Wedding Blog - it’s a bride’s life - real brides blogging ’til “I do!”

By now, you’ve probably come to learn that on my wedding day I want my nails to look classic and elegant.  I feel that this look is captured perfectly in a traditional French manicure or a subtle natural polish.

Even though I want a subtle look for my nails, I absolutely LOVE these glitter manicures.  They may not be my style as a bride, but I just couldn’t help but share them.  They are all so fun and flirty!  I may not choose this style for my wedding day, but they would make the perfect accessory for my bachelorette party!!!

Now that you’ve seen all three styles for my wedding nails, which is your favorite:  a classic French manicure, a feminine polish, or fun glittery nails?

photo credits clockwise from top left:  Nails1, Nails2,  Nails3, Nails4, Nails5

Continuing my search from a previous post for the perfect bridal nails, I’ve decided to explore a more subtle option.  Pale shades of blush and neutral colors are feminine and elegant, and they make the perfect accent to your bridal attire.  These polishes compliment all dresses and accessories, and I love the soft, classy touch they add to a traditional manicure.

Photo Credits:  Viva Polish

I have made many crucial decisions regarding my wedding day “look”…my dress, my shoes, my hair, my jewelry…all thought out and picked to perfectly reflect my style as a bride.  However, one area I haven’t given much thought…my nails.  I know that you’re probably thinking, “That’s such a small detail, you have plenty of time,” but being Miss Detailed Bride, no detail is too small!

One thing is for certain, I want my nails to be subtly elegant, but still show off my fun feminine side.  Therefore, I’ve decided to start my search with a classic…the French manicure.

Here are a few of my favorites, including the traditional style, as well as some modern twists to jazz up your nails for the big day!

Photo Credits clockwise from top left: Nails1, Nails2, Nails3, Nails4, Nails5

I’m sure many of you remember David’s post about his Do’s and Don’ts of wedding day nails.  And I also know that many gals out there still insist on having some kind of nail design for their big day.  So for those that may be willing to try a more subtle and soft approach to nail designs, I give you some inspiration…

the ring finger only bling…

sparkle on just the tips…

soft sparkle all over…

barely there swirls…

and lightly flowered tips…

All designs and photos from Pshiit nail art

Now that my wedding day is quickly approaching, I’ve learned the extremely valuable lesson of scheduling trial runs. So far, I have done a practice session on my nails and hair with a make-up appointment scheduled for this week. I never thought these trials would be so important (or relax me so much!) and here’s why:

Hair Appointment:

I’ve known for a long time how I wanted to do my hair for the wedding….something both relaxed and timeless. I took this photo to my hair dresser this past week to see what she thought.

(Side note: If you want to see some BEAUTIFUL wedding pictures, take a look at the rest of these wedding pictures!)

While my hair dresser said it could definitely be done, she needed to play around with my hair (and not on the day of the wedding!) to determine the best way it could be styled. Often times, many people select hairstyles that just aren’t going to work with their own hair, so its best if you have a bit of a trial run ahead of time.

Nails:

I went for a semi-trial run of my nails this past week as well. I say “semi-trial” because I absolutely trust and have faith that the woman I go to can do a simple french manicure two days before the wedding. I went mostly because I am a HUGE fan of OPI Gelcolor, which stays on me for up to 3 weeks and REALLY strengthens my nails. I just wanted to have a coat on for the weeks leading up to the wedding so that I would (hopefully) avoid broken nails.

That being said, if you are going for a more elaborate design (like that above), you should probably test it out first to make sure that it looks the way you’d envisioned it. Also, different shades of cream may not really seem like they could differ that much, but they really do. Pamper yourself and make sure that you will be happy with the end product on the day of your wedding!

Photo Credits: Hair / Nails