The 17 Best Bridesmaid Nail Ideas, According to a Pro

If you’re part of the bridal party, there’s one area that might seem like a minute detail in your beauty prep: the bridesmaid nails. But along with your hair and makeup, you’ll want to make sure that your manicure is looking just right for your loved one’s big day.

Luckily, it’s a pretty easy task. The one real “rule” one should abide by is to just follow the bride’s lead. “If the bride is quirky and wants lots of color, then there isn’t anything to avoid,” says celebrity and Chanel nail artist Betina R. Goldstein. “If you don’t know, I would keep it to a sheer nude or French tip just in case.”

Goldstein adds that her biggest nail tip, regardless of what shade or nail art speaks to you, involves giving your hands the ultimate TLC. She recommends scrubbing with a gentle exfoliator two to three times a week leading up to the wedding, followed by a hydrating cream (her personal favorite is the Chanel La Crème Main, while we love something like Soft Services’s Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment or SIDIA’s Soaked: The Hand Serum) or an oil like the RejuveNaturals Organic Vitamin E Oil. She says you can also wear gloves overnight to help lock in the moisture.

So with all that in mind, below are 17 bridesmaid nail ideas to inspire your wedding mani. Be sure to bring this to your manicurist for when the big day rolls around.

Skin Tone Shades

A fool-proof shade that will go with any dress color palette is a neutral color. Goldstein says that matching your nails to your skin tone is a safe bet if you’re not sure what color to go for. If you want to elevate your mani with some sort of design, she adds that having a neutral base won’t be distracting in photos and take attention away from the bride.

Milk Chocolate

For those with darker skin tones, a milk chocolate mani will match seamlessly and elongate fingers. But regardless of skin tone, going deeper with neutral shades makes for a pretty nail look.

Cool Silver

Silver hits that perfect sweet spot of adding some dimension to a regular mani without being too loud. “[It’s] a great way to incorporate a little something, yet keeps it versatile,” adds Goldstein.

Warm Gold

But if a color analysis told you that gold works better on your skin tone (or if you’re just drawn to the warmth of this metallic over silver), Goldstein says it also makes for a great bridesmaid nail. Similar to silver, you get a simple yet interesting pop of color.

Barely There

Going bare (on your nails of course) may be a safe choice, but it doesn’t mean it’s a boring one. Go au natural with a slight shine for a polished look or use it as a backdrop for tiny details, like this minimal daisy design.

Delicate Decals

Before getting any extravagant nail art, Goldstein suggests asking the bride if it’s something they’d be okay with. If you do want to flex those creative muscles without being too extra, she recommends adding tiny details, such as pearl accents. And as an added bonus: “This could tie in with elements and details of the bride’s dress,” she says.

Subtle Sparkle

Speaking of small details, Goldstein also likes the idea of adding tiny crystals to your bridesmaid mani. Just be sure to do so in moderation for a subtle touch of sparkle.

Hidden Gems

Go for the unexpected sparkle and hide a few gems in the inside tip of your mani. Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik gave Jennifer Lopez these a “peek-a-boo” mani for a look that’s understatedly fun and chic.

Glazed Donut

The nail that sparked the food as beauty trends revolution. With its creamy neutral base and iridescent glow, the glazed donut works for pretty much all occasions—especially for celebrating a loved one’s big day.

Classic French Tip

You can never go wrong with a French manicure. So if you’re unsure of what design to get, Goldstein recommends this classic design with a bare base and white tip at the top.

Midnight French Tip

Moody and chic, a black nail goes with just about anything. Add a thin line of shimmer along the tip for an updated French mani that’s stunning to look at.

Going Green

If the bride is cool with you experimenting with bolder colors, think about colors that will provide a striking contrast to your dress. For example, Goldstein loves pairing a metallic green with a pink dress.

Pretty in Pink

For something a little more matchy-matchy, Goldstein also loves pairing pink nails with a red dress. It provides just enough contrast while staying within the same color family to tie it all together.

Romantic Red

Nothing says love like the color red (see: red nail theory). A bold and timeless shade, red manis will work with any wedding theme.

Accent Nails

If going all out on nail art still gives you some pause, Goldstein recommends limiting art to one (maybe two) nails. “This will keep the nail art subtle,” she says.

Vampy Violet

There’s just something so alluring about a deep violet nail. Opt for a glossy finish to give a vampy violet mani for a more polished look.

Chrome Finish

For more bolder and more eccentric wedding themes, you can match those fun vibes with a chrome nail. We especially love it in this deep lavender for a more delicate shade.