Link, ink, think- The Southtown Star

Wedding Rituals From Around The World

Ever Wonder Where Our Wedding Traditions Came From?

Link, ink, think

Do you want that tattoo to show on your wedding day?

There was a time when any bride worth her weight in toule would rather have died than let a tattoo lay bare on her wedding day.

Rest assured, this is not that time.

Most women who have tattoos today don't want to cover them up on their wedding day.

"I have a tattoo on my shoulder and I didn't care that people saw it," said recent bride Karen Brennan, of Park Forest.

Holly Coan, who owns A Passion For Weddings in New Lenox, said she's seen brides and bridesmaids with all kinds of tattoos, from tiny rosebuds to complete works of art running down arms and across backs.

"You'd be surprised at the number of brides who don't want their tattoos covered," she said.

As fate would have it, tattoos are at the height of popularity, just as strapless gowns are becoming the most popular style of wedding dress.

But Coan and Brennan, who owns True Companion Weddings consultant company, know there are some prospective brides, and some of their bridesmaids, who don't want their ink dragon, butterfly or fairy to clash with their lace, toule and pearl bedecked gowns.

Not everybody thinks tafetta and body art go together like champagne and chocolates.

According to a 2003 Harris poll, 15 percent of women and 16 percent of men in the United States have a tattoo. And most - 83 percent - have no regrets about having themselves permanently inked.

Still, that does leave a small percentage who'd like to make it all go away for one day.

Donna Recchia, who owns Donna K Bridals in Tinley Park, said five years ago, most brides with tattoos wanted them covered. But today, most are proud of their body art.

"The brides 25 and under don't seem to be embarrassed by them; the older brides want them covered," Recchia said.

But it's not for religious reasons, or even to spare the old folks on the guest list any cause for pause, that some women opt for a blank canvas.

"Those who do want to cover a tattoo up usually do it for cosmetic reasons," Brennan said. "They just think it doesn't go with their gown."

If you're having a very formal wedding, you may not want that multicolored tattoo running down your back to steal your nuptial thunder, Brennan said.

And for those women, there are options: Photoshop works after the fact; makeup can do the job right there and then; or, for those who don't want the tattoo to show during the ceremony but do want it for the reception, there are items that can be added to the gown itself.

There are several makeup kits designed to cover even the biggest tattoos on the market, including Dermablend, Mehron Tattoo Covers, Ben Nye, CM Beauty, TattooCamo and ColorTration.

Brennan recommends Dermablend, which is available at stores such as Ulta, Macy's and Carson Pirie Scott.

Kathy Speers owns KJS Weddings, which is based in North Aurora but services the south suburbs as well.

"I work a lot of ethnic weddings," she said. "Usually, the more formal churches require brides in strapless gowns to wear a wrap. They don't even want bare shoulders."

Speers recommends a kit made by CM Beauty.

Eva's Bridals in Oak Lawn takes a different approach to covering up body art.

Manager Ronia Sweis says it is not unusual for a seamstress to add detachable cap sleeves or a bolero jacket to a wedding gown, with the specific intent of covering up a tattoo. The temporary coverup matches the dress and can be worn during the more formal ceremony and removed when things kick back during the reception.

Another option for brides who don't want to work with makeup is to add more layers to the veil.

"When a veil is two or three layers thick, you can't see the tattoo," Sweis said. "I can't tell you how excited women get when they find out their gown comes with a jacket or that we can make one to match."

They recently cut material off the bottom of one petite bride's gown and turned it into a jacket.

Donna Vickroy can be reached at dvickroy@southtownstar.com or (708) 633-5982.

 

Vickroy, D. (2007, December 3). Link, ink, think. The Southtown Star. Retrieved December 3, 2007,

     from http://www.southtownstar.com/lifestyles/vickroy/675396,120307weddingtattoos.article

 

Belgium: The bride takes the family handkerchief and has her name embroidered on it. After the ceremony it is framed and hung in the family house until another daughter gets married.

Bermuda: The newlyweds plant a tree that symbolizes their love and union.

Czech Republic: During the ceremony, the bride wears a rosemary wreath to symbolize love, loyalty and wisdom.

China: During the ceremony a goblet of honey and a goblet of wine are tied together with a red ribbon, which is the color of love. The couple drinks from the goblets to symbolize their union of love.

Finland: In the past, the bride wore a gold crown during the ceremony. Afterwards she was blindfolded and surrounded by all of the unmarried female guests. The bride passed the crown on to one of the lucky singles who was believed to be the next to be married.

France: The guests bring flowers to the reception to help the couple celebrate their new lives together.

Germany: Both individuals wear a gold band engagement ring. During the ceremony the groom kneels on the bride's dress to symbolize his power over her. She corrects him by getting up and stepping on his foot.

Holland: During a pre-wedding party the couple sits under a canopy of evergreens which symbolizes everlasting love. This is where the guests can wish the couple good luck and happiness.

India: Henna dye is used to paint designs on the couple's hands; the couple usually leave their handprints on the outside door of their new home for good luck.

Ireland: New Year's Day is believed to be the luckiest day to be married. The couple also receives a horseshoe to hang in their new home.

Japan: During the ceremony, the bride will leave to change clothes 3-4 times.

Lithuania: The couple's parents give gifts that symbolize the elements of marriage: wine for joy, salt for tears, and bread for work.

Philippines: The groom's parents are responsible for paying the cost of the wedding.

Poland: During the reception, the bride wears an apron in which guests put money into the pockets in exchange for a dance with the new bride. The couple then uses this money towards a honeymoon.

Romania: The guests shower the newlyweds with nuts and candy symbolizing prosperity.

Russia: Guests do not bring gifts for the couple; rather all attending non-family members receive a gift.

Spain: The groom wears a shirt that his bride has embroidered for him.

Switzerland: Junior bridesmaids begin the wedding procession by throwing colored handkerchiefs to the guests. Those who catch a hanky are supposed to give money to help the couple start their new life together.

 

Rituals were taken from: "The Everything Wedding Book".

 

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