On Fridays we like to take a moment to talk about new and fun ideas in wedding planning, and we call it “Fun Idea Friday” – I know, super original title. This week is dedicated to the modern bride and her tattoo. It used to be that if you had a tattoo, it was expected that you would cover it up at a fancy event like a wedding. Depending where your ink lives, that could have meant anything from a cover up (long sleeves, shawls, gloves, etc.), to cover up (i.e. makeup to hide your tat). But as tattoos are becoming more socially acceptable, flaunting yours at your wedding becomes more acceptable as well. Our recommendation – be authentically you at your wedding.  Rather than covering your tattoo, there are lots of ways photographers can work around them, so they don’t show up in every picture. This may be of benefit for Mom or Grandma or your new Mother-in-Law who never approved in the first place.

You also might want to consider how formal your tattoos are and plan your wedding accordingly. Most tattoos will stick out much more at a country club black tie affair than they will at a casual outdoor ceremony. Some brides and grooms actually get tattoo wedding rings, or matching tattoos as part if their pre-bridal events.

So here are some fun pictures designed to show or shush the tattoo, whichever you prefer.

And these same brides, photographed the same day with no makeup or other tattoo hiding devices

If you are really into tattoos, you could follow Shannon’s lead. Her back tattoos were not entirely symmetrical so she asked a tattoo artist to come on her wedding day and use a sharpee to even out the tattoos for public viewing.

So stop stressing. Ink might just be the new pink.