More than Matching Tattoos
Matching tattoos often get a bad reputation. People joke they're risky, impulsive, or something you'll regret one day. But the best matching tattoos have never been about identical designs, but more so about shared experiences, inside jokes, milestones, and the people who shape our lives.
Whether it's a spouse, a child, a sibling, or a lifelong friend, matching tattoos can become some of the most meaningful pieces you'll ever wear. They're permanent reminders of the moments that define your relationships and the stories that continue to unfold long after the ink has healed.
For Lindsay, Joey, and Jenna and her kids, matching tattoos aren't just artwork, they're traditions that continue to grow with every passing year.
18 Cups, 18 Years, One Story
Some tattoos mark a moment. Others tell a story that keeps growing.
For Lindsay and Joey Wilkinson, what began as the idea of getting matching wedding band tattoos turned into something far more personal. When a tattoo artist talked them out of ring finger tattoos years ago—a funny twist considering they both have hand tattoos now—they started asking a different question: What small symbol could represent our relationship in a way that felt uniquely ours?
The answer came from one of life's simplest rituals.
Early in their relationship, Joey would bring Lindsay coffee in bed each morning. It wasn't just the coffee that stood out, it was the thoughtfulness. He always made sure the mugs matched. That small, everyday gesture became one of the first signs that she had found someone who truly cared.
Their first matching tattoo was a simple coffee mug.
But once they had it, they realized something bigger. Looking back on each year of their marriage, they could identify a different cup that represented that chapter of their lives, like a pint glass from the bar where they met, a sake cup from a memorable trip to Japan, and countless other drinks shared through life's milestones.
So they created a tradition.
Every anniversary, they return to Ink & Dagger tattoo artist Amber Grey to add another cup to their growing collection. Today, they wear 18 tiny cups between them, each one capturing a different year of marriage and serving as a permanent reminder of the experiences they've shared.
For Lindsay and Joey, tattoos have always been part of who they are. But these are different.
"These are the ones that really have a true meaning, not just something we made up to justify a tattoo we liked."
They see each new tattoo as more than a piece of art. It's an annual recommitment to one another, a way to celebrate not just where they've been, but where they're going.
And, of course, they haven't lost their sense of humor.
"The joke has always been that if things ever don't work out," Lindsay laughs, "we'll just get cracks tattooed in all the glasses."
Fortunately, those cups remain unbroken - a growing timeline of love, commitment, and the beauty found in everyday moments.
Sometimes the most meaningful tattoos aren't the biggest or most elaborate.
Sometimes they're just a coffee mug that reminds you someone loved you enough to bring coffee to bed, and to make sure the cups always matched.
Family Tradition built on Tattoos
Much like Lindsay and Joey, Jenna’s love for Ink & Dagger has grown into something even bigger: a family tattoo tradition.
She made a deal with her six kids - when each of them turns 18, they get to choose a matching tattoo for the two of them, and it must be done by artist Brian Bennett.
So far, two of her children have turned 18 and the tradition is already underway.
One of the matching tattoos reflects the family’s dark sense of humor: a small “Esc.” key, symbolizing escape in the most tongue-in-cheek way possible.
Another piece came from an even more personal place. Jenna’s 19-year-old is an artist, so the two of them decided to tattoo their original artwork together.
Jenna is always happy to give Brian creative freedom, and that openness often leads to the most meaningful pieces in her collection, like these matching tattoos with her children.
The Meaning Behind Matching Tattoos
At their best, matching tattoos aren't about proving a relationship—they're about celebrating it.
Whether it's an anniversary tradition that spans nearly two decades or a promise to share a tattoo with each child on their 18th birthday, these pieces become living timelines of the people and moments that matter most. They grow alongside us, collecting new memories with every addition.
The designs themselves may be small, but the stories behind them are anything but.
If you've been thinking about getting a matching tattoo with someone important in your life, don't focus on finding the "perfect" design. Start with your story. The most meaningful tattoos are the ones that capture something only the two of you understand—and those are the tattoos you'll treasure for a lifetime
Start your own Tattoo Journey
Stories like Jenna’s, Lindsay’s, and Joey’s are exactly what make tattooing so meaningful. Whether it’s your first piece or the next addition to a growing collection, the right artist can help bring your ideas to life.
If you’re inspired by this story and want your own matching tattoos with a loved one, check out the portfolios of the artists at Ink & Dagger Tattoo Studio and submit a booking request here.
Your story might just be the next one we get to tell.
