With a wedding dress to select, bridal hairstyles and makeup looks to perfect, and accessories to collect, the last thing on a bride's to-do list is her wedding-day manicure. While nails may not be the first thing you think of when imagining your getting-ready routine, they are certainly important. After all, your wedding guests will be ogling at your engagement and wedding rings, so you want to be sure your nails are nicely manicured.
Though the color of nail polish is entirely up to the bride, popular shades include varieties of cream and blush. Classic brides will likely favor ivory and pale pink hues, while trendy brides may gravitate toward reds, blacks, and sparkles or metallics. Of course, brides-to-be can't go wrong with a French manicure, which is a classic style that looks elegant on every woman. Take care to get your manicure as close to your wedding as possible to avoid blemishes, and consider using a gel nail polish, so your mani stays chip-free throughout the wedding festivities and your honeymoon!
Take a look at the 13 bridal manicures below to inspire your own wedding-day nails. Have other ideas? Let us know what your favorite shade is in the comments section!
French Manicure
French manicures are stylish and classic. If you're having trouble choosing a solid shade or you've always to show off beautiful long nails (or fake the look), this manicure style is perfect for you. Photo by Chrisman Studios; From Real Wedding: A Facebook Executive's Rustic-Elegant Northern California Wedding
Barely There
For a barely there look, try a clear nail polish with a hint of light pink or some sparkle. The color isn't overbearing, yet it complements a gown with sparkling crystal details. Photo by Kris Kan; From Real Wedding: Real Housewives of Miami Star Joanna Krupa's Poolside Wedding
Cream
Allow your wedding gown to take center stage when you choose a wedding-day manicure in a soft shade of cream. Photo by Roey Yohai Studios; From Real Wedding: Formal Wedding Inspired by Central Park & Springtime in New York
Off-White with a Pink Tone
A slightly off-white manicure looks beautiful when wearing an ivory wedding dress. Photo by John Solano Photography; From Real Wedding: Beverly Hills Summer Wedding with Flower Details
White
The color white will always be popular for weddings – bridal gowns, accessories, and manicures in true bridal white will be forever in style. Photo by Bob & Dawn Davis Photography; From Real Wedding: Million Dollar Listing Miami Star Chad Carroll's Cleveland Wedding
Light Pink
Brides trying to decide between a blush, white, or clear nail polish for their wedding-day manicure will love this light shade of pink that takes a cue from all three! Photo by Yvette Roman Photography; From Real Wedding: A Classic Wedding with Rustic Touches at a Villa in Santa Barbara
The Party Nail
Add some personality to your wedding-day manicure by including a fun bow-shaped decal to an accent nail. Since your ring finger – typically the go-to accent nail – will have your wedding ring on it, try adding a decoration to your thumb nail! Photo by B&G Photography; From Real Wedding: Classic, Elegant Wedding at a Private Club in Los Angeles
Bubblegum Pink
For brides who love pink, a bubblegum-hued gel manicure is ideal. The shade looks lovely when paired with an ivory bridal gown featuring a jeweled bodice. Photo by Chung Li Photography; From Real Wedding: Romantic City Hall Wedding with Korean Influences in San Francisco
Red
At this chic wedding inspired by Paris and Coco Chanel, the bride and her bridesmaids donned bright red manicures, which became accessories all their own. Photo by Hazelnut Photography; From Real Wedding: European-Influenced Autumn Wedding in Los Angeles, California
Pink
A pretty-in-pink wedding manicure is ideal for a wide array of brides. Even if you don't absolutely love pink, the hue beautifully complements weddings with blush color palettes. Photo by B&G Photography; From Real Wedding: A Classic, Elegant Wedding at a Private Club in Los Angeles
Metallic
Brides love to wear sparkling metallic shoes, so why not add some shimmer to your manicure? This bride's metallic mani even complemented her eye shadow! Photo by Travis Harris Photography
Green
To complement her rustic-elegant wedding featuring plenty of greenery as décor, this bride's wedding-day manicure showcased a forest green hue. Photo by Elizabeth Messina; From Real Wedding: An Earthy, Elegant & Eclectic Wedding with Rustic Elements
Black or Dark
This bride, who wore an edgy black-and-white wedding dress, also chose to paint her nails in a dark shade of ebony for a nontraditional manicure style. Photo by Joseph Lin Photography; From Real Wedding: Bride Wears Black-and-White Wedding Dress to New York City Nuptials
Read more bridal beauty tips, discover five easy hairstyles for bridesmaids, and learn the beauty mistakes brides should avoid.
