love
We know what you’re asking. What’s love got to do with it?
It is no word of a lie when saying that many people have tattoos, however a subcategory in that area is people with matching tattoos. Although people are more susceptible to this, even some of our contributors have them, there is a definite and common answer to whether people should get partners names tattooed onto them. Upon asking the question of ‘what do you think about getting a partner’s names tattooed?’ our favourite response came from Kam who stated ‘fuck that shit’.
We would just also like to make a public announcement all these people stated that they loved their partners even though they would not get their names tattooed. George’s girlfriend - he said he loves you, we promise.
The general answer was a no to names of partners being tattooed, unless they had been together for a long period of time. Both William and Carys stated that they wouldn't get names unless they had been married for a long period of time. However, Ruby's parents, who were together for a period of time; had matching tattoos of a lizards, but they are no longer together. However, it is not an obvious matching tattoo and as Ruby states they had two children together so they don't want to erase the time they had together despite not being together anymore.
However, people were open to having children’s names tattooed onto them as some of our contributors had their own names tattooed onto their parents. For example, Keisha’s father has hers and her brother’s name on his arm and Connor’s father has all of his children’s names on his arm, as does his mother. In a way this is their own matching tattoo as they both have the same font and they have it on corresponding wrists. Even his grandfather has a rose to represent Charlie-Rose, his sister. Although relationships are meaningful many of our contributors felt that familial love was a safer bet to be tattooed with.
Connor’s dad also has another name tattooed on him ‘Mum’. This was because he did not want his mum to be mad at him for getting his first tattoo. A tactic we found with another contributor, George, who got a tattoo of a cross so his mum would be less mad at him for him getting a tattoo.
Kam actually has a matching tattoo with her boyfriend. They got it together when they were best friends and it was his first tattoo. They subsequently became a couple and she does not regret her tattoo. She discusses it further below.
Nicola similar to Kam got a matching tattoo with her friend. She and her best friend, who she met at University got matching tattoos after they graduated. They both got matching paper planes.
The representation of love can take many different forms, one of which is people's interests. It could be Gemma's interest in science or Devon and getting pieces surrounding those themes on her or George’s crosses for his faith. These pieces are not necessarily someone’s names but they are something someone loves deeply. See the video below for more love representations.
Kath has light within a star as her and her husband’s first dance was starlight and it was a design that was on her wedding invitations. She also loves the tattoo on her ribs which represents a song called Forever Fades Away by Tiger Army.
Some people get tattooed with something they love in the moment, some people get tattoos with something they have loved for a lifetime. Neil’s Status Quo tattoo falls into the latter. In the interview below, we hear about how Neil grew up with the band and how he had some of the ‘best times in his life whilst listening to them. Whilst you listen to this we ask you to listen to Slow Train by Status Quo as it is Neil’s favourite song from the band.
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In Memoriam
In life we have people who come into our lives and make an impact but unfortunately, they leave us. This has prompted some of our interviewers to get tattoos so they may always carry a loved one with them.
Keisha’s mother and Carys both got tattoos to represent pets passing away. Carys got a poppy for her cat. Keisha's mother got one in tribute to their family dog who passed recently.
Connor’s mother got a tattoo that Connor himself actually designed for her for his grandmothers.
Instead of getting tattoos that represent someone they love but not getting their face or name they get something that remind them of that person. Giggs got a house due to a reference from his mother. Similarly, Kam got three hearts to represent her family because she can look at that tattoo and know what it is but it is not obvious to the outside observer.
Keisha’s father has taken a more unconventional route in demonstrating what he loves. It is too interesting to put into words so we shall let Keisha explain below.
Gemma’s grandmother unfortunately had Alzheimer’s and she got her first tattoo in her memory.
George's friend Harry sadly drowned. He got a cross for his friend and described this as his most sentimental tattoo, and another friend got a back piece with Harry's family crest within it in tribute to him.
Williams friend was involved in a hit and run accident and so he now has ‘I’m on the righteous side of hell and the wrong side of heaven’ which is a lyric from a band they both loved - Five Finger Death Punch.
Giggs has a semi colon in dedication to his ex-partner who took his own life.
