Planning A Cover Up? Weddings & Tattoos

So how much ink adorns your body? Do you have the full sleeves? Maybe, like a lot of college kids in the 1990s, you got the discreet ring of ivy or tribal thorns around your bicep or ankle, something that could be covered up in a hurry. Tattoos are a way of life for some, and a passing fancy for others. As people grow older, their tattoos usually become either more or less important to them. (By the way, if you were one of those that got the tribal stuff, consider this fair warning: see a removal specialist now. It was trite when it was new, and it's not getting better with age.)

            Whether or not to conceal your tattoos on your wedding day - or even get a new one - is up to you and the impression you want to make on your guests. If you're proud of your tats, then by all means let the colors fly at your wedding. If you consider the tattoos a college indiscretion, a lingering souvenir of a Spring Break lapse in judgment, then you’re betting off covering them up; at least for the day.

Cover Up Kits

            You know something is a trend in American culture when there's a professionally made product to either deal with it, fix it, or make it bigger. Just so with tattoos: a number of specially designed "tattoo cover up kits"have hit the market in recent years, containing everything needed to discreetly conceal all but the largest tattoos with hypoallergenic makeup.

            The typical cover up kit includes primer and finishing powders, along with application brushes and sponges for easy use. The makeup is waterproof and sunproof, and its advertisers claim it also works for blemishes, acne scars, varicose veins, and other skin discolorations that might ruin your perfect bridal appearance.

In basic consistency and use, the sets are much like larger makeup kits, but having them handy has its uses, especially if you decide to cover the tattoos at the last minute. Like a first aid kit, they include everything needed right at your fingertips, and the case itself is usually a neat accessory.

Getting Ink Done

            Plenty of couples choose to go the opposite route and have tattoos added to their bodies in anticipation of the wedding celebration. Popular among "first-timers" and body art veterans alike, the wedding tattoo is often a personal expression or commemoration of a couple's love affair.

            Getting the wedding tattoo is a lot like getting any other kind of tattoo. You need to make sure you’re ready for the commitment, and that you can stand the discomfort when it goes on. As any tattoo artist or collector will tell you, if you have even the slightest doubt, it’s better to wait until you’re ready. The design of the tattoo can be something from your imagination, creating an original creation that speaks especially to your fiancé and the special love the two of you share. For practical reasons, it's best to consult your tattoo artist for his input about the final design. While you have something in mind, the artist can revise and finesse its shape and colors, creating something that will enhance your ideas and apply more readily to your skin.

            Once the tattoo is done, be certain to finish all care and preservation advice given at the time of the application. Because of the initial bandage overlay and need to keep the tattooed skin moist, you should plan on getting the work done well in advance of the wedding day itself.