Weddingbee Blog

I was having dinner with a friend a couple of nights ago when she innocently asked me if I was covering my tattoos up for the wedding. I wasn’t sure how to answer. I have had a couple of other friends in this same position before. One of my friends had an entire sleeve, and she said that she paid so much money for the thing and it was so painful that there was no way she was covering it up. I had another friend who just had a little bird on her shoulder and did cover it up. I honestly had not given it any thought before my friend asked me that question.

I don’t have a lot of tattoos. I really only have three, two of which may or may not be visible. The one that is almost never visible is a snitch from Harry Potter on my hip. Obviously, this is not going to be visible in a wedding dress, therefore, no need to cover it.

I’m a nerd, and proud of it!

The other two are not always visible, but they would be the day of the wedding. The first of these is my wrist tattoo. Now I waited about five years to get my second tattoo. I thought my first one would be enough and I wouldn’t get anymore. Then my brother was deployed to Iraq. My brother is my best friend; he is the one who is closest to me in age. I was the best (wo)man in his wedding.

Me and my baby brother

While my brother was in Iraq, I got a tattoo honoring him. It also honored the friends I have who have also served overseas. This tattoo means a lot to me. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to cover up something that has been such a big part of me for the last two years.

About a year after my wrist tattoo, I got a new one on my foot. My siblings were teasing that I was fast turning into a tattooed soccer mom. (Because of my deep love of cardigans, they always have said that I dress like a soccer mom.) The one on my foot probably has the deepest value to me.

It’s the word “Yahweh,” which is one of the Hebrew words for God. It is a tribute to my faith and a constant reminder of God’s love for me.

My tattoos are more than just ink in my skin—they’re a part of my self-identity, a part of me. I knew that the reason I had never thought about it before was because it honestly was never a question. I will not be covering up my tattoos on my wedding day. When I told some of my bridesmaids this story, they were relieved. They were worried that I would request them to also cover their tattoos. And the bridesmaids that do have tattoos have more than I do. BM E has the start of a sleeve that she plans on continuing after my niece is born.

BM E and the start of her sleeve—there is also a ton of writing on the other side of her arm.

My sister, BM A, has about 12 tattoos. They are just as much a part of her as mine are of me. I was worried that maybe some of the older guests would not like or agree with the showing of tattoos, but then my grandmother said, “Why would you try to be someone you’re not on the day that is all about you? That’s just silly.” And she’s right. I see my tattoos as a part of me, so I’m not going to cover them.

What about you tattooed brides? Are you covering up your tattoos for the big day?

All photos are personal.