There are many things to remember when planning a wedding, like booking the caterers and band or visiting the venue. But hopefully, all those jobs are done, and you can start planning the fun stuff, like deciding how to have your nails for the big day.
Your nails may seem like a small part of the day, however, the small details make a wedding day perfect and memorable. And as your nails will be one of the main events (particularly your fourth finger on your left hand) at your wedding, you will want your bridal nails to look top-notch for the close detailed photos of your new wedding band. Having well-pampered nails will make you feel beautiful and special, so why not treat yourself before your big day?
We’ve put together a list of trendy bridal nail ideas with the perfect nail colours so you can browse and get your wedding nail inspiration. Firstly, you might want to think about your aesthetic. Do you want your bridal nails to blend seamlessly with your outfit so they don’t detract attention from your dress or veil? Sometimes there can be a lot going on. Or do you want your nails to make a showstopping statement? Whether you want to go clean and classic with a nude tone and traditional French tips or go bright and bold to reflect your personality, the choice is up to you.
Table of contents
- When should a bride get her nails done?
- What is the best nail shape for brides?
- What colour nails should a bride have?
- The top 17 trending bridal nail ideas 2023
When should a bride get her nails done?
Every bride knows that logistics are involved when wedding planning and your beauty routine shouldn’t be an exception. It’s likely that on the morning of your wedding, you’ll be getting your hair and makeup done, and with champagne to drink and photos to take, there won’t be much time to paint your nails.
Avoid a manic morning before your wedding and plan to do your bridal nails between 1-3 days before. However, ensure you do them close enough to your wedding day that they’ll still look fresh for the main event. If you’re trying to save money, we recommend doing gel nails with a LED/UV lamp at home. Gel polish will also last longer and won’t smudge.
If you’re having a pamper evening with your bridesmaids pre-wedding, don’t forget to give your hands the TLC they need. Give yourself a home hand care manicure to help you relax and get ready for your wedding. Why not browse our range of nail care products, including scrubs, creams and cuticle care for the ultimate pre-wedding pamper session?
What is the best nail shape for brides?
The best thing about your wedding is that you can do what you want! There is no “best nail shape for brides”, have whatever shape suits you best. But, if you’re struggling for ideas, here are a few examples of popular nail shapes brides are wearing this season. With any of these shapes, you can file them if you have long enough nails to start with. Or you can purchase false nails in the desired shape or use builder gel to build the form you want and file it into your desired shape.
Almond – Almond-shaped nails are a beautiful classic style, offering an elegant curve.
Ballerina – The Ballerina nail shape emulates the silhouette of ballerina point shoes for long, elegant nails.
Stiletto – Stiletto nails are the longest and most pointed nail design you can have.
Natural rounded – Natural nails follow the natural curve of your nails and feature a rounded top.
Peak – Peak nails, also known as mountain peaks, get their name from their peaked shape.
Coffin – Coffin-shaped nails resemble a coffin. Embrace your inner goth girl with this extra nail shape.
Square – Square nails provide a smart and sophisticated look.
Squoval – Squoval nails are a square shape with a softer curved edge.
Curved – Or you can opt for a simple round curve for a classic, natural look.
What colour nails should a bride have?
Again, there are no “correct” bridal nail colours. You can have whatever nail colour you want because it’s your big day. However, if you’re looking for inspiration, we’ve created a list of 17 bridal nail ideas with gel polish examples to help you find the perfect nail design for your wedding day.
The top 17 trending bridal nail ideas 2023
1. The classic French
You can’t go wrong with a traditional French manicure. A clean pink or nude sheer base with elegant white tips looks classic and timeless. We recommend the DND Wedding Veil Gel Polish for your nail tips and the Artistic Colour Gloss Gorgeous In Gossamer gel polsih for the base. Don’t forget a glossy top coat for a luxuriously plumb finish, like the Artistic Colour Gloss Soak Off Glossing Gel Top Coat.
2. Frenchie variations
However, you by no means have to stick to the classic French. There are so many modern variations for you to experiment with to find your perfect nail design. These still look classy and clean but have a modern twist, for example, ombre French. This design blurs the line between the white and the nude polish for a more misty look.
Other variations include the invisible French, using barely-there sheer white next to a pink that is very similar in tone. For example, pairing DND She’s White? She’s Pink? with the DND Tie the Knot gel polish.
Another popular option is the mini-French which features an ultra-thin, white tip right on the end of the nail.
You can also experiment with the white nail tip shape. Instead of a curved line, why not experiment with geometrical triangles to create an ultra-modern look?
Experiment with placement. Turn the Frenchie on its head with a reverse French, where the white tip is next to the cuticle rather than the tip. Or, a corner French where you have white tips on opposite corners of your nails.
We’ve also noticed the popularity of negative space Frenchies, where you paint an ultra-thin line around the white of your nail.
3. White nail art
If you’re confident with nail art, get your nail art kit and try out some bridal designs. Some popular nail designs include flowers or foliage, which look great for an outdoor, whimsical wedding. Or, try linear swirls for a modern chic look.
A classic love heart is always a good choice, or you could go for a negative heart for a cheeky, cutesy look. Dots or other dinky details are perfect for a minimalist bride. Or, to make your nails extra special, incorporate your initials or a symbol that means a lot to you in your nail art.
4. Marbled
The marbled effect is a popular design for wedding manicures, as it looks stunningly beautiful. You can try blending your colours together or use Aprés Nail Marble Effect Blending Fluid with the Aprés Nail Marble Effect White Gel Nail Polish.
5. All white
Another popular nail design option is to have all-white nails. These look clean and modern (and we all know they make our tan look better.) Go for a beautiful glossy look with Artistic Colour Gloss Bride Gel Polish for your perfect wedding white shade. Or, use a mattifying topcoat, like the Gelish Top It Off Matte Gel Top Coat to mattify your gel polish for a clean, crisp look.
6. Milky white
If you’re looking for an alternative finish that is glossy but not too bright, you can opt for a sheer milky white. This finish is highly trendy and beautifully serene, thanks to the “clean girl aesthetic” trend. We recommend the Manucurist Green Flash Milky White Gel Polish to create a delicate effect.
7. Sparkle
It’s your big day, so why not add a touch of sparkle to your look? You can opt for a gel polish with glitter like the Gelish June Bride Gel Polish or an acrylic glitter powder. Glitterbels offers some dazzling options for your wedding day, including Glitterbels Marry Me Pre-Mixed Coloured Acrylic Powder and all the other wedding acrylic powders in their collection.
8. Sheer pink
We recommend a sheer pink if you’re looking for a delightfully understated nail colour. Like milky white, sheer pink emulates the “clean girl look”, offering a subtle tint with a glossy finish. We recommend the DND Romantic Lover Gel Polish.
9. Something Blue
Speaking of something blue, why not get someone to get you blue gel polish so your wedding manicure can be your something blue? How cute! Our blue gel polish collection offers so many blue hues, so take your pick!
10. Nude
You can always opt for an understated nude for a gorgeous subtle-looking nail colour. These beautiful shades will blend seamlessly with any colour palette, like the Cuccio Bare Nude Brush on Colour Builder. Using a BIAB can give you a stunning colour but also it can reinforce and extend your nails if you wanted an extra bit of length and didn’t want to use false nails.
11. Metallics
If you want to shine like the star you are on your big day, metallic gel polishes are very on-trend for either French tips, incorporated into nail art or the whole nail. We’re seeing that metallic silver, gold or champagne are popular. We recommend the OPI Snow Holding Back gel nail polish, OPI You Gotta Gold On Me! and Artistic Colour Gloss But First, Champagne! Soak Off Gel Nail Polish.
12. Match your colour scheme
Alternatively, you could use your nail designs to incorporate your wedding colour scheme. Here are some of the most popular colour scheme trends in 2023: lavender, taupe, dusty rose, terracotta, sage, coral, wine red, emerald green, navy, dusty blue, champagne and black.
13. 3D designs
Another way you can elevate your wedding manicure is by adding 3D art. Add some jewels or pearls to your nails for something extra special.
14. Gold foil
You can add gold foil to your nail art for a metallic look or use the Halso Create Foil Transfer Gel for an instant foil effect
15. Glazed doughnut/ lip gloss nails
The “glazed doughnut” or “lip gloss nail” trend is a hugely popular design on social media but also works well as a wedding nail design. All you need is a sheer gel polish and a glossy topcoat. Browse the Le Mini Macaron Le Glazed! Set for the perfect glazed effect.
16. Pearlescent
Similar to the glazed doughnut look, a pearlescent sheen also has that sheer glossy effect, but in white. It can beautifully complement wedding pearls. We recommend Artistic Colour Gloss Engaged Gel Polish.
17. Romantic red
You can’t go wrong with a romantic red like the Halo Red Gel Polish for a bold romantic statement.
Find the perfect bridal nail colours at Nail Polish Direct.
Firstly, we hope you have the most magical day, and we hope our list of nail art designs and nail colours has inspired you and helped you find the perfect colour and design for your wedding day. But if you’re still undecided, browse our gel polish collection to find the best shade for your big day.
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