Best Nail Colors for Your Wedding Day

There are many important details to think about when it comes to your wedding day look, and your nail color is one of them! It might seem trivial but it is a must. You want to be able to show off your engagement ring and wedding band in pictures. While trendy colors and designs are fun, you want something classic that complements your overall bridal look and personal style when looking back at pictures. There are so many great nail colors to choose from no matter if you are looking for something neutral or bold. Read on to find out the best nail colors for your wedding day!

Prep

Ideally, your appointment is made well in advance and you’ve had a few trial appointments beforehand. Try to make your appointment as close to your wedding day as possible, but at least 1-2 days before your wedding. The closer, the better. Until your appointment, leave your nails alone for as long as possible — no picking, biting, filing, cutting, etc. You want clean hands when you show up for your appointment.

If your nails need extra TLC, do some nail treatments to strengthen and repair them beforehand. Make sure to keep your hands well moisturized and maintain good cuticle care.

Best Nail Colors for Your Wedding Day

Here are some of our favorite colors for perfectly polished nails on your wedding day:

Pink

Pink is the most popular wedding nail color among brides. There are so many shades of pink to choose from! A soft pink is nice because it is subtle and does not distract from the wedding gown. A hot pink is fun, especially if neutral isn’t your thing. And Barbiecore isn’t going away anytime soon. You can also let your skin tone be your guide! Warm skin tones may want more of a peachy pink, while cool skin tones might want more of a blush or baby pink.

Ballet Slippers by Essie is the most popular shade of pale pink for many reasons. Meghan Markle even wore this shade on her nails when she married Prince Harry in 2018. This universal sahde looks good with every skin tone and has a classic bridal touch to it. It’s a very neutral, very light pale pink — it can sometimes almost look white.

Blue

Blue really isn’t what most people would consider a bridal wedding nail color, but it works. It is a great way to incorporate your “something blue” into your wedding day. It adds a pop of color against your wedding dress. If you want a blue that is more subtle opt for a pastel, but if you want a more drama-filled blue nail color, opt for navy or cobalt.

Kristen by Zoya has subtle hues of blue-grey tones and because it is a cream, it appears more opaque and can be considered neutral.

White

White is also a very popular wedding nail color — for obvious reasons. You cannot go wrong with white nails, especially if your dress is white. It’s classic and timeless and perfect for a bride. The color also comes in a wide range of opacities, and it is suitable for all skin tones. Brides on the fair side might want a stark white while brides with darker skin tones might prefer ivory or off-white.

This shade of white is a milky white, Head in the Clouds by Lights Lacquer, is a great shade if you don’t want your nail color to take away from the rest of your look. Since it is more on the sheer side, you may need multiple coats to get the look you are going for.

Purple

Lavender and lilac are lovely shades, especially if you are a bride getting married in spring or summer.

Lilac Wine by Lights Lacquer has a creamy yet almost translucent appearance. You can easily achieve your desired opacity and color intensity with the number of coats applied.

Nude

If you would like to keep your nails pared back for your wedding day, go for a simple nude. If you want a little bit of contrast, go for a nude that is either lighter or darker than your skin tone. But if you want something that goes with everything, go for a nude that is close to your skin tone. If you want to go a little extra, pick a nude with a shimmer to it!

A nude that is almost like apricot creme, I’m Too Sexy by Deborah Lippmann looks beautiful on darker skin shades but also looks great in all other skin tones.

Metallics

Silver and gold are the most common metallics, but rose gold is a nice warm, romantic hue that works well with both warm and cool tones. If nails in full metallics are a bit too much for you, use them as French tips or in nail art.

Tuxedo by Chanel is a shimmery gold metallic that is subtle but not too glittery!

Grey

Looking for a neutral that isn’t nude? Grey is often a neutral that is overlooked. A soft grey is more simple while a darker grey offers a bolder look.

A high-impact creamy grey-beige, Beaumont by Londontown offers cool undertones but looks great with all skin tones. It appears almost like a chai shade on warmer skin.

Coral

Looking to make your nails pop on your wedding day? Choose coral for a bold look. And if you are going somewhere tropical for your honeymoon, it will fit right in. If you’re looking for a shade that is not as bright, go for a shade in peach that won’t take away attention from your overall look.

Peggy Sunburn by Gucci is a fun, playful color that will go great if you are getting married outside or during the day. It will be a nice compliment to your dress. This shade of coral really goes well with darker skin tones but looks nice with all shades.

Red

Reds in shades from scarlet to burgundy are for brides who want a striking or classic look. There are so many shades out there so pick the right one for the look you want to accomplish.

999 Rouge by Christian Dior is an iconic red. It is a true red and will pop against your wedding dress.

Aftercare

Following your appointment, it is important to make your manicure last. Your nails should stay in perfect condition throughout the wedding and honeymoon. To do this, here are a few things you should and shouldn’t do!

• Avoid putting your hands in hot water, especially 24 hours after your appointment. This includes hot baths — try not to sit in one longer than 10 minutes.
• Stay away from harsh chemicals, including bleach and hand sanitizer. Wear rubber gloves if you have to.
• Be careful cooking, especially recipes with curry or turmeric because they can stain the nails.
• Apply cuticle oil daily! This will help strengthen the nails and keep the skin around the nail bed intact.

 

Ultimately, it is your choice when it comes to selecting your nail color for your wedding. Feel free to be as creative or conservative as you want!