Wednesday 2 October 2013

Tattooed Brides

Every day in the UK, tattooed brides merrily make their way up the aisle. Love tattoos or hate them, there is no escaping the fact that some of the nation’s most beautiful brides now proudly display their inking's whilst exchanging vows.
But it seems tattooed brides are a controversial lot, with many people finding the image of an ink-dappled bride distasteful and others suggesting the very nature of tattoos conflicts with what is considered ‘traditional’ wedding attire.
Whatever your opinion, this post will discuss the pros and cons surrounding brides who opt to show off their tattoos on their wedding day - maybe even shedding light on the reasons behind common negative perceptions.

“My favourite tattoo is a symbol of the love and unity that exists within my family unit. I had it on display especially for my wedding day” (Lisa, tattooed bride married in 2000).
Like Lisa, many brides intentionally choose to wear a wedding dress that shows off their tattoos. As any tattoo aficionado will readily tell you, their choice of ink is often inspired by heartfelt emotions that deserve permanent inscription. But there are those who, for whatever reason, find the very notion of a tattooed bride unattractive. So what are the most common arguments against displaying tattoos on your wedding day?


Picture by Loraine Ross http://wwwloraineross.co.uk http://www.loraineross.co.uk



“If my nan had been alive on my wedding day, I think I would have covered up my tattoos” (Ellie, tattooed bride married in 2013).
Some people view tattooed brides as unconventional and therefore unattractive. At the risk of generalising, it seems many who regard tattooed brides with an air of mild (or harsh) judgement are from a more traditional era. Although tattoos have been popular within our culture for many years, tattooed brides seem to have become more prevalent in recent times and could reflect a change in our cultural perceptions of ‘the norm’.
The fact is, tattoos are easier to go and ‘get’ these days, with modern hygiene practices and innovative techniques all contributing to the number of people getting inked and the number of tattooed brides walking up the aisle. So, although Nan might not approve of your decision to show off your celtic inspired inking when exchanging vows, you can pretty much guarantee it’s only because in her day, most brides simply didn’t have tattoos ready to show off!.

“I can think of few worse fates than walking around for the rest of one’s life wearing a typo” (Anne Fadiman, Author)
Even today, many people view tattooed brides as somehow not elegant, not stylish and certainly not classy. They seem to believe that a truly ‘blushing bride’ would never show off her tattoos because it just isn’t ‘pretty’. Without intentionally infuriating any tattooed brides reading this, we are going to suggest there is an element of truth to this perception. Before you ring us up to shout, allow us to explain…
Anyone with a tattoo will agree that not all tattoos are created equally well. Some are brilliant examples of artistic technique – and some are clumsily scrawled, youth-inspired mementos of time spent in a dodgy tattoo parlour.  We know of one bride who had K I L L E R tattooed across her knuckles in large, black letters. Acquired with pride on her 18th birthday, at the age of 28 she got engaged – and immediately began laser treatment to have the offending ink removed. Would she have looked as lovely in her wedding dress with the tattoo on display? Probably – but she would also have found it painfully embarrassing explaining to her new husband’s friends and family that she was never, in fact, a KILLER and loved nothing more than curling up with a good book and a cup of tea. You get our point.
Mementos of mis-spent youth aside, there are still a great many people who absolutely love the look of a tattooed bride. Whether a bride is heavily inked or more subtly tattooed, it has to be said that most tattooed brides look simply stunning on their big day. What is their secret and why should we admire brides who show off their ink with pride?

“My tattoos are part of me. Why would I want to hide them?” (Hayley, Tattooed bride married in 2003)
We like Hayley’s way of thinking. Many people have tattoos of real sentimental and aesthetic value, incorporating beautiful designs and clever tattooing techniques.  A wedding can provide the perfect opportunity to display these images to a whole host of people who might otherwise never get the opportunity to see them. At once providing a topic of conversation and an (often) touching tribute, brides who display their ink are really giving their nearest and dearest an insight into their life and emotions – and who can argue with that?

Picture by Allebach Photography http://allebachphotography.com/

“Fashion changes but style endures” (Coco Chanel)
Let’s face it. Tattoos are cool. Some wedding dresses actually look like they have been designed with a tattooed bride in mind. That gorgeous vintage number with a plunging neckline? It would look fabulous teamed with a slick of red lipstick and a cleavage etched in crimson roses. It’s true – as much as many tattooed brides have an air of style about them that perfectly reflects their personality, many wedding dresses seem to be crying out for an ink loving model. We have seen hundreds of tattooed brides and we know they are all stylish, elegant and unique – and we admire them all equally.

Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it” (Bernard Meltzer)
Whatever your opinion of tattooed brides, one certainty remains clear. The single element which makes each and every bride truly radiant is not her tattoos (or lack thereof). Neither is it her dress, her flowers, or her hair. The truth is, the only adornment necessary for any bride to appear dazzlingly beautiful on her wedding day is happiness.  At Second Skin Events, we believe every bride is stunning, tattooed or otherwise. We love tattoos as much as we love weddings and we hope this blog post has provided you with some food for thought. We welcome your questions and comments, and relish discussions relating to bridal tattoos, weddings, cultural assumptions (or any other topics you deem worthy of attention).  Remember – we are all individuals - but perhaps some are slightly more individual than others.