Wedding Blog
BM E was 19 years old when she started the road trip from our hometown NJ all the way to Southern California for a move that would change her life. She would spend about 8 years there until finally moving back to the East Coast sometime in 2007. At the time of her trek across country, I was living in Ohio and enduring my second year of school. Luckily I was on the way so she, along with Y ( who was keeping her company during the week long drive, and is the same person who designed my invites) stopped by to visit for a few days. To be honest I don’t remember much of what we did. We probably ate a lot, drank a lot, and laughed a lot. But the one thing I DO remember - and very clearly remember - is the day we walked into a tattoo parlor together because she wanted something to remember her first road trip. Her move to California wasn’t exactly a carefully planned forecast of the next few years of her life. She wasn’t moving for a particular school, or a job, or even a guy. After living her entire life in NJ and even starting college there, she just thought to herself one day, “I’m going to move to Cali!” and not longer after she did, with everything she owned piled into the backseat of her Honda Accord. So why stop the craziness there? Why not get a tattoo?
I have to admit I was pretty close to getting one too. I was young, just starting to crack out of my sheltered shell, and this crazy friend was trying convince me that tattoos were cool! Thinking back, I am both glad and sad that I never went through with it. Glad because who knows what I would have gotten and where (I thank God everyday that I didn’t get a tattoo during my Hello Kitty phase), and sad because it’s an experience I will never have now that I’m too old to use the “Hey, I was young!” excuse when asked why there is a life-sized image of Han Solo’s face covering most of my back.
So I chickened out, and instead I watched the whole thing happen before my eyes as she got her second tattoo on the back of her shoulder.
Fast forward about 10 years. The scene is RK Bridal as BM E, BM L and I are frantically searching for a BM dress that will flatter six ladies. Only the main thing on BM E’s mind is not exactly on the dress. Her mind is frantically searching for ways to cover up her tattoo on the wedding day. You see, her parents will be attending the wedding as well, and 10 years later, her parents still do not know about either of her tattoos. She decided to visit Sephora to find a solution and used me as the “makeup artist” to test them out for her.
The sales consultant there mixed her a couple of samples to try out.
Using my foundation brush to work in the the makeup.
The shade was poorly mixed and WAY too light for her back. I tried to brush a bit of face powder over it to neutralize the color, but as you can see the outline of the tattoo still remains, and from far away it looked like a huge bruise.
Result: Even worse, but it could have been my fault.
Since the first trial made her look as if she got punched in the back, I thought maybe it would be better to color in just the tattoo instead of trying to blend in a large area. This apparently is what NOT to do when trying to cover up a tattoo. It just looked… horrible.
Defeated, she headed over to the MAC counter at the local mall a few days later. Time and time again, MAC has never failed to impress me with their products, and this time was no different. A makeup artist at the counter helped cover up her tattoo, and showed her exactly what she needed to do to duplicate the look. I wasn’t with her, so I unfortunately I don’t have a picture, but below is the information she got from MAC and the products she bought. She didn’t mind spending money on these products, because they were all things she could use other than for covering up her tattoo. And the best part? She swears it was as if she never got one!
Trial 3 - Mac Counter
Have you ever had to cover up your tattoo for a wedding? What tips do you have for covering up a tattoo on the wedding day?
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Share this post: Now You See It, Now You Don’t… Or Maybe Not.
Yeah… my sister has two vertical tattoos on her back that will require to be covered. We are planning on giving her a Tattoo Cover Kit we found online - http://www.covermarkusa.com/covermark_kits_tattoo.htm
But thanks for the tips above. We’ll definitel check them out as well.
I think someone mentioned mederma or something like that which was intended for acne scars, but work fabulously for tattoo coverups!
I’m sorry I don’t have any tips, but my FSIL is in the same boat; Mr. Spring Roll and his sister have a lot of tattoos, none of which their aunt knows about. FSIL has a chest piece that will show in her dress, so they are going to break the news before the wedding.
I’ve seen a kit at David’s Bridal…not sure how well it works, though
This is an interesting post. I wonder though . . . would it be easier just to tell the relatives about the tattoos or let them see for themselves? Maybe they are more open minded than you think.
My parents are fully aware of my ankle tattoo, but I’ve been going through laser treatment to remove it. I’m 4 treatments in, with 3 to go.
It has faded dramatically and I can cover it nicely with some coverup, but I hope to have it gone within a year.
The pain level is… like electrolysis x30 — but it’ll be totally worth it when that tattoo is GONE!
I don’t have any tips…but I do agree with a previous comment that it might be better (and more mature) to tell her family about it. What are they going to do, disown her?
I have four tattoos, only two of which will be visible in a wedding dress, and I wouldn’t want to cover them up because they are part of who I am. If I didn’t want them to be seen, I wouldn’t have gotten them.
Granted, my mother hates them (and is still unaware of one), but she got upset and then got over it.
If covering the ink is very important, though, I hope you find what you’re looking for! 
Not to sound unsupportive - but that cover-up isn’t going to fool anyone. It looks a little sickly…
What about having your BMs wear shawls or boleros?
The power of makeup never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for sharing! I’m sure it will come in handy for some of my gal pals.
I hope your BM is able to perfect her tattoo-covering skills, so she can really enjoy your wedding!
Peachypear, she said she didn’t have photos to show of the cover up job that MAC did. The photos above are the products they used from Sephora.
I too have seen that at Davids I wonder if they have a product review somewhere…
dermablend is the BEST makeup to use in covering tattoos… their makeup is waterproof and smudge proof and really works very well. i have used their stuff to cover uneven tan lines (on the shoulder) and other tattoos on customers (i do makeup on the side). your friend should definitely check it out.
Try Elizabeth Arden red door salon. The makeup area has this scan thing that they put against your skin and it will mix a customize foundation for your skin tone based on the scan. It works well on my face even though I have never tried to cover up a tatoo.
Do you happen to have a picture of the Mac Trial? Did it even cover ?
I was thinking of getting a tattoo explicitly for my wedding. I don’t want it for shock value, but for symbolism.
I got a tattoo when I turned 18. It was definitely a spur of the moment type thing. No alcohol was involved though, haha. We went in just so I could look at tattoo ideas because I wasn’t sure what kind I wanted. I found one that I thought was cute… it was a rose and a heart, no more than an inch all the way around. And with some peer pressure from my friends they talked me into doing it, Ahh!! It turned out fine, I got it on my right lower back. But Oh ma gah, it hurt SO bad! I would never do that again! Fortunately the tattoo is in a place where it won’t be seen! But yes, I had heard that MAC could solve any problem that you have! I use their products and absolutely love them!
This is such a great story, I giggled all the way through… I too was mere moments away from getting a tattoo (my pick would have been to get a sort of pin-up Tweet on my ankle. Brrrr…) when I was 18, and every time I wear a skirt I parise the mind of the 18-year-old me for going against my back then-will and managing to think ahead. I was surprised at how well you’ve managed to cover that tattoo, even if it did shine through slightly and was a bit bruise-looking. Just make sure you’ll get some of that model-spray (that make your makeup more durable and last longer) on the big day, so that you won’t have to find yourself in the situation where you hug your BM, get makeup on your arm, and then transfer it onto your dress… Good luck to you!
I’m with ChaiAnkh99….My family is not fond of my tattoo - a rememberance piece I designed for my grandmother. My dad in particular hates my tattoo. However, on my wedding day there it will be, square in the middle of my back, in all its glory. Why? Because the tattoo was for my grandmother, and for me. And covering it up would feel like covering her up, you know? Oh so emotional… I just made myself tear up
What about choosing a dress line that has different styles and then you tell them the color? That way she could pick a style that covers it. I’m in a wedding where the bride said we could pick any of the JCrew dresses. I have a scar on my back so I’m going with the Cecilia. The Sophia may cover it depending on where the fabric hits on her back.
I love the MAC Studio Mist foundation–it’s a spray. When I was a bridesmaid, the bride and all of us sprayed our chests & arms. It makes your skin look PERFECT. Almost like airbrushed…and it didn’t come off on the dress either, that I know of (maybe the white bride’s dress though).
That’s amazing that you can do that! It didn’t even cross my mind that I could conceal it. I have a tattoo on my back as well and that definitely influenced the type of dress I bought. Too late now, I already have a dress and I love it.
I really think it’s time for BM E to just tell her family about her tattoos already and be done with it. If she still wants to cover it up, that’s understandable, but tell your family already. From your post it sounds like you’ve all matured out of the period when getting the tattoos was a really rebellious thing to do–so just own it.
BM K is the only bridesmaid i have with tattoos, but they are such a part of her, I don’t think i could ask her to cover them. I’m happy that your bridesmaid found a way to cover hers, since it was important to her
I agree with all who say she should just tell her family, I mean she’s 30 right, what are they going to do? I certainly have secrets in my past that I don’t necessarily bring up to the fam, but if you have to go to all that effort to hide something, I know it would just be easier to tell them.
Watch out for Dermablend! It covered mine up well last time I was a bridesmaid, but halfway through the reception some relative hugged me and I was horrified to see a big swath of makeup on his suit sleeve from my shoulder. I’m thinking about trying Tattoo Camo for my own wedding since it has a setting formula as well.
haha i say it’s there’s no better time for the tattoo reveal to the fam. what are they gonna do, chase her down and yell at her at a wedding? can’t get away with it much better than that! 10 more years down the road, that memory would be absolutely priceless.
[...] week Miss Martini talked about tattoo cover ups. This is the opposite of a cover up. Mr. Sushi and I are actually fond of tattoos. He and I both [...]
[...] Now You See It, Now You Don’t Tattoo Cover Up for Your Wedding… [...]
I’m so glad to see pictures of what these tattoo cover up makeups can actually do. We have a lot of patients that are undergoing laser tattoo removal at our Dallas tattoo removal clinic. They would love a solution like this to “hold them over” during the course of their treatments if they have a special event before their tattoo is completely off. Thanks for providing the pictures and for creating such a pleasant looking website.
Ryan Lambert
[...] J covering up BM E’s tattoo. I think all of us tried and failed to cover it up completely - until one of the makeup artists [...]
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Mrs. Martini, New Jersey
Age and Occupation: 30, Telecom by day, Superhero by night
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Investments & Finance by day, Hip hop dancer by night
Engagement Date: May 24, 2008
Wedding Date: March, 2009
Blogging Since: August 18, 2008
Venue: The Venetian
About Me: Things that make me happy: Haribo Happy Cola gummies, TV shows on DVD, buying books although I never read them, 80’s rock ballads, ramen, and of course Mr. Martini! He is the calm, logical and number crunching finance guy. I can’t even multiply double digit numbers in my head and I am so indecisive that trying to choose between light green or slightly lighter green paper stresses me out (Wedding planning is going to be soooo much fun). We both find great joy in nabbing great seats at the movie theater for a blockbuster movie on opening weekend, and we are both absolutely crazy about snowboarding. And he loves to cook, I love to eat!
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