Incorporating Tattoos into Your Wedding Attire: A Guide for Inked Couples

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Tattoos hold a great deal of significance for most people; for others, they may be pieces of art they adorn their bodies with. Either way, when it comes time to walk down the aisle, many tend to struggle with the idea of incorporating their tattoos into their wedding attire.

Getting married is one of the most important days of your life. You want it to be perfect in every way so that you can look back fondly on your memories. This is where you may come down to making the decision of whether or not you want them to be visible on your big day.

The role acceptance plays in showing off your ink

Tattoos tend to hold great cultural or personal significance. Over time, tattoos became taboo when they were seen in public. However, there has been a shift in the past few decades, and tattoos have become more socially acceptable. It is no longer out of place to see a person with full sleeves or their entire body covered in tattoos walking down the street. A greater social acceptance of tattoos signals that tattoos being visible at weddings are becoming more common too.

The personal significance of your tattoos

There is a good chance that your tattoos may have important meanings to you: reminders of loved ones lost, overcoming struggles, and inspiration to keep moving forward in life. Because of this significance, you may be more inclined to show off your tattoos on your wedding day, as they show your growth and play a big role in your life.

Making the choice to cover up your tattoos or not

Based on individual preferences, and how much tattoos you have, you might choose the route of covering up your tattoos for your wedding.

 Smaller pieces are relatively easier to cover up, however, this is dependent on their placement on your body. Even if you have extensive tattoo work done on your body, it is still possible to cover them up.

If your tattoos are on your arms, you can opt for long-sleeved dresses or long gloves. If you have tattoos running up to your neck, then there are high-collared dresses. There is even the option of using high-coverage make-up to apply over your tattoos.

For the male counterparts of the wedding party, tuxedos and suits provide plenty of coverage for tattoos.

On the other hand, if you want your ink on display, the options are endless. You can opt for a backless dress if you have intricate spine tattoos that you want to show off. Sleeveless or short-sleeved dresses are great for showing off arm tattoos. There are also dresses that have a combination of scooping necklines, and thin straps, and are backless - which can show off a myriad of tattoos that you have simultaneously.

Textured clothing can also enhance tattoos quite a bit. While flannel and knitwear are not always great for weddings, they are great considerations for an outfit change after the main ceremony.

Keep in mind the wedding destination and the season that you are getting married in. This will ensure that you can wear the outfit of your desire, without too many issues.

Other factors to consider

If you to take the ‘modest’ route for the ceremony, but still have it on display at some point during the day, you change up the outfit for the reception where you may feel more at ease with showing them off.

 It is also important that you keep in mind external factors that will affect your wedding attire. This includes the season you are getting married in and also the venue. For example, a barn venue allows you to have a wedding theme of your choosing, so that you won’t feel too limited to your choice of outfit, as opposed to a traditional and religious setting.

Tattoos and wedding ceremonies

Given the social acceptance of tattoos, there is new a trend where the bridal couple hires a tattoo artist to come to a wedding to perform tattoos for guests and the bridal couple. The bridal couple can even get matching tattoos to signify their union. If you are going with this option, look for a reputable tattoo artist in the area where you are hosting your wedding. For example, if you are having your wedding in an upmarket venue somewhere in Los Angeles, there are many artists based in that area, that can be hired for this event.

Many cultures actively practice tattooing, and brides sometimes get tattoos after the wedding, which shows that they have joined a new family. Another wedding ritual sees the use of henna, which is a form of temporary tattooing applied during festivities, like weddings, in areas like South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa. In India, the henna is applied to the hands and legs of brides before the wedding as part of a practice known as mehndi.

Conclusion

Your tattoos play a significant role in your life, and the decision to have them front and center at your wedding is entirely up to you. When choosing your bridal outfit, the choice to have them on display can be enhanced by the outfit that you choose. Also, the location of your wedding, the season, and the theme of your ceremony can also play a role in the type of outfit you wear on your big day and how it can affect your tattoos.