There are a lot of decisions to make leading up to your wedding. Some trivial, like napkins, and others more major, like venue. Since your manicure will be heavily featured in your photos and right where everyone’s eyes go when your partner places the ring on your finger, you’ll want to make sure your nails are squared away. In preparation for my upcoming nuptials, I polled a bunch of brides about what nail color they went with for their big day to get some inspiration loading. Below are my findings, including some classic shades and trendy choices.
Pink
Shades of pink were by far the most commonly reported bridal nail polish shade. When it came to pink, the brides were very particular about the exact shades they wore, which was super helpful. One bride shared a useful tip she got from an expert: “You want a pinker color because you don’t want the whiteness to compete with your dress.”
The pink polishes these ladies loved for their wedding manicure included OPI Love Is in the Bare, Barely Blush SNS Powder ($12), Apres Light & Shadow…And Chill ($14) and OPI Bubble Bath ($12), two coats of which the bride said gave a very neutral, natural-looking French manicure vibe. Some got clever with their polishes, mixing and matching different shades for a custom look. One layered OPI Baby Take a Vow ($12) with Love Is in the Bare. It’s worth noting that one of the brides who went with milky white for her wedding day looks back and wishes they did a more neutral pink—specifically pointing to OPI Put It in Neutral ($12).
White
Unsurprisingly, many brides went with white to match their dress. I had brides say they opted for a mid sheer white, off-white with a touch of sparkle and milky white. One recalled using OPI Kyoto Pearl ($12), which has a shimmering pearlescent finish.
French
Can’t choose between pink and white? Why not do both? A handful of brides reported doing a take on a French manicure for their big day. Two opted for a French ombré, which is super on trend right now as the soft serve nail look circulates. Another went for a pinkish-white base color with silver sparkle and a thin French tip up top.
