Preparing and Choosing “The” Wedding Day Manicure

Now that you’ve gotten into the routine of doing all the preparation steps months in advance (click HERE for the routine), you’re likely super close to your actual wedding day. Likely you’ve already gotten the final fitting of your dress done, shoes have been broken in and all your accessories are lined up and ready to go. Because there will likely be a few close-ups of your hands and your wedding ring, it’s time to choose your wedding day manicure to complement the beautiful hands and strong nails that you’ve been grooming for months. In this section, we’ll give you guidance on picking the right color, the best manicure look and how to maintain your nails from your wedding day and well into your honeymoon.

Most Popular Wedding Manicure Ideas

Are you thinking that you need to stick to clear nail polish or the tried and true French manicure for your wedding day? We’ve included both of those classic and timeless trends as well as other options for you to consider!

Clear and Naked Manicure

If you never wear polish and you don’t want to start on your wedding day, choose a clear coat for shiny, perfect nails. It’ll provide both an elegant and clean canvass to show off your wedding ring!

Updated French Manicure for 2023

You can stick with the classic French manicure but consider a fresh take on this classic manicure. Instead of the traditional square white tip, try changing the color of the tip or the base color. You can also curve the tip or ask for a design tip instead.

Milky White Manicure

For a clean, classic look, go with either a thick opaque white or a milky white to complement your wedding dress and accessories. OPI Alpine Snow is the classic white color you’re looking for – just stay away from the corrector fluid shade of white! 

Nude / Neutral Manicure

If clear, French or a white manicure isn’t your thing and you just want a little hint of color, then a nude or neutral manicure is the way to go! Depending on your skin tone, choose OPI My Vampire is Buff, Bubble Bath, Step Right Up!, Samoan Sand or Put It in Neutral.

Neutral Manicure with Patterns

If you have a few favorite neutral colors, ask your nail technician to combine them together to create a fun nail art design.

Neutral Ombre 

Another idea with your favorite neutral colors is to create the ever popular ombre nail!

Blush Manicure

If you don’t want your nails to be too close in color to your skin, then pick a light blush color for a tiny pop of color. OPI Stop It I’m Blushing!, Let’s Be Friends!, Sweet Heart or Privacy Please might be just the thing for you!

Soft Taupe Manicure

This is a modern color that gives a bit of unexpected edge and coolness without too much drama. If you’re wearing warm gold accessories, this color will go perfectly. Think OPI Don’t Bossa Nova Me Around, Do You Take Lei Away?, or Tiramisu For Two.

Soft Grey

Move over taupe – brides often forget that soft, light grey is the new modern neutral! Try OPI Funny Bunny, Kyoto Pearl or I Cannoli Wear OPI.

Pretty in Pink Manicure

Without being too daring, a pretty, feminine pink nail color can add just the right pop to complement your wedding outfit. Try OPI Mod About You, Pink-Ing of You, Suzi Shops & Island Hops or I Think in Pink.

Your “Something Blue” Manicure

Out of ideas for your “something blue”? If you’re adventurous, make your “Something Blue” your nails! A great color for a spring or summer wedding, if it also goes with your overall color palette. Our favorites for spring and summer are OPI Gelato On My Mind, Teal the Cows Come Home and No Room for the Blues. For a winter or holiday-themed wedding, OPI Yoga-Ta Get This Blue! and Blue My Mind would be perfect.

Romantic Red Manicure

Depending on the season, wedding theme and decor colors, a classic red manicure will turn heads for the bold bride! Anything goes from bright red to burgundy, so give OPI My Chihuahua Bites!, She’s a Bad Muffuletta!, Big Apple Red or Chick Flick Cherry a go!

Fall for Orange Manicure

Having a Fall wedding full of warm autumn colors like burnt orange, rust, burgundy and gold? Not for the faint hearted, an orange manicure is a surprising and unconventional color that could totally take your wedding outfit from traditional to show stopping! OPI Hot & Spicy, Toucan Do It If You Try or A Good Man-Darin Is Hard to Find will be perfect for your Fall wedding!

Anything But Basic Black Manicure

For the bold and non-traditional bride, a black manicure is sure to make a statement! This color goes with all nail shapes and will give you the unexpected edginess you’re looking for. OPI Lady in Black or Black Onyx are just what you need.

Metallic Manicure

Having a wedding during the holiday season and want more than just your ring to sparkle? Try a metallic manicure in silver, gold or rose gold and add sparkle to just take it to the top! Be sure to choose a metallic polish color that matches your rings for maximum impact. OPI Happy Anniversary!, Up Front and Personal, and Glitzerland will all be stunning!

Blingy Manicure

Don’t just stop with plain polish – add sparkle, gems and jewels to be even more eye-catching! The more glitter, the better!

Design Manicure

If jewels aren’t your thing, then you can add excitement to your nails by getting fun design on all your nails. Or, if you just want to highlight your ring finger, then just get a statement nail done on that finger instead.

Last Few Tips for a Perfect Set of Fingertips

Now that you’ve settled on the perfect color to go with your perfect day, we’ve got just a few more tips to make sure you’re all set!

Pick a Few Shades From the Same Color Palette

A color might look great in the bottle or on a model, but to get it just right you’ll need to try them on and against your own skin tone. Go for 3 or 4 colors in and around the general color that you’re looking for and then paint one color on each nail. This will be the easiest way to pick THE perfect color for you!

Try Different Colors and Ideas

Don’t just cop out and go with the traditional manicure. Since you’ve got weekly manicure appointments set up, take the opportunity to try nail arts, designs and different colors you would have never considered before. You never know what you might fall in love with!

Don’t Do Any Last Minute Experimenting

While we’re all for you trying new ideas, don’t try anything new last minute. That’s what your weekly manicure appointments are for! Our suggestion is to settle on the final manicure look at least 2 weeks in advance and then get that same manicure done 2 days before your wedding day.

Buy Several Bottles of the Same Color

It might sound intuitive already, but so many brides haven’t considered this tip. Once you’ve found the perfect color, buy at least 2 bottles – one to take to the nail salon and another one as backup for your emergency kit. Once your wedding is over, you’ll have at least one bottle to take on your honeymoon for touch-ups.

Get a Long Lasting Gel Manicure

For fuss-free care leading up to your wedding and long after, consider getting a gel manicure. These types of manicures will prevent chipping or lifting on your big day. For extra shine, just apply a clear topcoat every few days to maintain the fresh look.

Protect Your Manicure

After months of preparation to get your hands smooth and soft and your nails strong, don’t ruin your manicure by being careless. Once your professional manicure is done, protect your nails by wearing gloves when doing household chores and stay away from any acetone products or harsh cleaning chemicals.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Once your wedding manicure is done, don’t forget to continue moisturizing up until your big day and on the actual day itself! There will surprisingly be tons of photos of your hands, your nails, your ring etc. so pack a mini hand lotion in your emergency kit as well.

Treat Your Toes (and Feet) Too!

With all this talk about your hands, don’t neglect your feet either! The healthy diet you started months in advance will benefit your feet and your toes too. If you’re wearing open toed shoes with your wedding dress, then make sure you include some TLC for your toes every month or at least every 6 weeks. If you’re wearing closed toed shoes then at a minimum, take care of your feet with a foot file and foot cream to keep your feet soft and supple.

Final Thoughts

Not every bride-to-be is concerned with their nails for the wedding day and there’s absolutely no problem with that. There’s inspiration here from the most simple to the more luxurious set of nails. Regardless of what you think about the nail color, remember to keeps your hands in nice condition leading up to the wedding day. Most likely there will be many shots of your hands from your photographers and it’s always best to be prepared.