Tattoo artists, current on the history of their skill, will tell you that it was sometime in the late 1960s when the practice here in the United States made the leap from beefy-biceped sailors and hairy-chested marines to the general public. And now everyone, from the sullen teenaged supermarket checker (with blood-sucking dragon emblazoned on his forearm) to your friendly, van-driving, neighborhood, soccer mom (with demure rose etched daintily on her ankle) seems to be sporting one. Indeed, what was once considered pure kitsch and bad-boy daring-do has become so mainstream that even the wedding crowd is going under the needle.

But if history serves as any model, this latter should not be so surprising. An ancient art form harking back at least to the Golden Age of Egypt and probably further, tattooing has figured largely in the ceremonies and traditions of countless cultures. In Borneo, women bore markings to indicate their marriageable skill; in western Asia, the Ainu peoples used body art to indicate social status and then introduced the practice to the Japanese who used it in their religious and ceremonial rites. And even today, Hindu brides, in a prenuptial ceremony called the Mehndi, will have their hands and feet painted with intricate, tattoo-like designs that last one to three weeks.

Clearly, it was only a matter of time before American brides and grooms took a good look around them, globally and historically speaking, and started getting tattooed to commemorate the big day. “It’s something that symbolizes your togetherness,” says Stacey Sharp tattoo artist of Alternative Ink in Ronkonkoma. From the soon-to-be married couple who chose winged wolves (the virile male for him, the smaller female with cubs for her) to the anniversary couple who opted for champagne glasses and roses, Sharp has seen her share of loving couples willing to suffer for their love.

Or just plain suffer. These tend to be the couples that insist upon having the name of their loved one engraved forever on their skin. “It’s like a jinx,” says Sharp. “It’ll only be a matter of time before they’re back asking to have it covered up.” John Onysko tattoo artist at Cort’s Royal Ink in Patchogue agrees. “I’ve done so many name cover-ups, I can’t count them all.” According to Onysko, about seven out of every ten couples who make such errors in optimism will return to eat crow, or at least have one tattooed atop the name that now spells sour grapes. Such errors, usually but not always, seem to be a product of youth. Older couples, in Onysko’s experience, return far less for the cover-up.

Cover-ups become a moot point, however, if the couple chooses its tattoo with more care. Onysko, for instance, suggests the wedding date (less obvious than names) or even portraits of each other. These latter he calls “definitely cool” since they look exactly like a photograph and require true talent on the part of the tattoo artist. Still, one has to wonder how a portrait of the partner-to-be would be any wiser a choice than the name.

For Sharp, the answer is simple: Keep the I-Do Tattoo to symbols, whether it be his-and-her wolves, champagne glasses, or Celtic Runes. And avoid, like the plague, portraits and names. “After all,” says Sharp, “You know who you’re with.” Furthermore, both Sharp and Onysko suggest that the couple do a little research before heading to a studio. Anything they can offer the artist beyond a blank stare and a shrug could go a long way toward gaining them a romantic tattoo they can live with. “The customer we hate to see is the one who wants you to pick out the tattoo,” says Onysko.

Sharp, who has ten years of experience as a tattoo artist, seems to view client uncertainty with more tolerance: “Some people are very specific about what they want, while you have to lead others in a certain direction, and sometimes it’s because they are open and see tattooing as a form of personal expression.” Clients like this may be happier avoiding studios that traffic in stock pictures. Says Sharp, “You can walk into some tattoo studios where there will be nothing on the walls but fine art.” It is here, she explains, that true art is practiced, “just on a different type of canvas.”

Whichever type studio the couple opts for, however, one thing is certain: It best be clean, a fact which may not always be so obvious. Sharp suggests that a prospective client watch the artist at work to see how she works with the latex gloves (no cross-contamination) and how she handles the needles (they should be removed from sterilized packaging in front of the customer and disposed of properly). Clients should also ask to see the autoclave (the sterilization machine as well as recent records proving that it is in working order). And, finally, clients should be certain they are going under a licensed tattoo artist’s needle. Says Sharp, “You need to remember that you are definitely making a commitment.” When it comes to the I-Do Tattoo, no truer words have been spoken.

If you are considering a tattoo for the first time you may have some questions about how to pick out a tattoo design. Finding the correct design for you is really important as tattoos are basically permanent unless you want to pay to have them removed. So for your first time here are some things that you should consider about what type of design you should have, where you can find ideas for designs, and if you can create your own.

When giving tips for choosing a design for a tattoo the best advice is “what do you really like?” You should pick a design that really expresses something you feel strongly about or something that when you look at it you smile. A good example of this is many that are in the military often get themselves tattooed with very American symbols such as the eagle or if they are marines the “devil dog” or bulldog mascot. On the other hand you may love butterflies and consider having a butterfly design done in a place where you can see it and it makes you smile.

You can find a design that you will like almost anywhere. You can search online and you will find some that will let you print out the designs for free and other will allow you to download them for a fee. The choices are unlimited online so that is a good place to start. Another place you can look for a good tattoo design is at the tattoo parlor where you are planning to have yours done at. They will have lots of books full of designs and each artist will have their own portfolio full of ideas.

If you have not found any tattoo ideas that peak your interest you can try to design your own original work. This is especially ease if you have an artistic ability. You can just draw it up and take it to the parlor where you will have it done and they put it into a special copier that will print out the design on tattoo paper, and you have your own unique tattoo. If you are not artistic you can cut picture out of a magazine and take it into the artist, not all pictures can be copied but a good artist should be able to make a nice rendition of it for you.

The next thing you should consider is how big you are going to want your chosen design and where you are going to have it placed. Many artists will recommend that for the first time you select a design that is smaller. This way you can test yourself and see if you can tolerate the pain, most people are fine but there are some that are extra sensitive and may decide not to proceed. The other question to consider is where you want the tattoo. Make sure that the place you work does not have any restrictions as to visible tattoos and many people think it will be neat to have the tattoo design put in a discrete area but just remember, in order to get it there, someone will be looking.

For over a decade now, the lower back has been a very popular region for girls to get tattooed. Lower back tattoos are sexy and feminine. They highlight the female body’s natural curves and draw attention to all the right places.

Lower back tattoo designs will probably never go out of style for this reason. Show them off with tank tops and low-rise jeans, and you’ll get them noticed for sure. Many unique and cool lower back tattoo designs are available. Check out flash art displayed at a local studio or check online for image galleries.

Flowery designs that blossom outward are a great choice for backs: think of lotus blossoms, roses, tulips, orchids, cherry blossoms, and so on. Other tattoos with mystical or religious properties look good on the lower back. If you’re interested in a certain ancient culture then tap into their mythology for inspiration. Script on the lower back is becoming increasingly popular right now, especially writings in Eastern languages. Chinese characters or Arabic script are very cool choices.

Buddhist-inspired designs, like Hindu writing and laughing Buddha figures, all come from Eastern culture. Possibly consider a written prayer or traditional chant in its original language that is meaningful to you personally. Animals remain a popular choice, from small images of a butterfly to an oversized Bengal tiger tattoo on the back. Other animals often chosen are hummingbirds, horses, unicorns, dolphins, and so on.

Other designs like shooting stars and angel wings are very beautiful and awe-inspiring tattoos. Lower back tattoos are compatible with almost any design, but look especially nice with images like dragons, flowers, butterflies, and Celtic crosses. Inserting a word or phrase into an intricate design is also popular. It may not be noticeable at first glance, but incorporating a unique sentiment like “Pride” or “Faith” into a floral or tribal design personalizes the tattoo it and makes it yours.

Before you get your tattoo done for real, take it for a test drive with a temporary tattoo. You’ll get the feel for life with a tattoo if you do this first. Make sure that you wear loose clothing to the tattoo studio so the tattoo artist can easily get at the area you want tattooed, and so that clothing isn’t irritating your tattoo area after it is all done. Friction slows healing and can lead to infection.

For women, the most common area for tattoos is probably the lower back and for good reason. Lower back tattoos are very sexy and feminine, accentuating curves and creating the body into a beautiful canvas.

For over a decade now, the lower back has been a very popular region for girls to get tattooed. Lower back tattoos are sexy and feminine. They highlight the female body’s natural curves and draw attention to all the right places.

Lower back tattoo designs will probably never go out of style for this reason. Show them off with tank tops and low-rise jeans, and you’ll get them noticed for sure. Many unique and cool lower back tattoo designs are available. Check out flash art displayed at a local studio or check online for image galleries.

Flowery designs that blossom outward are a great choice for backs: think of lotus blossoms, roses, tulips, orchids, cherry blossoms, and so on. Other tattoos with mystical or religious properties look good on the lower back. If you’re interested in a certain ancient culture then tap into their mythology for inspiration. Script on the lower back is becoming increasingly popular right now, especially writings in Eastern languages. Chinese characters or Arabic script are very cool choices.

Buddhist-inspired designs, like Hindu writing and laughing Buddha figures, all come from Eastern culture. Possibly consider a written prayer or traditional chant in its original language that is meaningful to you personally. Animals remain a popular choice, from small images of a butterfly to an oversized Bengal tiger tattoo on the back. Other animals often chosen are hummingbirds, horses, unicorns, dolphins, and so on.

Other designs like shooting stars and angel wings are very beautiful and awe-inspiring tattoos. Lower back tattoos are compatible with almost any design, but look especially nice with images like dragons, flowers, butterflies, and Celtic crosses. Inserting a word or phrase into an intricate design is also popular. It may not be noticeable at first glance, but incorporating a unique sentiment like “Pride” or “Faith” into a floral or tribal design personalizes the tattoo it and makes it yours.

Before you get your tattoo done for real, take it for a test drive with a temporary tattoo. You’ll get the feel for life with a tattoo if you do this first. Make sure that you wear loose clothing to the tattoo studio so the tattoo artist can easily get at the area you want tattooed, and so that clothing isn’t irritating your tattoo area after it is all done. Friction slows healing and can lead to infection.

For women, the most common area for tattoos is probably the lower back and for good reason. Lower back tattoos are very sexy and feminine, accentuating curves and creating the body into a beautiful canvas.