn’t want it to be generic couple imagery.
Why the Meaning Matters More Than the Tattoo
So why do I find all of this so appealing? I think it has to do with the fact that the meaning behind the tattoo is more important to me than the actual tattoo itself. In other words, I want something that represents the uniqueness of my marriage relationship, and that only the two of us know about. I don’t want something generic that could be used by any couple.
Start Small
If you’re interested in getting a tattoo with your spouse, I recommend that you start small. A simple symbol rather than a name or full-blown tattoo would give you the opportunity to try out the idea without making a huge commitment. Plus, if the relationship ever ends, you’ll still have the symbol as lasting proof of your love.