A bride's hands may seem like a detail of this big day, but they are actually the central element of your union. They will hold your wedding ring, carry your bouquet, hold the hands of your loved ones and especially your husband. All this under the flashes of your wedding photographer... So you need to have a perfect manicure for this big day. We give you all our advice for perfect hands as well as 12 wedding nail ideas for an elegant and refined manicure.
I- Our advice for preparing your hands for your wedding:
Moisturize and exfoliate your hands
A little tip to have perfect hands on the big day, remember to moisturize your hands frequently the week before your wedding, go up to your forearms so as not to leave any demarcation. To avoid dead skin you can also do a scrub, you will find some in stores like this great hand scrub from L'Occitane en Provence or this one from Caudalie , but you can also make your own using oil, honey and brown sugar. Your hands are now smooth, soft and perfectly manicured, it's time to put the wedding ring on them. ❤️
Avoid biting your nails
If you want to have a beautiful wedding manicure, you should avoid biting your nails so that your nail technician has a small length to work on.
For our most stressed brides, we have a few tips to share with you to stop biting them. Let off steam on something other than your nails, use a stress ball for example, your attention will be focused on something else and you will protect your nails. If the diversion does not work, there are also bitter nail polishes, like this one from ECRINAL available in pharmacies. You should no longer want to bite them after that…
Avoid direct contact with water
Water softens your nails and makes them more fragile. However, in everyday life, we often have to wet our hands. If, for example, you are doing the dishes by hand, you can wear gloves to avoid this problem. If you have a swimming pool or are planning to swim before your wedding, avoid getting your nails wet by putting them under water.
Doing bridal manicure tests
If you want and can, do bridal manicure tests a few months before your wedding. This way, you can choose the shape that best suits your nails, define the length that elongates your hands, and test different manicure styles to choose your favorite!
Schedule your manicure appointment a few days before your wedding
When to do your wedding manicure? The ideal for a wedding manicure is to do it 1 or 2 days before the big day, this way you avoid any risk of breakage or cracking and you don't give the regrowth time to settle in.
Pay attention to the shape of your nails
If you choose a nail shape with sharp angles like the square or stiletto shape, be careful not to catch on your dress or your hairstyle, it would be a shame to damage them...
II- First step, choose the shape of your nails
First of all, you need to choose the shape of your nails. There are 6 different nail shapes:
Almond nails
Almond-shaped bridal nails are an elegant manicure option that features a thin, tapered tip, similar to the shape of an almond. This nail shape is often considered feminine and sophisticated. It is loved for its ability to visually elongate fingers and make hands appear slimmer. Almond nails can be worn short or long.
Oval nails
Oval wedding nails are a manicure option characterized by a softly rounded shape, reminiscent of an egg. This nail shape is classic, elegant, and versatile. The edges of oval nails are subtly rounded, making them softer than square nails, but less tapered than almond nails. Oval nails are loved for their natural appearance, like the almond shape, they give the impression of longer, thinner fingers. This nail shape is a popular choice for those looking for a classic, timeless aesthetic. They can be worn both long and short.
Pointed/Stiletto Nails
Pointed bridal nails, often referred to as "stilettos," are a bold and distinctive nail shape that resembles a sharp, tapered point, reminiscent of the stiletto heel style. This manicure is often considered bold, dramatic, and edgy. This nail shape requires some length to achieve the desired effect and can be adorned with creative designs for an even more striking look. Pointed stiletto nails are perfect for those looking for an ultra-modern manicure and want to draw attention to their hands.
Square nails
Square bridal nails are the most classic and timeless shape, characterized by straight edges and an overall square shape. This nail shape is distinguished by its sharp, clean and angular appearance, with straight corners at 90 degrees. Giving an elegant, simple and clean aesthetic to your hands.
Ballerina nails
Ballerina bridal nails are a trendy and elegant nail shape. This nail shape features a rectangular base with corners that taper upward to create a flat, slightly squared tip. Ballerina nails are loved for their clean, sophisticated look. This manicure strikes a balance between modern chic and classic understatement, making it a popular choice among nail art and manicure enthusiasts. Ballerina nails are often worn long, but they can also be shortened for a more understated look.
III- Simple wedding nails:
Timeless white bridal nails
This first wedding nail design is the classic and timeless white wedding nails. The go-to manicure for every bride, you can't go wrong. White embodies purity, elegance, and simplicity. They are the perfect choice for a bride who wants a touch of timeless sophistication on her wedding day. Bonus: they will go perfectly with your wedding dress... ;)
A softer alternative, Milky White wedding nails
Do you like white nails but want something more subtle and less opaque? Milky white bridal nails will be the perfect alternative for you. This white wedding manicure gives the impression that the nails have been coated in a layer of milk. In reality, the white polish is applied in a thin layer to leave transparency and a lot of top coat is added to increase the shine. The result: sublime bridal nails with a clean, elegant and delicate look.
Another great classic for bridal nails, the French manicure.
The French manicure is a timeless choice for brides, it embodies elegance and understated sophistication. It gives the impression of neat and clean nails, highlighting the natural beauty of the bride's hands. The French manicure whether you choose it classic white, colored (for something blue) or in a subtle mix with a milky, will sublimate your hands to perfection.
Nude, natural bridal nails
Nude/natural nails are perfect wedding nail designs for any bride who doesn’t want to wear polish. This elegant and understated wedding manicure highlights the simplicity and natural beauty of the bride’s nails. The nude tones range from pale pink to beige, and they are specially designed to match each person’s skin tone. Nude nails give the impression of healthy, well-groomed nails, while remaining understated and timeless. This manicure allows the bride to show off her wedding dress and accessories without distracting attention.
Baby Boomer Bridal Nails
Another classic bridal nail look is the baby boomer. This nail trend combines soft shades of pink and white to create a delicate ombre effect on the bride's nails. The nails are typically painted a pale pink at the base and then gradually ombre to white at the tip, creating a smooth and sophisticated transition effect. This wedding manicure pairs perfectly with any wedding dress style, from the most minimalist to the most contemporary!
IV- Flowery wedding nails
Bridal nails with floral nail art
What could be more beautiful than flowers for a bohemian or romantic wedding manicure? Like an extension of your bridal bouquet on your nails… Imagine rose petals, daisies, orchids and peonies painted in soft shades like pale pink, pure white, soft green for subtly colored nails. If you don't really like colors, you can also opt for completely white flowers. And for our most traditional brides, still looking for their “something blue”, why not opt for nail art with pretty little blue flowers? You can flower all your nails or just one or two… Let your imagination run wild!
Bridal nails with real dried flowers embedded
To take it a step further, there is nail art made with dried flower wedding nail decorations embedded for a stunning bohemian wedding manicure… Imagine beautifully manicured nails, where delicate dried flower petals are carefully arranged and sealed to create a miniature garden effect. You can choose pastel shades or bolder shades depending on your taste, theme or bridal outfit and accessories.
V- Pearly effect bridal nails or “glazed donuts”
This latest trend in wedding nail designs has several names, pearlescent nails like pearls, “glazed donuts” or even Hailey Bieber nails. All three describe beautiful nails with pearly reflections like a pearl or the shine of a sweet donut glaze… It is indeed the model Hailey Bieber who popularized this nail art and who has made it her signature since the last Met Gala. This manicure in soft and light colors with beautiful reflections will be ideal for your wedding nails. On a semi-transparent white or light pink base, a pearly powder is sprinkled. Nails that will go wonderfully with our 2023 collection made of noble materials such as natural cultured pearls. In particular our bracelets like Daphné , Pensée , Cosmos or Gardénia .
VI- Lace wedding nails
Lace bridal nails are an elegant and romantic trend that evokes delicacy and refinement. The manicure is done with lace patterned wedding nail decorations, creating an effect of transparency and elegance. This captivating wedding manicure can be achieved using sophisticated nail art techniques to replicate the beauty of lace on your nails. The designs can vary in complexity, from subtle and delicate to bold and detailed, depending on your preference. Lace bridal nails will go perfectly with a romantic or vintage wedding outfit.
VII- Wedding nails with glitter and rhinestones
Bridal nails adorned with glitter and rhinestones are the epitome of glamour and sparkle for the most special day of your life. Nails covered in a shower of shimmering glitter and sparkling rhinestones. This wedding manicure adds a touch of magic and enchantment to your bridal look. Glitter can be applied subtly for a delicate sparkle or more boldly for stunning nails. Glitter can be worn in many ways, it can cover the entire nail, but also be arranged in a French or baby boomer style for a more discreet look… Rhinestones, on the other hand, are wedding nail decorations that can be worn as small nail jewels, they will look very elegant arranged sparingly on the base of the nail.
VIII- Blue wedding nails
You probably already know the wedding tradition “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. If you don’t know what it is, we wrote an article about it that you can read right here . This ancestral custom is still very widespread today, and you may be looking for that famous something blue yourself. What if it was on your nails? You can opt for a magnificent light blue or “baby blue” wedding manicure arranged all over your nail or in a French manicure. You can also choose the nail art option to associate the blue with touches of white or even reproduce the “glazed donuts” on a blue base!
IX- The nails of celestial brides
Last but not least, celestial nails. Are you preparing for a starry wedding in a mystical atmosphere in the middle of the Milky Way? Then this wedding manicure should please you… Your nails will be covered in a light color like white, pink or beige sprinkled with wedding nail decoration in fine silver or gold stars. A refined manicure that will take you to seventh heaven.
Obviously, you don't have to have a manicure on your hands, you can just file your nails and leave them natural. ;)
To finish dressing your hands, and more particularly your wrists, you can wear a pretty bracelet. We offer them for all tastes and styles, in gold, silver, pearls, flowers...
Bridal manicure is one of the last steps in planning a wedding. If you are wondering where to start with your preparations, we have written a complete article on wedding planning as well as a month-by-month planner to download for free.
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