Brides with Tattoos...

JeFlanigan

Even if you love the tattoos you have, if they aren't covered by your dress are you going to cover them or show them off?  Opinions... and suggestions how to cover them. 
I ask because I got my first tattoo this weekend, and I'm not sure if my dress will fully cover it or not.   I love it, and my parents know, but  I don't want to give my 85 year old Grandma a heart attack with it. 

jajph1974

I didn't bother trying to cover or hide any of mine. Everyone knows I have them, so I figured there would be no point in hiding them.

karmellah

theyre part of me. im not going to cover my eyes or my ears.

psichick

why would i get tattoos only to hide them from people? i have tattoos because i love them and they are meaningful to me. if someone can't handle that it's on them. 

sapphirebaby926

I had mine covered with airbrush make-up - I hate that tattoo now and I'm in the process of having it removed

MyNameIsNot

I let mine show.  

I wouldn't have gotten something added to my body permanently if I was afraid to let my grandmother see it.  I'm not 16.  

aerinpegadrak

I don't have a tattoo, but if I had one, I wouldn't cover it.  A tattoo is explicitly decorative, why would you hide it?  That's like investing in a painting for your living room and then keeping it behind the couch.  You're supposed to be YOU on your wedding day, not a model.

cabledawg09

I love my tattoo, its a tribute for a dear friend I lost to brain cancer and the tattoo is right in the middle of my shoulders.  I'm going to wear my hair up and everyone will be able to see it clearly and i have no problem with that. It's a part of me.

Cantia

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_brides-tattoos?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:b1c1ce99-c742-41ef-a40c-2245e17abc10Post:b6ea55f6-0ea3-413e-88a2-6b0eb1de9e91">Re: Brides with Tattoos...</a>:
[QUOTE]I let mine show.   I wouldn't have gotten something added to my body permanently if I was afraid to let my grandmother see it.  I'm not 16.  
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]

<div>This. I've got one on my ankle and my photographer does awesome 'feet and shoes' shots. I'd like my tattoo included in (some) pictures!</div>

PixieChinchilla

I only have one that will be showing [I have seven, total], but I absolutely love and adore it, and I wouldn't even consider covering it up. It's on my right shoulder blade and it's just a little heart and dragonfly surrounded by the word "hope". I got it for my Mom, so it is beyond meaningful to me, and if anyone has a problem with it, I could care less, because I didn't get it for them.

I do have tattoos on both of my ankles, though, that I'm hoping to get in pictures. :]

hd7694

I am not covering mine up.  I have 3 and 2 of them are on my back.  It is a part of me.  I thought that FI's mom and grandma would be offended, but I have already let them know so there were no suprises.

JeFlanigan

Cabledawg... your tattoo is beautiful!

The tattoo I got (a specific knot that's part of my family's history) I got with my brother (a Marine) who is deploying to Afghanistan this week.  For me, it's more personal than simply decorative.  Yes the tattoo is now part of me, but I feel it's also a part of my brother too.  My grandma has strict ideas on what she believes is and is not appropriate, and while I don't always agree with her or want to change what I am, I respect her thoughts too. Is being aware and courteous the same as being fearful and immature?

And again, I don't know if my dress will FULLY cover it.  Will it look awkward with just the top of it poking out?     

Cantia

I see your concerns about your grandma, but I feel there is a difference. One thing is respecting other people's values (which is of course something that more people should do). Another matter is when those ideas affect how you live your life when you are not hurting anyone and is your own business. 

If grandma has strong views against tattoos, that's perfectly valid and she doesn't need to get one. If you like them and get one, that's your own business, and she doesn't need to change her point of view, but needs to respect yours.

And your second question, I don't think it'd look weird necessarily. What is it?

megk8oz

I don't have one, so I didnt have to deal with this, but my opinion is unless you're getting married in a church that requires your tattoos to be covered (I know some of them do that), or it's something that you hate and want to get removed anyway, I don't see the need to cover them on your wedding day.

Midgetth

My mom wants me to cover mine up. I have 2 one is on my ribs so that will be covered & my other one is on my soulder blade. My dress does not cover it. My mom wants me to wear a shawl but I'm not going to. I love mine got it for a reason & I'm going to show it off. Maybe you can cover yours with just a shawl or jacket during the ceremony & take it off for the reception

ChanelShades

I agree with PP. I have one on my upper shoulder. I do not plan on covering it. I LOVE it! Hope these posts help. I wouldn't worry about whether others approve. You are grown.

miah_23_ncb

mine is on my wrist i will not be covering it. i love that tattoo

BecW2be

I didn't cover my wrist tattoo. My photographer even got some really cool shots of it. Show it off! Granny will be fine. If she isn't, that's her problem, not yours.

[Deleted User]

One was covered by the dress, the other is on my upper back and hid by my hair most of the time. But I wasn't looking to cover them up on purpose. People know I have tattoos and don't care, they aren't the type to judge those who have one.

As for my family, some don't like them (like my mother) but at the same time they understand they are personal to me and would never suggest that I cover them. If your grandmother says something, just tell her it means something to you and it's not something you're ashamed of, so why would you cover it up?

soontobeschooley

Okay I know I'm the outcast here, but I have 4 and plan to cover them up on my wedding day.  I went through that phase when I was 19 and got 4 tattoos in 1 year.  They don't mean anything to me and I regret them sometimes but most times I accept that they are just a part of me.  Do I want to show them on my wedding day?  No, I don't.  Only one will be hidden without makeup, but I do plan on covering the rest.  I just don't want to look back at my pictures years from now and regret that I didn't have them covered.

MISSCOURTNEY20

I am going to cover mine. I have an upside down breast cancer ribbon (means cancer survivor) with butterfly wings and a halo. My cousin, who died of cancer almost a year ago, had the same tattoo. I got it as a tribute to her. It is in the middle of my upper back. I don't want to cover it but my mom really wants me to. So I'm going to get it airbrushed.

Sometimes, we have to do things or not do things so that we don't offend the ones we love. It's not about being 16 or being an adult. Just showing a little respect.

CA2MT4EveR

I think it is more disrespectful of yourself to cover up and be ashamed of who YOU are than to worry about what your grandma may think.

Tattoos aren't meant to be covered, and cover-up makeup is pretty obvious that something is being hidden.

jedaniel

I have 3 total and I am covering one with makeup on my shoulder blade just because I think it is going to take attention away from my dress. I never thought I would cover it up until i put my dress on and saw how it looked together (and it almost means nothing to me i just got it to get it). I am not covering the one on my foot I love it, its just a little heart. And the one on my lower side back will be covered by my dress.(16 years old when I got it and was out of my mind.)

AllAboutTheBenjamin

My cousin has a ton of tats - two on her shoulderblades, and one of her arms is completely covered in a tattoo sleeve.

I don't like tattoos (for myself - just too permanent), and when she was showing up a little more covered every time I saw her I will admit, I kept thinking to myself "What in the hell is she doing!?"

But honestly - her tattoos were pretty much all exposed on her wedding day and she still looked absolutely gorgeous.  A lot of times tattoos just become part of you and it's no big deal.

Don't sweat it!

ungraceful13

My family has a huge hatred for tattoos and I have one (large side piece) that obviously will be covered in my dress. I have money saved and designed two more that I am waiting to get done until after the wedding bc with my family situation it is just simplier to wait then deal. But if I had one that would be visiable I would not cover it up.

Xan921

I've only ever got tattoos on my ankles for this specific reason.  When I was younger and wanted to get one on my shoulder my mom said, 'When you want to wear a strapless evening gown or get married one day, are you going to want it to show?"  She made a good point that stuck with me.  I think it's fine when people do let them show, I have nothing against it, and I show off mine when I wear shorts, skirts, and capris, but I don't love any of them (they were kind of random in the moment type things) so I'm very happy that I listened to my mom on this one.

Rinaface209

My whole is Seelve is Covered and it resembles my father who passed away. Eventhough my stepfather is walking me down the aile, I feel me covering it isn't me!..It means Something to me and at least I know my dads spirit will be there even if he's not the one walking me down I know he's there still!

mpelosi520

I have on on my lower back that obviously will be covered but I'm not going to cover the flowers on my foot because they are very feminine. I do have a bridesmaid that is utterly covered on almost every portion of her body (no arm sleeves or anything but still) so I'm asking her to cover up any visible tattoos. Its for her own benefit too because she'll be the only one with that many tattoos and she will look out of place. Plus I don't think her tattoos should be the center of attention in my wedding photos. With the exception of anyones wedding day I love tattoos and am a huge tattoo supporter!

brownsugar1981

I actually had a trial run to see what my two tatoos looked like in my strapless gown covered up and the woman did a great job but then I figured, everyone knows I have them and I love my tattoos so why bother covering them! Keep them out if you love them that way you dont have to worry about the fuss of making sure the coverup runs or fades!

superjules916

I have a cross on my left sholder blade. I wasn't going to worry about it, just go dress shopping. If it's covered by the dress, fine. If it's not, fine. But if it's only partially showing I'm going to cover it. I love my art but I don't want random black lines peeking out of my dress either.

debbie313

I'm not covering mine. Actually, I'm planning on putting some "bling" on the one of my neck to show it off.

But, if you do want to hide it. Dermablend makeup works really really well and won't rub off if you put some transulcent powder over it. I think i bought mine at Macys.