ShareThisQ: My maid of honor has a tattoo on her back, which is clearly visible in the bridesmaid dress. We're getting married in a very conservative church. Can I ask her to cover it up for the wedding?
A: This is a sticky one! You chose this woman to be your maid of honor, so she's obviously close to you. First, ask yourself this: Is the tattoo really an issue for the church? Most houses of worship that allow a bare back or shoulders aren't going to raise eyebrows at a tattoo.
The next thing you need to think about is whether or not this is your issue. It's understandable that you won't want tattoos popping up in your wedding photographs, but your photographer can position your bridesmaids so their backs aren't showing, keeping your photos tattoo-free.
The truth is, it would be rude to ask your maid of honor to cover up her tattoo with makeup or to make her stand out from the other bridesmaids by wearing a different dress style. Consider gifting the bridesmaids with beautiful shawls or wraps to wear around their shoulders for the ceremony. They'll love the gift and everyone will be dressed appropriately for the church.
(Carley Roney, co-founder and editor in chief of The Knot, the nation's leading wedding resource, advises millions of brides on modern wedding etiquette at www.theknot.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
ASK CARLEY
