Tattooed Wedding Bands???

[IamSusie]

My hubby doesn't wear his wedding band (his finger shape makes it very uncomfortable)  and my dad never even got one.  We all have happy, stable marriages too.  The wedding band is just a symbol, the marriage itself is what's important. 

I actually wouldn't dream of not having a wedding ring for myself, though, so you have to do what feels right. 

I remember taking my engagement/wedding bands in to be soldered together a few months after the wedding and the store was already encouraging me to "trade up".  This idea was really not for me, because I love my sweet ring that was just what we could afford at that time, but you can always consider this option.
 

[eirle]

My grandmother always tells a wonderful story about how my grandparents got married with a silver band that cost 25 cents because that's all they could afford. She's had many beautiful rings since, but the sentimental value of being married with something within their means has always been important to her.

I second the comment about gold being mined under unethical conditions. The same is true for diamonds. If you look online you'll be amazed at what you might be supporting by buying new rings.

I'm sure that whatever you decide to do will be wonderful though -- it's really about your committment to each other, not about the jewelery.

[animegirlie]

I hate to say it, but do not do the tattoo on your hands! think about 20 years down the road - it will look weird and unfortunate but true - you won't look professional. totally depends on what you do for a living though.

I do second the titanium rings though - they are the hardest metal you can find more lasting and permanent than gold. My fiance has designed my rings to be amde in titanium - I just need to find someone who can work with it. 

[rhiandmoi]

I think the most important opinion to consider is your fiancé's. Since he is not in favor of a tattooed wedding band, I think that should be the end of it.

[Inna]

My husband and I have silver bands that we got at a kiosk in the mall for $25 Canadian each. Every couple of years or when we get bored with them we go on a manhunt for rings again. we are on our third set and these ones are spinner rings. We go together with no kids, go for lunch or dinner find new rings - make a date of it. Do what makes you happy and what is special to you.

[Emmalou]

More people than you realize buy their rings from QVC... just a thought.

[jesseeyore]

Just wanted to add my two cents- my husband and I bought our rings online through a company whose name I can't remember (So Sorry!). They are sterling silver "poesy rings", with tiny phrases in what seems to be an ancient foreign language. I paid $80 for both with shipping and one send-back for resizing included. We decided we weren't conventional people so it didn't matter to us if what we were wearing were "wedding bands" or not.

That said, we still talk about getting tattooed rings as well. I have several tattoos but struggle with the issue of whether or not a visible tattoo on my finger will be acceptable at my place of employment. That may be the deciding factor for you as well. Either way, good luck with whatever decision you make! And Congratulations!

[retro rabbit34]

my science teacher had that done, it looked really cool but because it was on her finger in faded/rubbed off

but never the less after i saw hers i really wanted to get one done too!

[bubba*tink]

wait...where are they ripping you off $700 for simple wedding bands???  My plain white gold band was like $35 and my hubby's loverly wide white gold wedding band was about $140, brand new from a great small jewelry store in Seattle.  I'm sure in many smaller jewelry stores they'll probably charge around the same amount.

I love love love tattoos too, but if your fiancee isn't really into getting one, it may muster up some resentment if you try to force him into it...

[McJulie-O]

I think the most important opinion to consider is your fiancé's. Since he is not in favor of a tattooed wedding band, I think that should be the end of it.

Agree with this. Knowing that he doesn't like tattoos,  if you pursue this you are proclaiming to him that you don't CARE and want what you YOU want anyway. You may rationalize getting them by saying, "He changed his mind eventually after I persuaded him," but you will have nagged him into it, and many men will go against their core beliefs just to get a little relief from pushy females. You will cause him to lose respect for himself, and also for you for talking him into doing something he didn't want to do. A terrible way to start a marriage, don't you think? 

***gets off Dr. Phil soapbox***

That being said, a pawnshop wedding ring may also have a wonderful background to it, from a loving, longlasting marriage. Not everything in pawnshops can possibly be from broken homes, or sad stories. But it sounds like there are certainly other options for inexpensive rings, probably cheaper even than tattoos..