Bridesmaid with a tattoo!!!

tifanialyse

Please help me out! One of my bridesmaids has a huge mermaid tattoo on her arm. To make it worse it's a naked one with nothing covering any of the body parts up! I don't know if it's out of line to tell he she needs to try to cover it up with makeup.... I don't want to sound rude but there will be kids at the wedding and my grandparents and quite a few people who are very old fashioned! Please help me so that I don't hurt her feelings!

mbcdefg

I don't think it's out of line to ask her to cover it if you're getting married in a church or temple. But I would ask ALL of the bridesmaids to wear a shawl, so she doesn't feel singled out.

For the party, though ... who cares? People won't be staring at her arm all night. It's just a tattoo, it's not like HER boobs are hanging out. If someone doesn't like it, that's not your problem. It's not your responsibility to shield Grandma from a tattoo.

For the record, I had a tattooed bridesmaid and nobody said a peep about it.

I would be willing to bet that people aren't going to care about it nearly as much as you think they will. People are there to watch you get married and then have fun, not scrutinize every little detail at your wedding. Relax.

MyNameIsNot

If you are this judgmental about her body art, why are you even friends with her in the first place?

sister2groom

I've got nothing helpful, but when I heard "naked tatoo" and "cover it up with makeup" I immediately thought of making the mermaid decent by makeuping a shirt on it.

vicki0508

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaid-tattoo-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:005019b8-44e9-4749-9ae8-edddd6249f05Post:2699fb4b-a2c2-4823-a084-36c4b00b4d54">Re: Bridesmaid with a tattoo!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I've got nothing helpful, but when I heard "naked tatoo" and "cover it up with makeup" I immediately thought of making the mermaid decent by makeuping a shirt on it.
Posted by sister2groom[/QUOTE]
I like this idea.  Maybe even with a sharpie or something. haha!

lalap69

Yes, it's out of line to ask her to cover it up.  PPs have made some good suggestions for ways of dealing.

artbyallie

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaid-tattoo-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:005019b8-44e9-4749-9ae8-edddd6249f05Post:2699fb4b-a2c2-4823-a084-36c4b00b4d54">Re: Bridesmaid with a tattoo!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I've got nothing helpful, but when I heard "naked tatoo" and "cover it up with makeup" I immediately thought of making the mermaid decent by makeuping a shirt on it.
Posted by sister2groom[/QUOTE]
Hee. I'm picturing Ariel's shell bra painted onto the mermaid tat.<div>
</div><div>And OP, you knew about the tattoo when you asked this woman, yes? Get over it. You don't want perfect Stepford wife model bridesmaids anyway, right? <em>Right?</em></div>

stina93446

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridesmaid-tattoo-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:005019b8-44e9-4749-9ae8-edddd6249f05Post:2699fb4b-a2c2-4823-a084-36c4b00b4d54">Re: Bridesmaid with a tattoo!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]I've got nothing helpful, but when I heard "naked tatoo" and "cover it up with makeup" I immediately thought of making the mermaid decent by makeuping a shirt on it.
Posted by sister2groom[/QUOTE]

<div>I seriously thought that you should put sequin pasties on her boobies. haha, But the answer is no, you can't ask her to cover it up unless you're giving everyone a shawl.</div>

mbcdefg

How about those black Censor bars?

mgietler76

Another thing to think about is maybe you are assuming those people will be offended by her tattoos when in reality they won't care.

I have a full back tattoo and was at my FI's cousin's wedding in July. His Nana was there and I was wearing a cardigan over my dress to cover the tat so she didn't see it. Well it got so hot out that I had to lose the sweater. Don't you know it she called me over to her and this is what she said:

"How dare you assume I would be offended by something like this. It doesn't change the person I know you are and for your information I think it's beautiful"

I was shocked and relieved by her response and since than I don't worry about trying to cover it up.

jerseydevil

Whatever you do just please please please don't ask her to cover it with makeup! I went to a wedding where one of the BMs had a tattoo covered in makeup. It was very natural to assume that the bride made her cover it. Whether that is true or not, that is how it looks and you can see the tatt right through it.

lisalou402

If you are getting married in a conservative (or maybe not so -conservative) church I would ask them if it's a problem for the ceremony.  This is the only conflict I see...I know some chuches don't let women wear strapless gowns at all.

I do love the sharpie idea...in all the posts on the knot about this, no one has ever recommended that!  Funny!!!

Bottom line, you want here there for all that she is to you, not what she has on her skin.

Good luck!

megk8oz

You love people for who they are, not what they look like. If you wanted BMs that "looked" the part, you should have hired models off of Craigslist instead of asking your nearest and dearest.

If she comes to you and asks about what she should do, then you can work that out together, but if she doesn't bring it up, leave it alone.

The only thing I will say is if you're having a church/temple ceremony, then get all of your girls a shawl or something to cover up with for the ceremony. But they get to do what they want once the party starts.

russe289

[megk8oz LOVE your pic!)

All of these ladies have great suggestions. Buying your girls matching shalls is a nice idea if you are that worried about it (and if you are getting married during cool/cold weather, it makes sense). And one of the ladies above is totally right, you have bigger things to worry about in the grand scheme of things. This one is not worth it.
My MOH has 3 or 4 tats (all visible in her dress) and a BM has a number of piercings (that you may or may not see the outline through the dress if you get my drift) and we are getting married on the beach, so no covering that up. My MOH offered to cover them since she had to in her brother's wedding. I was actually shocked she asked me that. I thanked her for the offer but said no way. Those tats are part of who you are and if anyone has a problem with it they can do one of two things 1) shut up or 2) shut up.

aerinpegadrak

If she's willing to cover it up, she'll probably offer to do so (or just go ahead and do it) without your prompting.  It's certainly not worth bringing it up and risking offending her over it.

squeakyduck

It is out of line to ask her to cover it. She's your close friend, and you love her. That includes her tattoos. 

But if your wedding is in a church, check with the pastor/priest/reverend. If it's a problem, get all of the girls a nice cover-up for the ceremony- but don't stress about the reception.   

And major lols about the censor bar and seashell bras. Now I almost wish I had a BM with an obscene tattoo. My friends and family would all find this hilarious.