What makes weddings beautiful? For many people, it is the uniqueness of the décor, the couple’s stunning chemistry, the love in the air, and the color that guests add with their diverse outfits. However, the main beauty highlight at any wedding is the bride and her bridal party. From her (their) makeup, her gown, her shoes, her hair, her energy, her flowers, to her manicure & pedicure. That’s what guests will come to see, admire, and even criticize at your wedding.

Your manicure, although it’s a relatively smaller detail, are particularly important because they are on display all day long. When not showing off your new wedding bands or taking wedding photos, you will be holding flowers or sharing your wedding cake. You are inviting the guests to stare at your hands all this time.

With this in mind, before your big day, you need to take your time and brainstorm as many unique wedding manicure ideas as you can. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks here because you have the wedding day outfit at the front and center of your wedding. You won’t lose much if your experiment goes wrong but you will gain everything if the gamble pays off.

Whatever nail design you decide on, make sure you work with the best nail technicians in your area. If you need help choosing the best nail technicians for your wedding, check out these best nail salons for inspiration. Once you pick your favorite nail salon, remember to bring reference pictures to the salon just to make it easier for the technician to bring your vision to life. And if you are a DIY person, be sure to invest in a top-notch manicure kit and a few fine-tip art brushes for the best at-home wedding manicure.

To get you started, here are 10 Instagram-worthy manicure ideas that will stun guests at your wedding:

1.        Multi-colored nails

White, nude, and pink are the unofficial colors for wedding manicures around the world. But who said that you can’t be creative and different? Your wedding day is your one chance in life to show the world how different you are- to show them the real you. So, let your personality shine through multi-colored nails. Have fun with all the colors you love and add metallic accents to spice everything up.

2.        White Ombre

A white ombre manicure will get you over the moon on your big day. Actually, once you go “white ombre”, you never go back. You will most likely stick with this manicure long after your wedding day. Ask your technician to apply a high-pigment white gel to the tip of each nail and then blend it down for a stunning faded look.

3.        3D acrylic nail polish swirls

Switch up the dimension of your nails using acrylic nail polish swirls. This paint allows you to draw unique patterns on the nails and create a stunning 3D effect in the end. Just as an example, you can create white swirls using a glossy white polish and then fade down the white using a light pink shade in the background. With a good nail technician, you can count on the 3D illusion embossed on your nails to pop out with utmost grace.

4.        Minimalistic designs

This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want their nail art overpowering the rest of their wedding day look. One way to achieve a minimalistic design is to keep all colors neutral. Think of a nude base (e.g. a soft pink) and a white or deep pink polish for your linework. You can also create a funky minimalistic design using gold or silver lines.

5.        A dash of glitter

A dash of glitter will make your fingers pop without necessarily overwhelming the rest of your wedding look. It’s actually a secret that experts use to turn a basic manicure into a glorious, over-the-top look. To keep things moderately flashy, go for pale pink or clear nail polish for the background, and then spice it up with a bright golden layer of glitter. The glitter should be a little exaggerated at the bottom and then fade out as it approaches the tips of your nails.

6.        Lace designs

Lace designs have existed since the 90s but are still evergreen. They are beautiful, elegant, and versatile. You can inject your personality and creativity into nail art and still get the perfect lace design. What’s more, the designs are so easy to put together even if you don’t have sophisticated tools. They are so easy and versatile that you will be applying them on regular days after the wedding. They are especially perfect for DIYers. You will need a gleaming neutral base for the coating (it could be white) and a lace design stamp to adorn it.

7.        Flower nail art

Flowers are the common denominator in all weddings. A flower nail art will, therefore, blend in perfectly with not only your overall look but also the rest of the décor. This nail art is especially perfect for a rustic wedding. Just be sure to work with an experienced technician for the best flower designs.

If you want to DIY, we suggest trying polka dots instead of actual flowers. Polka dots are easier to make using simple tools, plus the level of skill and perfection needed to pull this off is not as high as it is for actual flowers.

8.        Gorgeous light pink

Light pink is a traditional concept for a wedding manicure. You can make it a little unconventional by adding a little twist, e.g. by adding wedding pearls to the design. You can start with a smooth and creamy base and then create a gorgeous artwork by lining up pretty crystals up the edge of two nails, one on each hand, to make the design a little edgy.

9.        French manicure

French manicure designs are both classic and classy. Most brides use clear or nude polish for the base and then finish off the design with white polish on the nail tips. However, these designs are versatile enough for you to have fun with them and experiment with as many designs as you’d like. French manicure goes well with neutral tones, a clean finish, crisp nail art, and even minimalist designs. You can bet on it to take your wedding look to the next level.

10.  Beaded stamped wedding nail art

Line up small silver pearls on a couple of nails for a spectacular but simple wedding manicure. Use a neutral base color in order to sharply contrast the beads of glamour and create a simple, intricate manicure balance.

Final word

Remember: your hands will be getting a lot of attention on your wedding day. Don’t wait until the wedding eve to start planning your manicure. Start early and experiment with different looks in order to settle for the most perfect of them all. Also, starting early allows you enough time to shop for the best nail technician. Now go have your perfect wedding!