I have discussed this topic with a few people over the last few hours.
My mother, my husband, my stepdaughter, and my tattoo addict friend. Here are their opinions
Mother, 53: Thinks tattoos are gross (yes, even though both of her kids, me and my brother have them) She stated that she would have been mortified if I had a large tattoo visible in my wedding photos. Thanked me for giving her photos that didn't show mine. She is a head nurse of a large hospital and is involved in hiring. In her professional opinion, all tattoos should be covered up in a work environment such as a hospital, and should certainly be covered up during a wedding. She went on to say that tattoos are 'trashy' and she wouldn't hire someone with excessive tattoos. One of my brothers groomsmen had a tattoo on his neck and she insisted that the photog shoot around it. Again, her opinion, not mine.
My Husband,43- Has several large tattoos (vine/rose on one arm all the way around, tribal on other shoulder, spiderman spider on inside of one forearm, my name about 10 inches in big old english down the other) We are truck drivers (yep, I'm a snobby truck driver I guess, according to some on here, but I digress) so anything goes in our profession. My husband has no problem showing his ink off on a day to day basis. But whenever we go to church or to someones wedding, funeral, etc out of respect he covers up with longsleeves. He has held many professional jobs with tattoos and covered up as well. I asked him whether he would like it if when we got married I had a HUGE back piece or sleeves. His exact response: 'I don't mind women with visible ink on their wedding day, but their is such a thing as TOO much, but its all personal preference. Would I want my daughter to walk down the isle in a strapless dress with full ink all over? NO.'
My stepdaughter, 21: (has several tattoos, all over her back, back of her neck) Her exact quote when asked what she thought about visible tattoos on brides on wedding day 'I see nothing wrong with it. Its self expression, and if your tattoos are a part of you you should be able to show them whenever you want, where ever you want.' Lets see how she feels about this in a few years, but this is her opinion.
My Tattoo loving friend: My tattoo loving friend has full sleeves and a large back and chest piece. For her wedding she made tattoos the focus. She showed hers, her husband showed his, their invitations had a retro tattoo theme, very rockabilly. I saw pictures (didnt know them when they married) and it was so 'them'. I wouldn't have expected any less from them and it looked great. When asked what she thought of people in the 'tattoo community' saying stuff like this on a message board (i read her the whole thread) she said 'People that care about the art of tattoo don't care what people think of them and don't fight so fiercly to defend their love for ink'
Take it for what you will. 4 very different people, 4 VERY different opinions. Mine still stands.
OP do what you want, life is too short for the back and forth on here really.
I'm sure no matter what you will look fabulous on your wedding day!