Weddingbee Blog
You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m going to talk about with that title, but I promise it connects to the wedding. When I was 18 I decided that I wanted a tattoo. It wouldn’t have mattered what anyone said to me, I was doing it. I even went alone to get it done because I didn’t want anyone to try to talk me out of it, which probably means on some level that I knew I might regret it one day. Well, fast forward 10 years, and I now HATE it. I’ve hated it for quite a while, too. It’s not that it’s gigantic, in fact, it’s probably about the size of a quarter, but that doesn’t change my disdain for it. Do you hear what I’m saying 18 year olds?? DON’T! I know it probably won’t matter what I’m saying, but everyone I know that got a tattoo at 18 regrets it, so if you decide to do it, just know that. Anyway, so this tattoo is a source of stress for me and the wedding. Why? Well it’s on my shoulder in plain view for everyone to see, and I imagine people being distracted from my gorgeous dress and sweet details and staring at my horrible tattoo.
Ugh. So what’s a girl to do? Well, I’ve thought about using tattoo cover up make up.
But I really worry about it sweating off, or getting on my dress or veil, or even not providing enough coverage.
I’ve even considered Band-Aids because they seem like a less distracting choice than the tattoo itself.
But they’re still unsightly. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about them rubbing off and staining my clothes.
And then recently I started to look on Etsy and found some super sweet boleros that maybe I could wear for the ceremony in addition to the Band-Aids or make up. Here are some that I love from bonzie:
And then I found these from Rohm, also on Etsy
So what do you think? Are boleros too much just to cover up a tattoo?
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An 18-Year-Old Mistake
I would have loved an excuse to wear a bolero, so I’d say get a cute one and sport it up! However, how many of these people who are attending your wedding already know that you have the tattoo? If they don’t care, I would say sport the tattoo and embrace the lessons you’ve learned from your 18 year old self.
I think it all depends on how much you actually hate it. Will your hair cover it? I think you should show us a picture of it!!
That last one is so sweet and romantic! If you’re worried about the tattoo appearing in pictures, couldn’t you ask your photographer to edit it out of some/all of the shots?
If you go to a store that sells theatrical makeup, you should be able to buy a sealer that you can put on top of any cover-up makeup to prevent the makeup from rubbing off onto your clothes.
I think you should try out the makeup… after all it’s designed to cover things and buy a beautiful bolero! You’ll look elegant and be happy with your appearance all day!
I wanna see the tat!
Boleros are good, but if you really don’t wanna wear one, you could use makeup PLUS that spray that is supposed to keep your makeup in place no matter how much you sweat. Just a suggestion. 
There is tattoo coverup that does just that and shouldn’t get on your clothes if you powder it properly. You can get it at a theatrical makeup store, and they should be able to advise you on its use. Regular makeup won’t cut the mustard.
Have you tried dermablend? Its a super high-pigment long-wear makeup designed to cover up things like scars and port wine stains. I wore it to cover up a scar when I had my sweet 16 and people that knew I had surgery couldn’t see the scar at all! And the very pale makeup (I’m Irish and white as a ghost) didn’t rub off at all on my deep burgundy dress.
It couldn’t hurt to try, and the tubes last forever.
Let’s see the tattoo! Some I’d say don’t clash w/ the dress at all. My friend has one on her shoulder and it actually kind of went with her theme, though i’m sure unintentionally.
How about Wrecking Balm or TAT Med? I hear its good and they’re FDA approved to fade tattoos
If you love a bolero and would love to wear one regardless of the tatoo, then go for it. But if you are only considering one b/c of the tatoo, there are other options– There really is good makeup out there that would cover it up and not get on your veil or dress.
I think you should do what makes you feel the most comfortable and beautiful. If the tat will be distracting to you and you’ll be preoccupied with what people think, then I think a bolero is an awesome idea!
I have a tatoo on my shoulder that I got when I was 18 too. If i could remove it I would-but I’m not going to go crazy on my wedding trying to hide it…in fact I’m not worrying about it at all! What does yours look like-I wouldn’t wear a bandaid but I love the boleros.
I completely understand where you’re coming from. I also have a tattoo that I got when I was 18. I don’t really regret it…just wish I would have thought about it more. It’s on my inner wrist and it’s not too big…but difficult to cover up…even with a bracelet. I definitely don’t want it shown on my wedding day. I don’t want to look back at my pictures and see my tattoo. So i’m thinking of makeup or bracelets.
I love the boleros! They are sooo cute! I would definitely go that route
I have one on my shoulder blade too and I got it when I turned 30 LOL…It sounds like its the same size as yours, mine are 2 feet with my daughters birthdate on it, I feel its a part of me and I’m not covering it but now I saw those cute coverups I may want to! LOL..
Hey now, I got a big ol’ tattoo on my shoulder that I got when I was 18 and I still love it! I totally understand they’re not for everyone, but for me, it marks a time in my life that was liberating and fun (and I am turning 30 in three weeks, so if ever I was going to regret it, now would probably be it)! Its always fun to see the look of surprise on people’s faces when they see it
So ok, that said, someone else mentioned dermablend and I recommend it too- my friend wants me use it in her wedding to cover it up, so I’ve agreed to do so- and it works quite well. Stays totally put.
Whatever you go for, you should do what makes you feel great!
i think a photo of the tattoo is a must 
kat von d has put out a great tattoo cover up that is available at sephora. its amazing! one thing for sure is do not cover up your tattoo until you are in your dress. once in said dress, cover up the dress with a towel, papertowel, sheet anything. then apply makeup and seal with powder. have this brought with you so you can do touch ups as needed.
but i will say that little cover up is adorable. the last one!
Try some makeup FOR SURE! Plus if it’s not 100% covered up to the point that you love it, it can be photo-edited. But a bolero is pretty, too! Just make sure you really want to wear a bolero ALL night long.
Off-topic…is the tattoo something you can have laser removed at some point. OR, even better, can you have it re-worked into something fabulous so that you actually love it?
Haha, yes, I would love to see a “before and after” of the tattoo and its makeup or bolero cover.
I still love the tattoo I got on my 18th birthday! But mine is very feminine and on my ankle, so even though not completely hideable it’s a little more discreet than yours. =) Personally I love the bolero’s but recomend that if you go with the bolero to still use a cover-up. That way in case you take it off during the reception you’re still covered.
Anytime I hear a story about tatto’s during a wedding I’m reminded of the one about my great-uncle. Durring his oldest grand-daughters wedding he learned about his youngest granddaughters big dragon tattoo on her shoulder. Not known for tact, my Great-Uncle blurted out in the middle of the ceremony to everyone “DAWN has a TATTOO?”
a bolero is definitely not too much to cover up a tattoo!! not only does it function, but it’s pretty, you might actually wear it again, and it’s another way to inject some pizazz into your outfit. as far as the makeup goes, talk to your makeup artist about covering it up. she might have good recommendations for brands that stay put and ways to prevent it from rubbing off.
I have a tat that takes up my left shoulder blade that I love but mom hates.
Dermablend didn’t work for me b/c I couldn’t get the right shade, but it is a good product.
Kat Von D’s once again couldn’t get the right shade.
Tattoo Camo works well but shading was an issue as well (www.tattoocamo.com)
Mac worked the best for me and the make up artist actually gave me a tip apply red lipstick to the tattoo b/c it will neutralize the blue/black tint of the tattoo
I love my tat! I got it at 20 and made sure that the photog got it in several photos.
Def try make up first before trying to add a MAJOR accessory and balancing it out with your dress.
David’s bridal sells a tatoo cover-up kit that I think will do what you’re looking for, I just saw it but haven’t used it.
those boleros are cute! I got a tattoo when I was 18, then when I was 20, then when I was 21… Don’t necessarily regret them, but was relieved that the wedding dress mostly covers the big one so I don’t have to debate whether to cover it for the big day.
If you google “tattoo cover up” you will see lots of options. There are plenty of ways to hide it. But if you like the bolero look, I say go with that!
I’ve tried all of the makeup options you can think of to cover my tats, they just don’t work. Go with a bolero, save yourself the agony of defeat.
I love the idea of the Bolero!
However, just an FYI, Kat Von D’s line has a tattoo cover-up that Sephora carries, just in case you decide against the bolero.
When I was 19 I got a tattoo on my shoulder that I absolutely hated. I knew that when the time came to wear a wedding dress that the tattoo would show and I couldn’t stand the thought of it. I finally bit the bullet and over the course of this past year I spent 22 hours with my tattoo artist covering up my tattoo with the most incredible custom full back piece. I know this option isn’t for everyone. Heck, I know most people wouldn’t even consider it, but now I can’t wait to show it off in my wedding dress!
I can understand wanting to cover up a tattoo - I love mine (all 5) and the one I got when I was 18 is my second favorite … heck- I’ve been thinking of dresses that will SHOW OFF my tattoo … but all that aside - I understand how you feel. My mom got a tattoo when I was just a little tot and totally regrets it now (I guess you can say she loves mine haha) and she struggled with covering it up for a while ( I would DEFINITELY stray away from the band-aid route … it looks VERY silly). She used theater makeup when she discovered how thick it was and never had a problem with the right sealant but hers is on her leg. So she didn’t have the rubbing off problem as much as you might encounter.
All of that said - the boleros look great - and I can understand wanting to wear one for the ceremony … there are just some places even someone like me who loves tattoos doesn’t want to show hers off … and the bolero seems like a great cover-up for that time. Then, if you don’t care at the ceremony, you can take the bolero off and to be honest - nobody will even notice the tattoo by that point!
I know a bride who used this…
http://www.tattoocamo.com/index.php
I wanna see the tat too! LOL
But I will say boleros are so friggin’ cute… might be a good excuse to justify buyin’ that fabulous addition to your dress!
I also want to see the tattoo ;o) Maybe it’s not as bad as you think!
I have several tattoos myself. And I am so glad that I listened to my mom when I was 18, because I think about the ideas I had then….and I would look like an idiot ;o) I got my first tattoo at age 22, then 23, then 25, and adding onto my most recent one next month!
I got a tattoo at 18 and don’t regret it one bit… but its right above my butt-crack (pardon TMI). It only shows when I am wearing a VERY low cut bikini or jeans. I remember pondering this when I was deciding on what to get and where to put it for my tattoo. I decided this was a place that probably wouldn’t stretch too much and would not be very noticable!
I think the bolero idea is the best one. I think you’ll worry about the make up and be looking at your shoulder the whole day, and band-aids are a definite no! The boleros you posted are super cute! I love that first one!
It seems like you should be able to find the right makeup to cover up your tattoo that won’t run all over your dress. However, I also LOVE the bolero look, so if you LOVE it too, then you should totally go for it. (I have very few regrets about my wedding planning so far, but I do occasionally wish I had scheduled a fall wedding so that I could wear one of the adorable boleros by bonzie.)
I have been getting tattoos since age 18, and now I have 8. I love them all, and have absolutely no regrets. I can understand though why some may regret theirs.
Here’s my question: do you dislike the fact that there’s a tattoo there, or do you dislike the tattoo itself? Would you consider getting your tattoo covered up with one you like more? Since you said it’s only the size of a quarter, most tattoo artists can easily cover it up with something you love. Just a suggestion.. I know it may be more expensive than a bolero, but then if you do get a cover-up tattoo, you wont have a tattoo you hate for the rest of your life!
A bolero is perfect!!
I hate the tattoo I got when I was 18 too, whaddya know. The one I got at 22 though, I love! Thankfully that’s the one that shows.. the other’s on my lower back.
omg i also have an “18 year old mistake” tattoo…a small flower on my shoulderblade that i wish i could have surgically removed!! i feel your pain, miss fro yo! idk what to do about mine either…thought about the bolero, but then, what if you get hot? or it doesn’t look right with your dress? it would suck to be stuck with a fashion choice you’re not pleased with on your wedding day just because of some dumb decision to get inked as a teen… :/
I’m with Bru, the last one is super cute. And as long as you go with something that blends with your look and doesn’t look like an afterthought thrown on to hide something you should be fine!
I actually still like my tattoo mistake. But only because I changed it a few years later after realizing my 18 year old self had bad judgement
I got a tattoo at 18 and still love it. I have since gotten another and have plans for a larger piece on my shoulder after the wedding.
There are a lot of products out there that won’t run onto your dress, but any excuse for a bolero is good enough for me!
And you tell us about the tattoo, but won’t show us? Wah!
For the record, I got a tattoo a few weeks after my 18th bday and I still love it! I like all those boleros tho…
here’s how you cover a tattoo. It’s ok i’m a professional.
Start with picking up a thick concealer. the color of the concealer will depend on the color of your tattoo. Think color theory, if it’s black, that usually means it’s actually dark blue, u need orange concealer.
with a makeup brush have a friend stipple on the concealer in SMALL amounts ONLY over the tattoo. when you have one layer, powder it.. Use a puff, and “dab and roll” it over the area. push it into the makeup, don’t smear it around, you want to set it, not move it
repeat until it’s covered. then use a sealer, in a pinch hairspray works.
there are waterproof concealers out there, they will help if your worried about sweating. I’d try it for a day see how it goes. Wear a tank that is about where your dress sits so you’ll know if it rubs.
airbrushing is the best way to cover it, but not everyone has access to that equipment.
Remember to be patient, and work in THIN layers until it’s covered. one thick layer and powder will just rub off and fast.
concealer suggestions, dermablend, krylon tattoo cover, bobbie brown.
I’ve got 4 tattoos, 3 of which are on my back, two of which are large and on my shoulder blades. I only regret one, and it’s small and in the center! But It’s just because I’m picky, most other people like it… (note to readers: DO NOT GET A TATTOO IF YOU ARE A PICKY PERSON!)
Boleros are great if you would like the addition, but, it seems like a big cover up for such a small thing. I’ve heard that tattoo makeup works wonders.
For me, my faith is well-represented in my tattoos, and since people will be wondering what the heck they mean anyway, we’re going to print the explanation in the wedding program
I totally wanted that Rohmer bolero, but it doesn’t go with my dress. Have you ever heard of a cream called Wrecking Balm? Its sposed to lighten tattoos, maybe you could try that so it wouldn’t be as noticeable, therefore making it easier to cover up. Then hopefully it would lighten up enough for you cover it up with a tattoo you actually like.
My BFF is planning on trying it on one of her tattoos, so I’ll post how it works once she’s been trying it for a few weeks
i can’t offer much help with the tat cover up but i do really like the rohm boleros. it seem like yours is pretty small; that should be manageable with coverup. why not try a few products now and see how it reacts to your regular clothing?
The boleros are sooo cute!
As for the tattoo cover-up, Kat von D’s make-up brand has a concealer especially for tattoos so you might want to check it out. They’re available at Sephora. It’s so weird, because I JUST read about them the other day and voila, I see your post.
I hope it helps!
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P231113&categoryId=C18697
Ugh, Miss Fro Yo, sorry to hear about your tat I would totally go with the bolero! I don’t know what your dress looks like but I can tell, just following around your posts in the past month, that you wouldn’t compromise the look of your dress with a bolero if it actually didn’t look right. So do it! Plus, it sounds like a much better option than the make-up… and the band-aids… ick, I would rather show the tattoo!
i had to help cover up a tattoo for a bm in a wedding once… HORRIBLE!!!!! the makeup smeared like crazy, her skin looked a little funky, it got on the dress - so def get a pro to cover it up for you, if you go that route! but kat von D has a new tattoo concealer at sephora - i imagine it would be worth a shot to try out? but the boleros are gorgeous too…
@kmattso2: My hair will probably cover it for the most part, but I don’t want to have to rely on that.
@Mrs. Bruschetta: Good idea! I need to ask my photographer to edit in case it sneaks out.
@AprilBride10: I haven’t tried dermablend, but it’s on my list of things to try
@Sarah: I didn’t want to offend anyone who was smart about their tattoo choices at 18, apparently my friends and I are not part of that group 
@ejs4y8: I would LOVE to have it removed, but the cost is preventing me at this point.
@flamingred: Mine is a sun
@Aria: thanks for the tips! I’m off to buy the Kat Von D and dermablend and see what works!
@annnn: I need to try i!! Thanks for the info!
@tenmylove: Aww, I definitely wouldn’t compromise the look.
Ok! I’m going to sephora to buy several of the items you all suggested and I will do a before and after for you. Thanks for all the help!!
I would totally buy the bolero just because I love them so much!
Right before my friend’s wedding, she playing touch football with her younger siblings and ended up getting a huge bruise down the back of her left arm. First came panic, then a trip to the theater makeup store where we got the tatoo cover that came with a setter that kept it from spreading on her dress. I can’t remember the brand, but it came with several different shades to blend so it would cover all of the different colors.
The dress stayed clean, and no one knew except for the bridesmaids. Unless you stared at her tricep and knew where to look, but who does that?
If you want to go the makeup route, try a base of skin illustrator (by premier products, online). It’s an alcohol based makeup that works like a watercolor paint that you activate with 99% alcohol instead of water. Try the burnt sienna or other orange-y based color to neutralise the blue-ness of tattoos (it will look weird and orange, but trust me and read on) then stipple over the whole thing with revlon colorstay to match your skin tone. Press some loose powder into it and your waterproof and smudgeproof a night! Use more 99% or baby oil to remove. It’s a film industry trick. Just to give you more options.
I’m sorry you hate your tattoo. I had my ink (okay, it’s a tramp stamp but I swear they didn’t call it that then!) when I was 19 and I’m still in love with it. However, being that it’s on my back I also sometimes forget that I have it. LOL
I hope you find a solution that works out for you!
I completely understand! I covered my shoulder ink with Tattoo Camo which worked incredibly well when I did trials. Unfortunately I got more sun before the wedding and we had to mix it with other makeup to get the darker color match. DO NOT DO THIS! It completely backfired and made the makeup smudge. Based on my trials, however, I’d recommend the Camo. I ended up wearing my veil for most of the reception to have a little extra disguise, which annoyed me because I only wanted it on for the ceremony.
Not one of my conservative relatives said a thing about it, though my new mother-in-law started to make comments (she didn’t exactly know I had a tattoo… oops!). I also tried Dermablend for my cousin’s wedding a few years ago, and it smudged everywhere.
If a bolero is YOU, then go for it. It’s nice to feel comfortable on such a crazy day. But if a bolero isn’t for you, remember that anybody who harasses you about a little tattoo you already regret on your wedding day should be cursed with thunderstorms and traffic jams when their time comes.
Even if you didn’t have a tattoo, you should still get one oof those boleros. They’re adorable!
I have to cover up my tatoo for work, so I use derma blend. The trick when trying out different shades at the cosmetic counter is to let it dry completely-it changes color as it dries. You won’t be able to sweat it off, it won’t smear on your dress. Save the $$ for more fun on the honeymoon.
good luck with the dermablend, i’m super interested to see how it turns out. i’d love to see a before & after shoot with it! Good luck!
I’ve heard that the air-brushing makeup works wonders on tattoos. You might think about hiring someone and going that route. It’s easy on you, easy on the pocketbook, and I’ve heard it lasts all day.
I think that a bolero is a perfect compromise for covering up your tatoo…and they make SUCH cute ones now!
I got my first tattoo when I was 18, and I’ve never looked back. I really thought about it when I got it, though, so I put it on my left hip so it only shows when I want it to (wearing a bikini or low-cut jeans). I purposely thought about the location so that it wouldn’t show for job interviews or on my wedding day (this was/is well before any wedding plans!). I’ve since gotten another one on the inside of my ankle, and am planning another bigger piece for my ribs– all locations that can be covered relatively easily but that I can see whenever I want.
On the other hand, my mom got a tattoo a couple years ago that she immediately hated (it was a painting that the tattoo artist just didn’t quite capture for her) and regretted it 100%. She’s had a full course of laser treatments to remove as much of it as possible and now wears makeup or a big band-aid to cover it up.
Oh, and I love the last bolero! haha I think it’s gorgeous. If you’re not happy with your tattoo, it might be a good option.
Good luck, i hope it works for you! And when the wedding’s over, maybe you can save for some laser removal =].
A sun? It could be worse! My HS volleyball coach had a volleyball wearing shades on his arm LOL. =]
Those boleros are so cute.
Thankfully, when I went through my tattoo stage, I just got one, and it’s hidden even when wearing a bikini. Whew.
Any excuse to wear a gorgeous bolero works for me! Those are beautiful!
I also have a shoulder tattoo, but it’s about 2″ x 3″ horseshoe. I’m also afraid that it will clash with my wedding gown, but it’s a total representation of me and I love it. My mother desperately wants me to cover it up, but I am undecided. On the one hand it’s a part of me, and I’m not ashamed, but on the other hand like you said I don’t want people to be distracted by it.
Oh- duh I also meant to say that the boleros are gorgeous. I wanted to get a dress that had lace to cover the shoulders, but ended up with a halter style which doesn’t hide the tat at all. Unfortunately I dont have the arms for a bolero, and it would clash as much with my dress as the tattoo.
I love bonzi’s boleros those are awesome finds! I think you can maybe cover it some other way too, but I would look for ANY excuse to wear a bolero! just love them
I love the Bonzi boleros! I would definitely go with cover-up makeup before bandaids. It seems like they are doing great things with tattoo make-up these days!
[...] you remember that I am having a little trouble figuring out what to do about my tattoo on my wedding day. Said tattoo has been a source of stress for me for some time. Well, I finally decided to start [...]
[...] you may remember that I am having a little trouble figuring out what to do about my tattoo on my wedding day. Said tattoo has been a source of stress for me for some time. Well, I finally decided to start [...]
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Miss Frozen Yogurt, Dallas Age and Occupation: 28, Special Projects Coordinator Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Equity Trader Engagement Date: March 19, 2009 Wedding Date: April 2010 Venue: Marie Gabrielle, Dallas About Me: I was born and raised in Texas, and have lived in several of the cities across the state, but I currently reside in Austin. I went to college in Boston and have a special place in my heart for the Northeast. I love reading, shopping, wine, reuniting with college friends that are scattered across the country, reality TV, trying out new recipes, and attempting all the DIY projects that come along with wedding planning. I'm a "bleeding heart, save the world type" and thankfully my job allows me to work on legislation and policy to help out those in need. I met Mr. Frozen Yogurt in a bar, though he doesn't even drink! And now we are planning a modern yet vintage wedding in Dallas while dealing with the trials and tribulations of first time homeownership.
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