There are regular manicures, and then there are bridal manicures. It’s not just a case of picking a shade and hoping it works: just like your hair, makeup, and skincare, your wedding manicure requires research, prep, and that all-important trial. So, if you’re a bride-to-be and looking for bridal manicure inspiration, look no further than Vogue’s guide to nailing your wedding nails.
Georgia Rae is the manicurist behind Sofia Richie’s bridal manicure for her 2023 wedding, which subsequently became one of the most sought-after nail looks of last summer—the shade Sweet Candy Breath instantly sold out.
Rae recommends having a trial run ahead of your wedding, so that you can play around with colors and try layering different shade combinations, to determine the right hue for you. “Consider your skin tone,” she says, and “keep in mind whether you’ll have a self-tan on the day and the shade of your dress.” Rae tends to discuss dresses with her clients and take it from there. “Sometimes they’ve got [the dress] there and we can hold it against the nail colors as we try them and see what complements it the best. I often find it’s not something that matches the dress necessarily, but a color that complements it.”
If you’re completely stuck on where to start, Rae recommends starting with a creamy white base color. “I really like layering it underneath a pink because it gives it a wash of white,” she says. “It gives it a bridal feel without having to go for a plain block white.”
How many days before your wedding should you have your bridal manicure?
“I book most of my clients in one to three days before their wedding, I wouldn’t really want to go any longer than that because you do want it to look as fresh as possible,” says Rae. If that won’t work with your schedule, Rae suggests making sure that the polish is painted as close to the cuticle as possible. Choose a color that won’t clearly show regrowth—like the sheer shades—and oil them every day to keep nails looking fresher for longer. On the day: “I’d also give them a nice hand scrub so that your nails and hands look really fresh on the day.”
How to choose the right shade for your skin tone
“If you’re going to have a tan for your wedding, make sure that you also try it around the same time as your manicure run-through,” suggests Rae. “If you don’t, just be mindful and take into consideration that a shade will look brighter once you’ve tanned.” For darker skin, Rae recommends peachy tones. “With all skin tones, I think layering a sheer white underneath works well, as it gives the manicure a lift.” For paler skin, Rae still recommends starting with a very thin layer of sheer white, “then layer a light pink.” Her top tip? “Don’t overthink it. You want your natural nails but better—think glowy, fresh, and glossy.”
