Wedding Tattoos That Are Much Better Than Any Traditional Ring

Let's just be honest for a second: wedding planning is really expensive. A typical wedding now costs around $25,000 on average. That's an entire year's salary for some people—and that doesn't even include costs of a bridal shower or any special stuff for the maid of honor.

When you involve wedding cake debacles, in-law in-fighting, and all the wedding sites you're supposed to register for, it's hard to imagine why anyone would want to get hitched. Planning your own wedding is totally brutal.

As bad as hall rentals and caterers are to book, there's something to be said about the jewelry itself. Wedding rings are becoming too expensive to reasonably afford, and many are even eschewing the practice of buying diamonds altogether.

One of the newest ways to help curb the costs of getting married is to get wedding tattoos instead of a wedding ring. The perks include a lower cost, never worrying about where you placed your wedding ring, and similar goods.

You don't need to be a poker fan to enjoy this adorable couples' tattoo. Choosing the King of Spades and Queen of Hearts makes this tattoo really pop, all while enjoying the perks of working with each person's skin tone beautifully. These are wedding tattoos fit for royalty.

Two hearts can beat as one with this adorable tattoo. Placed elegantly on their ring fingers, this couple got some of the cutest traditional wedding tattoos we've ever seen. It's subtle, simple, and just perfectly sweet.

For more involved wedding tattoos, getting ink that tells you a little bit about the wedding date and your partner might be a good choice. This unique twist on a wedding ring offers up details like the official wedding date and initials. This way, everyone from your acquaintances to close friends can learn about your wedding day.

Some wedding tattoos are subtle enough to pass for casual flash tattoos, such as this one. The perks of having such a tattoo is that you never have to deal with awkward explanations if the two of you end up divorced. Even so, it's an adorable way to show you're together.

The cool thing about wedding tattoos is that you can determine what your wedding tattoo looks like. It doesn't even have to be on your ring finger to make it work. This cute-as-sin tattoo is placed on the couples wrist and coincides with the "XOXO" theme.

XO, by the way, traditionally stands for "hugs and kisses."

At first glance, you might think this duo is giving you the finger, but they're not. Take a closer look at their hands. They've actually gotten infinite symbols on their ring fingers, a clear indicator that they want to be together forever.

Having a tattoo that is fully complete is a nice way to show that you're a whole person on your own, but what if you want to drive home the point of a spouse being a better half? This pair of partial tattoos shows that your spouse really completes you, don't you think? Wedding tattoos never looked cuter.

Plenty of wedding tattoos use visual forms of classic euphemisms to get their point across. This pair of tattoos is a good example of this rule in action. This is based on the tale of the Red String of Fate; the idea that two people were fated to be together. How cool is that?

The coolest thing about wedding tattoos is that you get to decide what the tattoos mean to you. Some are just matching tattoos with similar themes, such as these two tattoos here. Why triangles? Who knows? It's a secret only the couple can tell.

If you're like many couples out there, you feel like your love story is really out of this world. This pair of matching planetary tattoos is just a bit geeky, a touch adorable, and a cute low-key way to make sure people know you have found your intergalactic soulmate.

If you think about it, the love that Darth Vader had for Padme was pretty huge, and maybe that's what makes this Star Wars tattoo so adorable. Heart-shaped Death Stars? This might be one of the geekiest and yet most poignant wedding tattoos we've seen.

If you're looking for a clear-cut way to show you're married, then why not make your wedding tattoos ring tattoos? It's a universal sign that you are married, and no ridiculously overpriced rocks are involved in saying it. We approve.

If getting a plain wedding ring isn't good enough to signal that you're hitched, you might want to consider just spelling it out—literally. This "Mrs." tattoo says that you're married, and that you're staying married. Needless to say, it is a tattoo that makes a serious statement.

Though this isn't really technically a wedding tattoo, it sure does have a romantic edge that many wedding tattoos don't. A nice little homage to a favorite poem, or maybe a favorite saying that your partner says can be the perfect way to declare your love forever. The moon's a nice touch, too.

Wedding tattoos are definitely a good way to avoid the "blood diamond" issue and price tag of a classic ring. However, there's still something to be said about the beauty of a wedding ring and the ability to show a ring off. This tattoo offers up the best of both worlds without having to worry about the stigma of a ring tattoo.

Themed wedding tattoos definitely seem to be a "thing" if you know what we mean. For the couple that loves to dine together, this culinary pair of tattoos says it all. Just remember: spooning leads to forking.

Heart tattoos are the de facto theme of many wedding tattoos, and sometimes, they're the best option out there. If you are worried about getting a tattoo on your hand due to employment reasons, this adorable wrist tattoo is another great choice. Hearts are timeless, simple, and make a statement. 'Nuff said.

King and queen tattoos just make sense as wedding tattoos. After all, he's supposed to be your king, and you're supposed to be his queen, right? (Or vice versa.) This take on that theme is royally awesome.

We're not sure that there's an older couple than the sun and the moon. This celestially cute tattoo pair is simple, says a lot about the couple, and also looks great solo. That's a win-win.

For the astronomer couple that loves sci-fi and interplanetary travel, this remains one of the most epic wedding tattoos you can get. Cute enough to first flaunt at a bachelorette party, and epic enough to Instagram, it's safe to say that this tat is a great choice for everyone that loves space.