Wedding Blog
This is going to sound really silly when I write it, mainly because the thought of saying it out loud sounds even more ridiculous, but I need to avoid tan lines at all costs this summer.
Natalie Portman Rocking the Tan Lines
(Source)
My dress, as you’ve seen, has a low-cut, strapless sweetheart neck, so the remnants of bikini ties, tank tops, or even backpacks could be detrimental. No, not someone’s-going-to-die detrimental, or the whole-day-is going-to-be-ruined detrimental, but worth putting some effort into. Here’s why: We are an extremely outdoorsy couple. Hiking with the dogs every morning, bike commuting to work most days, boating the New Mexican rivers on the weekends, surfing while home in Los Angeles. All of those things are bound to put their little sun-scorched fingerprint on my body. Especially since we live at 7,000 feet (the sun is stronger at high altitude) and the warm months continue through October (when our wedding is), you can bet we’ll be outside until then.
Bandeau Swimsuit by Vix Swimwear
I’m not a fan of tanning beds (which could pose as a last-minute semi-solution) nor am I fan of staying inside or wearing long sleeves when I’m outside (I’d like to look at least a little sun-kissed on the big day). Makeup might smear onto my dress, and self-tanner isn’t really going to help if I’m still headed out for fun in the sun. Plus, I’ve never used it, and am bound to end up orange.
Athleta’s Convertible Tank (the straps are removable)
My mantra for the summer? Bandeau bikinis and tube tops. It’s hard to find a tube top that also has a shelf bra in it, but lo and behold, here’s one active-style tube top I found by Athleta. Know of any others? The one I own is about to get really gross from too much use this summer.
How are you dealing with tan lines for your wedding? Any other appearance woes you’re trying to solve?
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Share this post: Ixnay the Tan Lines
What about a spray on tan? You could get it a week or so before the wedding to cover up any tan lines. 
This made me laugh out loud because this was EXACTLY what I was thinking about this weekend. It was really sunny…for almost the first time this year in Seattle. I thought about how I cannot get tan lines this summer. I had not heard any one else talk about this issue…so reading this post today cracks me up.
You are not alone! I am going to have a very planned out wardrobe this summer..must avoid strap tan lines at all cost!
I second the spray tan. Go to a place where a person, not a machine, actually applies it and s/he can even out your coloring. I was skeptical of spray tanning at first, but had one done a few weeks ago, and it was great!
This is totally true for me. Not that I tan, per se (the redhead factor kinda doesn’t allow for that), but that I burn and it stays. I am looking for a bandeau swimsuit as well and don’t really know what I’m going to do about the probable farmer’s tan as hike, jog, and camp our way through the summer.
Like 3 weeks before my wedding I was working in my grandma’s yard and I got a sunburn that turned into dark tan lines. So yeah, your fear turned into my reality. I tried tanning and it made the skin peel so badly on my face so I just sucked it up and rocked those tan lines on my wedding!
I have the same issue and am looking for the same thing. As for the suggestions to spray tan above, it could go either way. I’ve had a few, most of them rubbed off on clothes (not attractive for a wedding dress) and some turn out far more orange and streaky than others (mind you Im also very Italian and my undertones are kind of difficult to match). I went to the same place and used the same color and was less than impressed with the results. Now, having someone airbrush you, you’re less likely to get orange or streaky, but you still run the color xfer risk.
Id go with the tube tops (buy a few more!!!) and perhaps test out a spray tan prior to the actual necessity date. Let us know if you find any good tube tops!
You just read my mind. Starting last fall and continuing into this spring I’ve been wearing long sleeve tees (at least!) every time I run outside. And I am currently tan line free! I have tanned a few times in the booths in the last few weeks since I would otherwise be incredibly pasty.
I’m not sure the tube top approach would have worked for me during a run since I need the support only a serious sports bra can provide. Luckily, my wedding is in 11 days after which I will go back to just being sure to use sunblock!
I’m trying to avoid tan lines too. The back of my dress goes fairly low so I need to try not to have a stripe across my back.
I think the spray tan is also a good idea.
Tan lines are one of my big concerns too! One thing working in my favor is the December date, but I tan easily and usually keep my tan for months. Being in South Texas, there is no way to avoid the sun, unless you plan to stay indoors (which I don’t). We like to kayak, and I am currently working on my golf game, so I am going to have to get very creative with keeping the tan lines at bay.
The convertible tank is awesome (esp. the built-in bra!). Great find!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I was also planning on investing in tube tops and a bandeau bikini. I hoping that if I can get a small base tan without lines, it will help to prevent them (anyone else follow that?).
However, after FI and I spent hours riding around a four-wheeler yesterday (fun times) and I realized I just got a t-shirt tan line, I kinda realized that it may be not that important. Sure, I’m still going to try, but IMHO, the more tan lines you had, the more fun your summer was! So if I end up with a few, I’ll probably have memories associated with them too, which is ok with me!
EXACTLY my summer dilemma! my dress has a deep sweetheart and i do triathlons which ALWAYS leave me with the sports bra/tri top line every summer! i’ve stocked up on training tops that are sleeveless but still cover out to my shoulders and then started early to supplement the color in the tanning booth…. not my favorite thing, but having a base tan has worked wonders to blend any unplanned tan lines that creep up on me.
I know what you mean!!! I’m more worried about my BM’s!
I just went out and bought a strapless bathing suit from target yesterday for that exact reason!
I’ve ditched my racerback running tops for the past 9 months in an attempt to avoid tan lines! How I miss them so!
Ever since my freshman year in high school, I’ve always been super aware of tan lines!!! Like anal about wearing a bandeau top (tough to find a good one when you’ve got knockers like mine!) to prevent tan lines. Ulitmatley, I always end up with lines anyway.
The other catch is that I always wear SPF 15 on my body, and spf 30 on my face… sometimes my body is really tan and my face is pasty-pale and I look sick.
Hm, maybe getting married in February, when everyone is tan-line-less IS the way to go!
Just a note. I did this for my wedding and only wore a bandeau bathing suit all summer long. Worked great, except that with my low cut neckline you could see a straight line across the cleavage area. Try to get something that will mimic your dress’s neckline if you can. or use some kind of bronzer or something there day of. Mine wasn’t that noticeable and I honestly didn’t care, but just wanted to point that out.
Every summer I rock racer-back sports bra tan lines from running outside. booo. Hopefully, with my wedding in June, I won’t have too many tan lines by then. Usually it doesn’t warm up until mid-end of June in chilly New England. But that, of course, means I won’t have much of a tan at all. Can’t win either way!
I love athleta - I’ve gotten all of my swimsuits from there recently!
I think bandeau tops are probably the way to go for water fun.
plus a little spf 85? religiously? I hate wearing sunblock (for the oiliness), but neutrogena makes a great spf 85 that doesn’t feel like sunblock.
I put down and maintained a base layer of color all over using tanning beds, which I normally wouldn’t do. Once I darkened up enough, I didn’t get tan lines. That’s how I solved my problem! 
What about Victoria’s Secret’s website? I know that they usually have tons of tank tops with built in bras for not too expensive. And I just checked the site, and they’re having a big sale too.
Uggg….I’ve been thinking about this too. I am very busty and tube tops and bandeau tops are not going to work for me. I need major support. So I’m hoping my SPF 50 sunscreen will do the trick. I’d rather be pale and tan line free.
I am dealing with tan lines by getting married in December. I’ll be white as my dress!
As much as I hate tanning beds, I started tanning 2 weeks ago and have built up a pretty good base at this point. I’ll still wear my regular tanks when I run, but I’m going to be more conscious about tube tops when I’m poolside, beaching it, etc.
@Miss Perfume: I agree! But, I also so don’t want to be bridezilla, so I’m hoping they all are safe (because tans and burns really aren’t healthy anyway) this summer! 
I’ve worried about this more than I like to admit. I even wondered how to tell my BM (who all have summer shares in shore houses and I am getting married Labor day weekend) without sounding bridezillaish. Funniest thing is that they brought up to me how they bought bandeau suits to avoid the tan lines. I need one myself. Any suggestions for a busty girl?
This is so me. i only ever wear halter top swimsuits and bikinis and I would hate to have crazy tan lines for our october wedding. So I have just committed to wearing tshirts with short sleeves or tube tops and tube dresses for the summer.
I am so sad about this. (as for the swimsuit issue - I am just going to buy a bandeau 
my assets look best in halter style but I must sacrifice)
Do you tan through sunblock? I always just protect my skin when I’ll be in the sun, even for a short walk or jog.
my wedding’s in the winter, not a problem. besides, i’m never outside and if i am, i burn, I don’t tan. I’m red for a week and then i’m back to pale.
I would also simply advise slathering on the SPF whenever you get out of the shower. that will help, at least!
Hi! I LOVE your dress by the way! and for a sun kissed tan-if you have any elizabeth arden spas near you, i got a St.Tropez tan which is most similiar to a spray tan but MUCH better and more real looking. They rub this bronzer into your skin like a massage (you can’t be modest lol) but it looks FANTASTIC!
I’m in the same boat. I bought at least 8 different running bras & tops last week in a desperate attempt to avoid funky tan lines this summer. I live in Florida and no matter what SPF I use I still get lines on my pale-pale skin (even SPF 85!). I think I may have to suck it up and go out in the sun on purpose with a bandeau bathing suit top on. So much for the massive hats and sun umbrellas this year. Shhh, don’t tell my dermatologist!
Sunscreen! Not to be a total downer, but tans can equal sun damage and/or skin cancer. Sorry, had to say it.
I believe that Victoria’s Secret has 3 different levels of built in shelf bras for different levels of support.
Amen, sister. And try having, ahem, larger-than-life ladies. I just bought two bandeau suits from Vicky’s. And a tube dress from Ross. Cross your fingers that they all work. ‘Cause otherwise the girls will be on the loose. Sorry for that graphic image, but that’s the real fear…
I’m thinking I’m going to test out a mystic tan, too. Thoughts?
I loathe tan lines. & with a wedding in Jamaica (after 4 days on the beach), all of the BM’s and I wore bandeaus. I found a really cute bandeau at Target that twisted in the middle, so it was almost like a sweetheart neckline!
omg i totally relate! since my winter trip to mexico i have been crazy obsessed with my new strapless bathing suit and tube tops. i feel a little insane but tan lines on me last FOREVER….i still have bikini lines from last summer. ugh!
I’ve never gone tanning in a tanning salon but since my brother was getting married a few couple weeks ago and I found a pale colored strapless dress that I loved I had to find a solution to this very problem! I knew that self tanner - like those gradual tanning lotions - wouldn’t work b/c I wouldn’t be able to reach my upper back so I made an appointment for a spray tan for the Thursday before the wedding which was on a Saturday. It was airbrushing so there was an actual technician spraying me (good thing I’m not super-shy!) and I let her know I just wanted to take the edge off my bright white glowing skin. It was great - no problems. It got wicked dark that night and by the time I was able to shower the next day I washed off a lot of it and looked pretty normal and healthy! I would not be afraid to try it for my own wedding which will also be in the spring. Maybe do a trial run of a spray tan? It seems like a good alternative to tanning beds…
sigh!! once i get tan lines they take F-O-R-E-V-E-R to fade!
i’ve not gone swimming in like, 8 months! i’ve also been wearing tees a lot more, than halters or spag straps
I am so conscious of tan lines all the time! I will second everyone else’s suggestions for checking out VS’s selection of tops. I normally use lots of sunblock if I can’t wear a tube top, but as soon as I get off of work, I generally live in my bathing suits anyways.
I’ve also been worried about this. I bought a tube top dress to wear out at the lake to help battle this war. But after putting on sunscreen I tied my bikini top until I sat down and got comfortable and than untied it. Well, the bikini soaked up the sunscreen so now I’ve got a reverse bikini tan line!! So odd looking! Plus I’ve got a bit of a farmers tan going on from t-shirts. I normally avoid tanning beds, but I may hit one up just to try to even out the lines a little. It’s not that bad so hopefully it won’t take much!
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Mrs. Cowboy Boot, Santa Fe
Age and Occupation: 25, Magazine Editor
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Artist and Whitewater Rafting Guide
Engagement Date: April 28th, 2008
Wedding Date: October 2009
Venue: Devil's Thumb Ranch, Colorado
About Me: I grew up in Los Angeles and have since lived in San Diego, Boston, Italy, Hawaii, New York City, and Santa Fe. I speak Italian and love pasta. My real passion is the outdoors, though. When I'm not at work, I'm snowboarding, hiking with my two dogs, mountain biking, surfing, cross-country-skiing, or boating New Mexico's rivers. Despite my boyish love for adventure, I'm a girly-girl at heart and am overly-excited to pull off the romantic, vintage-inspired, country wedding of my dreams.
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