It’s that time of the year again! Or wait, is it always that time of the year? Marriages can happen anytime, anywhere, just with a little bit of planning and a whole lot of love. So, technically, the season of love is all the year-round. But, depending on the culture you belong to, your fashion may change a wee bit. This is the biggest day of your life and we want to see you decked to the maximum. And so, we are here to tell you about something that often gets ignored during all the preparation that precedes your wedding; your nails. Don’t fret, bridal nail art is the thing you need in your life and we will tell you all about it.
Bridal nail art is all about dressing up your nails to look the best on your wedding day. Let’s take a look at the trend that is definitely taking the internet by storm, and with good reason.
Note: For all these bridal nail art looks to look as amazing as they actually are, ensure that you get your manicure done at least a week before hitting the aisle.
- 1. Matte and minimal
- 2. Mix ‘n’ Match
- 3. Sparkling tips
- 4. Mauve magic
- 5. Golden glory
- 6. The traditional way
- 7. Mirror nails
- 8. Geometric designs
- 9. Pearled affair
- 10. White nail art
- 11. Aqua bride
- 12. Henna nail art
- 13. Rose affair
1. Matte and minimal

Image Source: @Itakeyou Wedding
This one’s the simplest yet the most popular one. There is a reason for that. You can even pull this off yourself or with the help of your home crew, in case you do not want to go to the salon especially for your nails. Just swipe on a base coat, put your matte nail paint on, and wait for a few minutes. Once the coat is dry, put a second one. Seal it with a top coat, a matte one. Then stick on the dainty and delicate sticky studs that come for nails.
2. Mix ‘n’ Match

Image Source: @Ostty | Wedding Gowns
Why not throw in everything for a bedazzling effect? This particular trend gives you the best of all the worlds. Throw in some matte, some glitter, some lacquer and even some artsy embellishments. Just keep the colour and theme constant and as per your outfit and you can play with the nail accessories and textures.
3. Sparkling tips

Image Source: @NailDesignsJournal
Want your nails to sparkle like champagne? Well, the occasion surely calls for a toast. In this particular bridal nail art, the tips of your nails is where the art happens. The rest of the nails are clean, polished and plain. The tips are painted silver and topped off with matching jewels.
4. Mauve magic

Image Source: @Faiza’s Diary
Neutral colours never fail to mesmerise. You can move away from the usual browns and taupes and pick mauves instead. From the lightest one that exudes pastel hues to the darker version giving a subtle shade to your look, this looks simple and stylish, giving a ‘my nails but better’ look. If you want to add a spunk to the look, you can choose some other pastel and muted shades, in place of mauve.
5. Golden glory

Image Source: @Nail It! Magazine
Why not? If you are a traditional Indian bride, decked in all gold, your nail art can also add some glitter to your look. This one has a gold theme where you can deck one or two nails on each hand with a metallic gold shade, and deck up the rest of the fingernails with golden accessories and trinkets. You can even have a nude shade on the nails and then have a golden design painted over it.
6. The traditional way

Image Source: @SHOPZTERS
If you do not want any fuss, or simply do not have the time, go the traditional way. Pick any red or dark and bright shade that you love and paint your nails. Do not forget to go for double coats. Also, seal it with a top coat so that it does not chip and lasts longer. Finish off with your jewellery.
7. Mirror nails

Image Source: @Rictons
This is one nail trend that is getting everyone crazy about it lately, and for good reason. As the name suggests, this is a form of nail art wherein your nails are polished and painted to such perfection that they become mirror-like and reflect everything around. It looks super chic and stylish and can be done with plain and muted colours as well.
8. Geometric designs

Image Source: @Rolanda Miller
Well, geometry may not have been your strongest pursuits at school, but it surely is a nail art trend that looks super cool. If you are a bride who wants to add a chic and edgy element to her nails, pick up this quirky trend that is taking the beauty world by storm. Ditch those jewels on the nails and get going with patterns and shapes, filling it with the shades of your choice. You can even leave a shape or two vacant, with just the base and top coats on the manicured nails, and fill in a part of the design. This part-filled, part-empty geometric art will look great on your nails.
9. Pearled affair

Image Source: @Wedding Forward | Inspiration Ideas Planning
Not a fan of shining jewels and yet want to add a little spunk and tradition to your bridal nail art? Then pearls are your best bet. A pearl on each nail or small stick-on pearl designs on two nails gives a delicate look to your hands.
10. White nail art

Image Source: @Wedding Forward | Inspiration Ideas Planning
This is yet another simple and gorgeous design that you should pick if you are not the one who likes too much bling. You can add any theme to your whites, a bridal one, a floral one or even a pearly one. The main thing to consider here is that the base colour should be white, in sync with the theme that you have chosen for your bridal nail art.
11. Aqua bride

Image Source: @StylesView
Reds and whites, even pinks have been the go-to colours for brides, when it comes to their ensemble. But, the times are changing. Except for perhaps, blacks and browns, which are gorgeous shades but frowned upon for traditional reasons, there are a plethora of colours to choose from. The same goes for the nails. If you are an aqua bride who is going for the colours of the ocean, such as greens, teals and blues, this particular nail art is best for your bridal hands. This one is a careful mix of white, blue, green and teal so that your nails exude the perfect aqua vibe. If your outfit matches the tone, even better!
12. Henna nail art

Image Source: @The Bridal Box
Nope, this is not henna on your nails, for the simple reason that it will not work. Henna does not leave any tattoo behind on painted nails. That is the reason most artists paint their nails with protective coats before catering to their clients. So, how to do it? Simple. We pick up micro henna designs and copy them using nail paints on lighter coats. It also gives an illusion of lacey veils and looks quite dainty and beautiful, perfectly in sync with the bridal mood and attire.
13. Rose affair

Image Source: @Prairie Beauty Love
Rose is the flower of love. So why should it not be a part of your bridal bouquet? The best way to do it is to have it on your nails. This one is simple to ask for, but a little difficult to create. Nevertheless, if you have a good artist, this is a perfect bridal nail art to flaunt. This one has roses drawn on the nails in a paint that is in stark contrast with the base coat shade. It can also be in the form of small rose stick-ons if you do not want a painted design on each nail.
Written by Kadambari Srivastava on Feb 15, 2021
A finance professional by degree who jumped into the world of content creation 7 years ago, Kadambari is a pro at spinning words, whether it's beauty, business, entertainment, or anything else. Better separate your 'its' from 'it's' when she is around. When she isn't writing, she can be seen with a cup of tea in one hand and a book in the other, keeping up with her book challenge of the year.