Fun fact: I cheered from grades three to…senior year, so I can make anything into a cheer. (See how that rhymed!? Cheer material, right there.)
Anyway, let me reintroduce myself: I’m Miss Otter, tattoo lover.
Image via someecards
I have…a lot. Enough that if I try to count, I may forget one for a second. So let’s just say I have a lot. Some visible, some not. The visible ones on the big day will include: my wrists, which are both the handwriting of my deceased best friend, “radiate love” on my arm, and potentially (depending on my choice of jewelry) the blackbird on my finger. I also have one behind each ear and one on my neck that may sneak out, but since I’m wearing my hair down, that’s up in the air.
Mrs. Fox is also a tattoo advocate and was a tattooed bride. And I couldn’t agree more with the words she shared about her own tattoos and why she chose not to cover them on the big day:
The way I see it, if I didn’t like my tattoos and/or thought I should cover them up at the wedding? Well, shame on me, because I shouldn’t have gotten them in the first place. Now of course this is a personal decision, but in my mind? They are a part of me and a part of the way I “express myself”—it’s only natural that they will be out in proud display.
I got each of my tattoos for a reason. They each have a story. They each mean something to me—something I care about enough to permanently have it on my body. So for that reason, covering them was never a question. In fact, one tattoo (to be revealed here after the wedding) will be photographed as part of our must-have shot list. It means that much.
Some have asked if I’ll regret having them in my photos, and with that, I share this photo.
Image via B. Moore Events / Photography by Priscila Valentina
Her tattoo, while stunning, wasn’t even the thing that caught my eye! It was her smile that caught my eye, and then I noticed the tattoo. And I love it. I love that she didn’t cover it and that it stands out. In fact, if you continue browsing those photos, you’ll notice that wasn’t the only one showing. And I don’t think it takes away a single thing from the photos. She looks stunning, and the tattoos caught my eye after she did. I think that’s what matters most.
Now, I know tattoos aren’t for everyone, and that even some brides who love theirs still choose to cover them. If you have tattoos and are covering them, what made you decide to go that route?
I have a small one on my left boob. I chose to cover it up because my very conservative Asian Catholic grandparents would have had a fit if they saw it. I thought I’d spare myself some drama from them.
I let mine show. They’re in relatively high-visibility locations so it would have been a challenge to cover them up, and given that I work in a creative field, they’re nearly always on display! Most of the time I forget that I have them.
I only have one that would be visible for the big day, unless I have a see through lace on my torso or something, or unless I wore a short dress. I am sure there will be more to come though. And when that day comes, they will be out and about. I agree with you on the fact that if you’d hide them on your wedding day, you shouldn’t have gotten them in the first place.
I love visibly tattooed brides! I have no tattoos simply because I haven’t decided yet if there’s anything meaningful enough for me to get inked on my body, but if you love them, flaunt them!! That picture of that tattooed bride is BEAUTIFUL.
I’ve got one on my wrist that will be completely visible and I’m so excited about it!
i love tatted brides. i’d love to see yours – they sound really neat! wolfman and i have talked about getting something to commemorate the wedding/us but are of course conscious of being “those people.” is mr. O a tat guy?
also i cheered too. i was a flyer on a competition squad – it is tough!
I think it’s great that you are going to show off your tattoos, they are obviously a huge part of you and you should display them on the most important day or your life.
I absolutely let mine show, framed nicely by my dress… like Mrs. Fox I think there would be bigger issues if I wanted to hide my tattoo on my wedding day…
Two of my tattoos will for sure be showing on our big day– one on my wrist and one on my shoulder blade. I would like to get more in “public” areas (my forearm, my back) between now and then, but I do have a small bit of hesitation. I don’t want my ink to overwhelm in my pictures, and I’m not sure I’m “edgy” enough to have that much tattoo work visible in my wedding pics.
What’s a girl to do?
FI will have at least one of his sleeves done by then too, so his ink will be showing proudly. I’m still flip-flopping.
(Sidenote, that pic you linked [and the others from that wedding] is stunning, and I probably scrolled through them four or five times before I even noticed her nose ring!)
I don’t have any tattoos, there’s not something I’d feel like doing, but I like the idea behind yours and Mrs. Fox’s words, you got them for a reason and although some might want to cover them, there’s no reason to expect a bride to cover her ink, she put it in her body for a reason and it wasn’t for hiding it.
You just became my favorite Bee! I have a few (okay, I could lose track, too) tattoos myself, and I would not hide them for one second. In fact, we are tattooing our wedding bands! I think they are a part of you, and hiding them is like not being your true self on your wedding day! Thats just my opinion 
)
I’m a let them show kind of girl. I only have one, and there’s not way of hiding it as its on the inside of my left shoulder blade and i have boyishly short hair. I forget its there, I don’t think about it, but I can’t imagine hiding it. I’d be like trying to hide me.
Thank you so much for this post. I just found it really empowering and, frankly, freaking awesome.
(Yes, I came back.)
I think the reason I waffle over the one on my shoulderblade is that it’s a black outline of a swallow, and I subconsciously want it to be in color. Also, I never get to see it, so I forget what it looks like.
FI and I chatted about it tonight, and I think I’m going to get it colored and add a few background details to it.
…and now I’m psyched to show it off in my dress and pics. So.
Yay, inked brides!!! 
I’m inked; some that will be clearly visible with my dress. I’m certainly not ashamed of any of them (yeah, I have quite a few) because they were designed with a very personal meaning behind them.
I’m looking forward to seeing everybody else’s in recaps!!
PICS!!! please!
I only have one…it’s on my inner wrist. But I have my next 2 planned and I’m thinking of a third. Mine will be visible and half the time I forget it’s there. It’s usually when someone points it out and asks about it. My FMIL just noticed it a few months ago and I’ve had it the entire time I’ve known her!
I picked my dress with my ink in mind. All of my pieces (yes would need a minute to count) have a deep meaning to mean; three pay tribute to a lost loved one and that is my way of having them with me on my day. I actually have scheduled to finish a piece before the wedding. I love what my ink says about me and my FI.
Mine are going to show! I only have four (Only!) but at least one will be visible, a dragon fly on my foot. I have one on my ankle that may show in some pictures, but it’s not because I’m “hiding” it, my dress is just long. Honestly,I forget they’re there too. I never wear socks to cover my tattoo and everyone in my office has seen it, a few have even complimented it.
I say if you love something enough to have it permanently on your body, you should show it on such an important day!
I actually told FI that I wanted to get the “rest” of my tattoos before the wedding. The only visible one at the moment is the one one going down about halfway down my spine, but I’m almost done with one on my thigh. I also want to get one on my calf and either shoulder or hip.
The ones that are visible are going to stay that way because they’re memorial tattoos for my grandparents and I want a part of them to be there. I am planning on wearing a lace coverup for the ceremony, though. I want them to be seen, but not to be a focal point.
Mrs. Otter, Indianapolis, IN Age and Occupation: 22, Freelance Social Media Consultant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 23, CVS Shift Supervisor Engagement Date: November 11, 2011 Wedding Date: April 2013 Venue: Mustard Seed Gardens About Me: I'm a born and raised Hoosier girl, but a diehard Michigan Wolverines fan. I have a tendency to take too many photos and spend full days having TV marathons. Mr. Otter and I met in high school, started dating a couple years later, and moved in after a month of being official. He is easygoing and makes plans on a whim, while I'm color coordinating my planner and organizing everything in sight. He hates glitter, but it's my favorite thing. I have tattoos and he still won't get one, despite my attempts to convince him. We're planning a small, rustic, and (hopefully!) peony-filled wedding to get our married life started. (And yes, there will be glitter involved!)
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