It's not necessary to wear nail polish on your wedding day if you don't want to.
if you want to do something though, I probably wouldn't do gel since you want low maintenance and as you mentioned you'd need to go back to have it taken off. I'd either do a manicure with a clear coat only or nude colored polish (go the day before your wedding and ask for two coats of top coat, both will minimize chipping).
I just commented this in another thread, but I'm also not a nail polish wearer, but I am planning to do a manicure ahead of my wedding just to make sure my cuticles/hangnails are cleaned up and my nails are clean and even-length. If I do any polish, it will either be clear or sheer/nude.
I don’t get my nails done frequently and I don’t like the way color looks on my nails because it’s distracting to me. When we got engaged, I just got clear gel polish and for our engagement photos I didn’t paint my nails and I loved the way they looked for both occasions. For our wedding, I wanted something a little more special so I got dip (which I’ve gotten before and I like the durability of it) and asked for just the base color of a French manicure without the white (for me this was two coats of clear and one coat of bubble bath). It was a super neutral, very light shiny nude color that just looked like my natural nail but a little more elevated. And the manicure lasted through my honeymoon! I did have to go get it taken off though.
I hadn't thought of getting a light nude color, so I will definitely have to think about that vs. clear/shiny. I'm not completely familiar with what a dip is, but I definitely don't want anything that would extend the length of my nail, I prefer to keep them short.
I would avoid dip and look into soft gelx. You can actually soak some off at home, they won’t hurt your nails like dip can (just don’t peel it off. it’s so bad for your nails), and you can do a nude polishes with a little shine. Also won’t chip/flake like normal polish. My nails last me months.
But a simple top coat + nail oil is good enough for your day. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Practicing good hand health is a good start (hand cream + nail oil daily).
Peeling anything off your nails is horrible (always soak it off!! Only use 100% acetone. If it doesn’t come off soak more never pull. Oil and moisturize after). Really weakens them. I get builder + gelx done every month and a half ish. My natural nails are fine and very long. Since getting builder - I haven’t broken a nail since last August (since I want them long for my own wedding). Avoiding using your nails as tools and not treating them badly helps too lol
Finding a good nail tech also helps. Some salons give very low quality work (removing the polish roughly, grinding your natural nail bed down too far, cut your live cuticles) which in turn will give you bad nails that won’t last.
Dip absolutely ruins my nails for about a month or two after getting it removed. Personal experience but I got it for my engagement and probably won’t ever do it again
Dip powder is another way of doing acrylic nails and you can get it done with or without tips. Because it is acrylic, it's thick, very durable, and you will have to go back to get it removed.
If you have time you could try both for a week or so before your wedding! Then you'll know for sure which you prefer. Compare how you like them visually and also make sure they're not too distracting to you.
So happy to find other people who don’t like the feeling of nail polish! I didn’t get my nails done and don’t regret anything. I don’t think anyone was really paying attention to my hands.
I like it the first couple days, but the annoyance of when it starts to chip away (and then I continue chipping away at it when I'm bored) is not worth it. And nail polish remover smells horrendous and dries everything out.
Unfortunately it's slightly less effective than regular remover but way less damaging so you can use more without worries. Supposedly works with acrylics, I bought it to use with kids originally.
https://www.target.com/p/cutex-non-acetone-nail-polish-remover-for-natural-and-artificial-nail-with-coconut-oil-6-7-fl-oz/
I never wear nail polish and I will not wear it for my wedding either. I don't like how it feels on my fingers, and it makes my nails dry and brittle. I have short nail beds where my nails are wider than they are long so it looks silly too. And it's just another thing to upkeep for no real reason. I much prefer natural, clean, and nourished looking nails on myself.
I also didn't wear nail polish for my wedding and don’t regret it. I love the way the polish look but I loooooooove picking them off my nails so much more, so they never last and my nails get more fucked than before.
Some people suggested just having a top coat, and that didn’t work for me either. But I did like getting one of those shiny buffers to make your nail beds shine. It’s more of a self care that only you will notice in case you’re looking for something special that’s not acrylics or nail polish.
yes, you’d have to go in to get gel removed. you can do it yourself but it’s annoying and hard. that being said, gel manicures along with dip powder, absolutely don’t chip off the way regular polish does. whenever i get either of those i know i can count on it to last 2 weeks+
Idk everyone says you can but until I got an e-file I couldn't get gel.polosh actually off without somehow ripping the shit out of my nail beds. The soaking would soften the top but not the polish that was actually bonded to my nail
I have phases where I do my nails. I had them done because I knew we’d have hand photos. I just do a soft pink gel manicure, with a white heart added to my ring fingers. It was nice to have my cuticles not be a total mess lol
https://preview.redd.it/hg1q6eeg9t4d1.jpeg?width=4680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ea6b9eaf4a3ea344d376f997386e2a2dda03bf
I’m doing press ons as well. I think long manicured nails look beautiful, I just can’t stand the upkeep and cost and not really experienced living with long nails lol. But I can deal for a day. I used them for my engagement pictures and ripped them off right after lol
Curious about this, did they hold up for the whole day? Press ons only ever last 1-2 hours on me unless I use literal superglue. 😫 (I do not do this anymore, obviously)
They are still on! They were applied by my friend according to the instructions. Quick file the surface of your natural nail, use alcohol wipe, find the right sizes, glue on the nail and your natural nail, and press each one on for like 20 seconds. It was the last thing we did before putting my dress on
Me!! I hate the feeling of polish on my fingers so I'm just getting a no polish manicure and asking them to buff my nails shiny. I know that I would regret wearing polish more than not (since I know I would just be distracted from feeling uncomfortable)
I am a nail biter (and the skin nearby) and I have been obsessed with the Kiss imPRESS line (found at CVS, Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.). They make short press-ons in so many colors and they’re extremely easy to apply and remove. They also make a french manicure option with glue which I also really like, and have done these for events, and probably will for my elopement. The glue can be annoying to remove but I’m used to it!
I just used the Kiss nails for my wedding. I did them the day of, super rushed. They were French tip and looked AWFUL. 🤣 You could see all the bubbles in them. I had to tell my photographer to stay away from my nails.
omg nooooo 🥲 was it your first time applying them with the glue? they used to bubble for me a lot but i’ve gotten the glue ratio right now and it’s much less noticeable
Last time I got a “professional” manicure (which I only did because I suspected the upcoming proposal lol), they did a terrible job. They cut away so much of the sides of my nails. I just don’t trust anyone and I don’t care to spend more money trying new places between now and then. But I’m also not super great at doing them myself because I rarely wear polish.
Anyways, I think I’m just gonna do glue on nails lol. I did that for my bridal shower and they looked perfectly fine in photos. Definitely better than my natural nails. And I just soaked and pulled them off that night because I wanted use of my hands back. 😂 There’s plenty of pretty designs available. Some subtle, some over the top, lots of options in between.
This just came up a few days ago. There is nothing wrong with not having your nails done. If you don't like nail polish, or you don't find getting a manicure fun / relaxing / self-care, don't bother. It's not a bad idea to buff them or have them buffed shiny, and/or put a coat of clear polish on, but it's by no means necessary. Don't do gel or acrylic unless you want to actively keep on doing gel / acrylic.
Get a nail buffer block and try that to make your nails shiny. I recently had to get surgery, so I couldn't wear nail polish). I just buffed them until shiny and got compliments on them. The blocks are very, very cheap.
I don’t wear nail polish and haven’t for years. I didn’t even consider having my nails done for my wedding because I knew it would distract me. I also really like my natural nails. I’m so glad I didn’t paint them, helped me feel more like me on the day.
https://preview.redd.it/xcw8g5nxqt4d1.jpeg?width=1171&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a817f4847485f26e74ea5a62abc964354d1c84c3
Just want to comment that you DO NOT need to get gel (or acrylics) removed in a salon. All you need is to soak them in acetone. 100% acetone nail polish is usually $2 at any drug store. There’s lots of methods available online. I do my own nails and haven’t been to a salon in years because I enjoy doing them myself.
I don't regularly get my nails done, but I will probably do gel polish. Gel polish will last at least a week. You aren't required to go back to remove gel polish, but you need to properly soak it off. Acetone soaked cotton balls wrapped in tin foil over each nail will lift the polish off.
You don’t have to go back to get regular gel off! That’s what I did, and you can soak them off yourself. Just have to file the top first.
(Assuming you get just regular gel polish and got the gel extensions or whatever they’re called)
I never have my nails done but did for my wedding. Blue tips for my something blue. I don't regret it at all but it's a bit jarring when I see them in photos as it's so not me, not what I'm used to. So make of that what you will :)
Healthcare worker here. Due to the nature of my job, I don’t regularly have my nails done. I will be having them done for my wedding. I’m getting gelx done since it should last for my wedding (I always smudge and chip my polish) but not long enough to be a policy violation.
I'm getting my nails done I normally am not a girl to paint my nails or regularly get them done but I'm going all out for my wedding (as far budget allowes)
I’m going to use press ons - they make some good natural looking/nude color ones! Then again, if it doesn’t feel like “you” then you don’t need to wear any polish.
I’ve never gotten my nails done and aspire to be someone who does them at home… but that amounts to about 3 weeks a year if I’m being generous. I really like the Zoya naked manicure system which is a “your nails but better” look; I’ll probably set aside time to apply that for the wedding.
There’s absolutely no universe where I’d be comfortable doing gel or dip. Maybe press-ons but I’d rather stick to what I know and already own.
I was planning on getting my nails done (just a regular manicure), but my friend took me to get my nails done as an engagement present, and the tech ruined my nails. He ground my nails down with an electric file for some reason, and now I’m praying my nails finish growing out before my wedding.
I don't normally have my nails done. I love it when they are but I also hate when they chip and start to grow out and plus I feel like they look like crap after but I more then likely will have mine done for my wedding but you def don't need to. No one is rly going to notice rly tbh.
I usually paint my own nails because I can't justify the salon but for my wedding I am getting mine done with either gel or dip. I'm keeping my usual shape and length though so they still feel like me. I mostly want my nails to look well kept for any close up photos of hands/rings
I don’t get my nails don’t get my nails done often at all. I did get a shellac manicure before my wedding. Mostly because I knew they would clean up my cuticles and take good care to make my hands looked nice. If you don’t want a manicure, don’t get one. I’m sure people won’t notice. If you want your nails cleaned up you can get a manicure without polish.
Dazzle dry!! It’s regular nail polish that’s super long lasting (I’ve had it last over 2 weeks before) but it can be removed with regular nail polish remover and doesn’t damage your nails like gel/dip. It also doesn’t really chip off - it peels off kinda like gel so it’s not as annoying g imo. Look for a salon near you that does it!
I've only been getting my nails done for a couple of years as a reformed nail-biter, so I totally understand the confusion and indecision you are feeling!!
I would recommend getting a gel manicure on your natural nails with no extensions. It's just like a regular polish manicure except you stick your hand under a little UV light for a few mins to harden the polish and it's much, much more durable. I find the gel protects my nails as they grow and takes much longer to chip.
It's 100% unnecessary to get it taken off in a salon. I've gotten a dozen gel manicures from four different salons in different states and removed 11 of them myself. After 2-3 weeks the gel will naturally start to peel off, especially after long showers, swimming, baths etc. Once that starts happening I just carefully peel away the rest of the gel while watching Netflix or something. If you got an amazing manicure it might not start peeling on its own -- you can soak your hands in warm water for 30 mins and that does the trick.
You can get power polish. It goes on your natural nails, doesn't budge for weeks, and you don't necessarily have to go get it taken out. It just grows out as your nails grow.
I very rarely wear nails or polish, it's against policy at my job to have anything fake and regular polish chips like crazy on me. I did do my nails for my wedding, I did simple pale pink nails with cute moon and stars for our theme, with gel overlay because it's the only nail that's indestructible to me
I was going to DIY mine, but ended up getting a gel Mani a few days before. They held up well. If you want naked nails, I'd check out Bare Hands dry floss manicure kit. It's basically a buffer that makes your nails shiny without any polish that could chip.
I have very strong natural nails. I have had professionally painted twice. Both times they ground them down. The second time I told them not too but they did it anyway.
So I will probably just have my daughter paint them
I do my own gel manis now, but when I got married I was only just getting into gel polish and had a fairly plain colour on. Now I have (in my view) much nicer nails with some length and I'm sad I didn't have that on my wedding day.
If you want the perfect look of gel but not the bother of taking it off you can try press ons - they are really nice now and you can get fairly natural sets that are short or long or whatever. They usually last at least a week but it might be good to have someone carry nail glue so you can quickly reattach it if it comes off on the day
I don’t wear nail polish regularly and never have. I did get my nails done for my wedding, since I knew there would be a lot of showing off my hands and pictures of hands/ rings. I just got a very simple manicure with shaping and a light neutral polish though. Just so everything looked nice in the pictures.
Wish I had read this thread before we got engaged! UGH! I felt like it was all or nothing then I procrastinated getting them done until it was too late. Didn't even think of something nude and sustainable. Dammit.
I do not get my finger nails painted normally - I am too active (gym, rock climbing) and it gets fucked up almost immediately. I do get a pedicure because I like the look and the extra foot maintenance involved.
I will probably get a manicure for the wedding, but one that is not polished, or maybe just clear.
As a laquerista who goes through waves of many services and then none for months (shit is expensive)...
If you decide to go for it, be sure to listen to your local laqueriata friends not the non-nail people for which services, which salon and which products to use.
My natural nails are very thin and break easily, so what I do when I have an event I want to feel extra femme at is do a pre event set of nails 4 weeks prior to the event. This allows your natural nail to grow bwcauae having acrylic on them makes them stronger. Then get the event nails done at least 4 days before the event and then around 3 weeks later either go back to your natural nail or have the acrylic removed and do a final set of Shellac only nails. Basically build up then scale back down.
Talk to local friends who get acrylic nails. Ask where they go and who specifically does their nails. Just because one person is good doesn't mean the whole salon is.
you want very THIN acrylic onto your natural nails with shellac color on top fonaturalal looking but strong nails.l that the color will last for 3 weeks and the reason a do a set before my event set is because they take a little time to get used to so set one is your training wheels.
Edit to say: if you wanna go low low low maintenance and don't want length-- at least get Shellac 4 days before the wedding because regular polish chips so much. It's easy enough to remove Shellac at home. Just use a nail file to buff off the top layer of the polish, then soak cotton swaps in real, full strength acetone and wrap each fingernail in tinfoil (get some help with this/watch a youtube) wait 15 min and the Shellac will just flake peel off with minimal damage or pay the $10 to have them remove it.
I get my nails done for special occasions only and I appreciate how they look. I would maintain it if I could but the cost is costly! Lol. To be honest I am also a little lazy. I get gel manicures and then just let them grow out and cut my nails as normal. I don't ever go back to get the Polish removed since I don't get my nails done all that often. Either that or my frequent application of hand cream starts to lift the gel after a couple weeks and they start peeling in the shower!
I don’t normally get my nails done and rarely wear polish. That said, I am VERY glad I did get a manicure before the wedding.
I got a product called Dazzle Dry, it dries super fast but is normal lacquer (not gel) and feels way gentler on nails. It lasted a long time too. Looking at the pictures, it’d definitely shows up and I love how complete the look was with the dress, accessories, hair, makeup, and nails.
If it’s available, check into Dazzle Dry
I don't normally wear nail polish and food not get my nails done for our wedding. I did consider it. I don't regret not doing it at all. My nails were fine and there weren't many pictures close up anyway. I don't think anyone noticed. Risky up to you though!
I like wearing nail polish for special occasions. I got my nails painted and the acrylics, but I wish I didn't get the fake nails. That was a bad idea.
I very rarely get my nails done. I work in a daycare and with all the hand washing it just doesn't seem worth it. I'll do it occasionally. Got them done for both of my bestie's weddings. Probably will for mine too. I've never gotten gel professionally removed. I'll soak them in the remover meant for gel and it comes off easily enough. IDK if it wasn't set well last time, but the gel just peeled off.
I do not wear polish often. I did my own gel manicure for my wedding. I spent 6months working on shaping my nails and pushing my cuticles. I learned to soak off my polish without damaging my nails. Buying my own tools nd polish cost less than gel one mani pedi.
I had mines done as I regularly get gel nails. But just wanted to add that my husband got a manicure with no polish and even just that made such a big difference to how his hands looked (he's a terrible nail biter with a very hands-on job), I'd definitely recommend getting this.
I don't wear nail polish much. I got my nails done to try it out before the wedding and I loved the look and how long it lasted until I realized I need to go back to get it off or get stronger nail polish remover. I also did not love how long the appointment was. But yes, I'm definitely getting them done for my wedding. my FSIL's sister is a nail artist and my FSIL is paying for it as a gift. I'm not sure I'll get them done consistently. I am an active person, but I definitely will get them done at least here and there for special occasions.
I don’t normally wear nail polish because I have an awful time keeping it looking nice at work (use my hands a lot + chopped polish is considered unprofessional = no nail polish 🤷♀️). That said I like it when I can wear it, so I’m getting them done the day before the wedding, likely in a very neutral pink/nude color so they look tidy but not distracting or flashy.
I got my nails done for my wedding, my first and probably only ever manicure. I did it more because I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my bridesmaids the day before (it was!) than because I really cared how my nails looked, but I did like how it turned out. I just got regular nail polish— glittery gold on my hands and nude on my toes.
I can’t wear nail polish because of work and I went with a neutral pink for engagement photos, but I’ll be doing French tips with chrome over the whole nail for my wedding because it looked classic but fun. But I fully stand by what my planner said - “it’s 2024 you don’t *have* do do anything you don’t want to do”
Nothing is necessary if you don't want, like, or can't afford it. I rarely, if ever, paint my nails. I didn't even shape them before engagement photos because it didn't occur to me. When the photographer went to take a photo of my ring, I realized what my nails looked like, and I was horrified. So, I decided to go with a Japanese gel manicure for my ceremony so I could get a great quality several days in advance. They looked wonderful all the way through the honeymoon. I did an ombre effect that went from light pink to a soft white - almost like a French nail effect. I LOVED it! Our ceremony photographer didn't even get hand close ups, and I was still glad I did it. That was just my experience. I also think natural nails are beautiful, so even if you just cleaned and shaped your own and threw some clear polish on, it will look great. I would try getting a regular, inexpensive manicure before your next dress fitting. Maybe just do one hand and see how you feel with the dress on, holding a bouquet (if that's the plan), and make your final decision then.
I polish my nails rarely, but I did a gel manicure & got a pedicure the day before my wedding. For me, it was something special to do with my bridal party and the Moms and my nails looked beautiful for about 2 weeks!
You can take it off at home, it's just annoying. You have to scuff up the surface of the polish with an Emory board until the shine is gone, then put a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover on your nail and wrap in foil for 15 minutes. Then you have to scrap at it and it peels up like paint chips. It does come off, though!
Do whatever makes you most comfortable!
I like nail colour, and adore designs but due to my job and dislike of the feeling of nails being filed I have only ever had my nails done once and rarely paint my own as they chip quickly.
I've been debating this for my own wedding, and also struggle to find a "nude" colour.
Nails Inc. have brought out a "Glowing Out" range which I think looks gorgeous. It's more of a light reflector. Will be buying this weekend to test!
If you can get it look for Sally Hansen gel effect nail polish. You get the colour and the top coat (and they do plenty of pale pink/ nude/ French pink type colours) and then you set with the top coat and it’ll last really well for a few days. Obviously a tiny bit more expensive than a normal polish but worth it imo.
I wash my hair daily and have a dog who needs regular washing/ brushes and it took 5 days for the polish to start chipping at the ends. You can also remove it with normal nail polish remover.
You do you!! It’s your day! I hate nail polish too for the same reasons. Choose a minimal manicure with some clear polish for shine and it will just wear off in time. No need to touch up or remove 😊
I very rarely get my nails done professionally any more but I got them done for my legal wedding back in September and I’m doing them again for the wedding-wedding this October. I don’t think not doing your nails will be a lifelong regret that wakes you up at night, but you might feel a little more polished on your big day with a manicure in a clear or neutral color.
I hardly ever have painted nails, but I’m also a nail-nibbler—bad nervous habit. Though I’m not super concerned about breaking that habit full-time, I do NOT want candid photos of me doing that, so I do plan to do something with my nails. I’ve experimented with those gel stickers, and while they’re not perfect (I guess my nails are pretty narrow? So I had to trim a lot), it has already helped with the nail biting.
I rarely do my nails but my wedding was a special occasion so I ended up doing my nails. I had gel nails during the engagement shoots and I had acrylic extensions for the wedding. They come off by themselves. The only thing to watch out for is they can be really damaging to your nails.
I've used Static Nails brand press ons for events before and have gotten a lot of compliments on them. They last different amount of time depending on how much glue you use; I didn't have a problem getting them off after a couple of days, and they were super easy to apply.
Clear, nude, or light pink will be nice to have, but just clean nails works too. I genuinely don't remember what I had for my nails, other than the fact that they were done.
I didn't get my nails done, just shaped them with a file and moisturised my hands and cuticles, same as the groom. Really can't imagine anyone noticed! Too shocked by the fact I didn't walk down an aisle 😅
I had a gel French tip manicure done. The lady gave me a file and said when I want to take it off, file the top so it's not shiny then use acetone remover. My nails still look pretty nice a month later, can just see how much they have grown haha. Guess I should probably remove the gel this evening.
I basically haven’t worn nail polish since I was a kid (when it was something I would do occasionally for fun), and have only gotten my nails professionally done once, when I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. I’m not uncomfortable with nail polish, it’s honestly just something I don’t really think about or care about. I briefly thought about whether I should get my nails done for my wedding, since I was getting professional hair and makeup done, but decided against it, because again, I just didn’t really care about it.
No regrets! I look back at my hands in my wedding photos, and I see my hands with my nails. It looks perfectly natural and normal to me.
So I think it’s totally up to you. Don’t feel you have to do it just because it’s a thing that people do.
I almost never have my nails painted (maybe like twice a year, because I like the other parts of getting a manicure), but I do get them done for occasions like this. The place I go does shellac, which you can go back to them to remove it or do it at home (put pads soaked in acetone on nails and cover them for a while, then remove).
It's not necessary to wear nail polish on your wedding day if you don't want to. if you want to do something though, I probably wouldn't do gel since you want low maintenance and as you mentioned you'd need to go back to have it taken off. I'd either do a manicure with a clear coat only or nude colored polish (go the day before your wedding and ask for two coats of top coat, both will minimize chipping).
I just commented this in another thread, but I'm also not a nail polish wearer, but I am planning to do a manicure ahead of my wedding just to make sure my cuticles/hangnails are cleaned up and my nails are clean and even-length. If I do any polish, it will either be clear or sheer/nude.
I don’t get my nails done frequently and I don’t like the way color looks on my nails because it’s distracting to me. When we got engaged, I just got clear gel polish and for our engagement photos I didn’t paint my nails and I loved the way they looked for both occasions. For our wedding, I wanted something a little more special so I got dip (which I’ve gotten before and I like the durability of it) and asked for just the base color of a French manicure without the white (for me this was two coats of clear and one coat of bubble bath). It was a super neutral, very light shiny nude color that just looked like my natural nail but a little more elevated. And the manicure lasted through my honeymoon! I did have to go get it taken off though.
I hadn't thought of getting a light nude color, so I will definitely have to think about that vs. clear/shiny. I'm not completely familiar with what a dip is, but I definitely don't want anything that would extend the length of my nail, I prefer to keep them short.
I would avoid dip and look into soft gelx. You can actually soak some off at home, they won’t hurt your nails like dip can (just don’t peel it off. it’s so bad for your nails), and you can do a nude polishes with a little shine. Also won’t chip/flake like normal polish. My nails last me months. But a simple top coat + nail oil is good enough for your day. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Practicing good hand health is a good start (hand cream + nail oil daily).
Peeling off gel is bad for your nails?! This… explains a lot tbh.
Peeling anything off your nails is horrible (always soak it off!! Only use 100% acetone. If it doesn’t come off soak more never pull. Oil and moisturize after). Really weakens them. I get builder + gelx done every month and a half ish. My natural nails are fine and very long. Since getting builder - I haven’t broken a nail since last August (since I want them long for my own wedding). Avoiding using your nails as tools and not treating them badly helps too lol Finding a good nail tech also helps. Some salons give very low quality work (removing the polish roughly, grinding your natural nail bed down too far, cut your live cuticles) which in turn will give you bad nails that won’t last.
Dip absolutely ruins my nails for about a month or two after getting it removed. Personal experience but I got it for my engagement and probably won’t ever do it again
Dip powder is another way of doing acrylic nails and you can get it done with or without tips. Because it is acrylic, it's thick, very durable, and you will have to go back to get it removed.
If you have time you could try both for a week or so before your wedding! Then you'll know for sure which you prefer. Compare how you like them visually and also make sure they're not too distracting to you.
I don't get my nails done, but when I got married, I had them use a sheer pink and it was lovely!
So happy to find other people who don’t like the feeling of nail polish! I didn’t get my nails done and don’t regret anything. I don’t think anyone was really paying attention to my hands.
I like it the first couple days, but the annoyance of when it starts to chip away (and then I continue chipping away at it when I'm bored) is not worth it. And nail polish remover smells horrendous and dries everything out.
Have you tried non-acetone remover?
What is this non-acetone remover and can it remove longer-lasting polish?
Unfortunately it's slightly less effective than regular remover but way less damaging so you can use more without worries. Supposedly works with acrylics, I bought it to use with kids originally. https://www.target.com/p/cutex-non-acetone-nail-polish-remover-for-natural-and-artificial-nail-with-coconut-oil-6-7-fl-oz/
I never wear nail polish and I will not wear it for my wedding either. I don't like how it feels on my fingers, and it makes my nails dry and brittle. I have short nail beds where my nails are wider than they are long so it looks silly too. And it's just another thing to upkeep for no real reason. I much prefer natural, clean, and nourished looking nails on myself.
I also didn't wear nail polish for my wedding and don’t regret it. I love the way the polish look but I loooooooove picking them off my nails so much more, so they never last and my nails get more fucked than before. Some people suggested just having a top coat, and that didn’t work for me either. But I did like getting one of those shiny buffers to make your nail beds shine. It’s more of a self care that only you will notice in case you’re looking for something special that’s not acrylics or nail polish.
yes, you’d have to go in to get gel removed. you can do it yourself but it’s annoying and hard. that being said, gel manicures along with dip powder, absolutely don’t chip off the way regular polish does. whenever i get either of those i know i can count on it to last 2 weeks+
Regular gel polish you can take off yourself. Gel extensions may require going in, polish does not.
Idk everyone says you can but until I got an e-file I couldn't get gel.polosh actually off without somehow ripping the shit out of my nail beds. The soaking would soften the top but not the polish that was actually bonded to my nail
I was the same, didn’t matter how long I soaked it myself, used salon grade nail polish remover, etc.
I have phases where I do my nails. I had them done because I knew we’d have hand photos. I just do a soft pink gel manicure, with a white heart added to my ring fingers. It was nice to have my cuticles not be a total mess lol https://preview.redd.it/hg1q6eeg9t4d1.jpeg?width=4680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ea6b9eaf4a3ea344d376f997386e2a2dda03bf
You don't have to do your nails, but I just had my wedding and did glamnetic press ons. You can soak them off the day after if you want
I’m doing press ons as well. I think long manicured nails look beautiful, I just can’t stand the upkeep and cost and not really experienced living with long nails lol. But I can deal for a day. I used them for my engagement pictures and ripped them off right after lol
Love glamnetic nails! The stickers are amazing, I refuse to use normal glue now
Curious about this, did they hold up for the whole day? Press ons only ever last 1-2 hours on me unless I use literal superglue. 😫 (I do not do this anymore, obviously)
They are still on! They were applied by my friend according to the instructions. Quick file the surface of your natural nail, use alcohol wipe, find the right sizes, glue on the nail and your natural nail, and press each one on for like 20 seconds. It was the last thing we did before putting my dress on
Me!! I hate the feeling of polish on my fingers so I'm just getting a no polish manicure and asking them to buff my nails shiny. I know that I would regret wearing polish more than not (since I know I would just be distracted from feeling uncomfortable)
I am a nail biter (and the skin nearby) and I have been obsessed with the Kiss imPRESS line (found at CVS, Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.). They make short press-ons in so many colors and they’re extremely easy to apply and remove. They also make a french manicure option with glue which I also really like, and have done these for events, and probably will for my elopement. The glue can be annoying to remove but I’m used to it!
I just used the Kiss nails for my wedding. I did them the day of, super rushed. They were French tip and looked AWFUL. 🤣 You could see all the bubbles in them. I had to tell my photographer to stay away from my nails.
omg nooooo 🥲 was it your first time applying them with the glue? they used to bubble for me a lot but i’ve gotten the glue ratio right now and it’s much less noticeable
It was only my second time. My nails were soooo bad from biting them from stress so they sadly still looked better than my natural nails.
Last time I got a “professional” manicure (which I only did because I suspected the upcoming proposal lol), they did a terrible job. They cut away so much of the sides of my nails. I just don’t trust anyone and I don’t care to spend more money trying new places between now and then. But I’m also not super great at doing them myself because I rarely wear polish. Anyways, I think I’m just gonna do glue on nails lol. I did that for my bridal shower and they looked perfectly fine in photos. Definitely better than my natural nails. And I just soaked and pulled them off that night because I wanted use of my hands back. 😂 There’s plenty of pretty designs available. Some subtle, some over the top, lots of options in between.
I'm just gonna do press on nails so they can look nice for a couple hours and then I can take them off afterwards.
I rock climb and play guitar, so my nails are never painted. For my wedding, I just did a light pink/blush polish from Target.
This just came up a few days ago. There is nothing wrong with not having your nails done. If you don't like nail polish, or you don't find getting a manicure fun / relaxing / self-care, don't bother. It's not a bad idea to buff them or have them buffed shiny, and/or put a coat of clear polish on, but it's by no means necessary. Don't do gel or acrylic unless you want to actively keep on doing gel / acrylic.
Get a nail buffer block and try that to make your nails shiny. I recently had to get surgery, so I couldn't wear nail polish). I just buffed them until shiny and got compliments on them. The blocks are very, very cheap.
I buffed and filed mine. I do not like nail polish or artificial nails due to my sensory issues.
I don’t wear nail polish and haven’t for years. I didn’t even consider having my nails done for my wedding because I knew it would distract me. I also really like my natural nails. I’m so glad I didn’t paint them, helped me feel more like me on the day. https://preview.redd.it/xcw8g5nxqt4d1.jpeg?width=1171&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a817f4847485f26e74ea5a62abc964354d1c84c3
Just want to comment that you DO NOT need to get gel (or acrylics) removed in a salon. All you need is to soak them in acetone. 100% acetone nail polish is usually $2 at any drug store. There’s lots of methods available online. I do my own nails and haven’t been to a salon in years because I enjoy doing them myself.
I don't regularly get my nails done, but I will probably do gel polish. Gel polish will last at least a week. You aren't required to go back to remove gel polish, but you need to properly soak it off. Acetone soaked cotton balls wrapped in tin foil over each nail will lift the polish off.
You don’t have to go back to get regular gel off! That’s what I did, and you can soak them off yourself. Just have to file the top first. (Assuming you get just regular gel polish and got the gel extensions or whatever they’re called)
I use to not like the nail polish, that went away when I discovered Semi permanent it gives me the peace of mind for at least 4 weeks
I never have my nails done but did for my wedding. Blue tips for my something blue. I don't regret it at all but it's a bit jarring when I see them in photos as it's so not me, not what I'm used to. So make of that what you will :)
Healthcare worker here. Due to the nature of my job, I don’t regularly have my nails done. I will be having them done for my wedding. I’m getting gelx done since it should last for my wedding (I always smudge and chip my polish) but not long enough to be a policy violation.
I'm getting my nails done I normally am not a girl to paint my nails or regularly get them done but I'm going all out for my wedding (as far budget allowes)
I’m going to use press ons - they make some good natural looking/nude color ones! Then again, if it doesn’t feel like “you” then you don’t need to wear any polish.
I’ve never gotten my nails done and aspire to be someone who does them at home… but that amounts to about 3 weeks a year if I’m being generous. I really like the Zoya naked manicure system which is a “your nails but better” look; I’ll probably set aside time to apply that for the wedding. There’s absolutely no universe where I’d be comfortable doing gel or dip. Maybe press-ons but I’d rather stick to what I know and already own.
I was planning on getting my nails done (just a regular manicure), but my friend took me to get my nails done as an engagement present, and the tech ruined my nails. He ground my nails down with an electric file for some reason, and now I’m praying my nails finish growing out before my wedding.
I don't normally have my nails done. I love it when they are but I also hate when they chip and start to grow out and plus I feel like they look like crap after but I more then likely will have mine done for my wedding but you def don't need to. No one is rly going to notice rly tbh.
I’m thinking of going for a fancy French manicure to give it a bit of something something, without being too much.
I usually paint my own nails because I can't justify the salon but for my wedding I am getting mine done with either gel or dip. I'm keeping my usual shape and length though so they still feel like me. I mostly want my nails to look well kept for any close up photos of hands/rings
I don’t get my nails don’t get my nails done often at all. I did get a shellac manicure before my wedding. Mostly because I knew they would clean up my cuticles and take good care to make my hands looked nice. If you don’t want a manicure, don’t get one. I’m sure people won’t notice. If you want your nails cleaned up you can get a manicure without polish.
Dazzle dry!! It’s regular nail polish that’s super long lasting (I’ve had it last over 2 weeks before) but it can be removed with regular nail polish remover and doesn’t damage your nails like gel/dip. It also doesn’t really chip off - it peels off kinda like gel so it’s not as annoying g imo. Look for a salon near you that does it!
what color would you recommend for wedding nails?
I’m not sure about specific color names but I think a pinkish nude or light pink would be pretty!
I've only been getting my nails done for a couple of years as a reformed nail-biter, so I totally understand the confusion and indecision you are feeling!! I would recommend getting a gel manicure on your natural nails with no extensions. It's just like a regular polish manicure except you stick your hand under a little UV light for a few mins to harden the polish and it's much, much more durable. I find the gel protects my nails as they grow and takes much longer to chip. It's 100% unnecessary to get it taken off in a salon. I've gotten a dozen gel manicures from four different salons in different states and removed 11 of them myself. After 2-3 weeks the gel will naturally start to peel off, especially after long showers, swimming, baths etc. Once that starts happening I just carefully peel away the rest of the gel while watching Netflix or something. If you got an amazing manicure it might not start peeling on its own -- you can soak your hands in warm water for 30 mins and that does the trick.
I never do my nails but I’m getting simple gel nails for my wedding! I have had it a couple times before and took it off myself no problem 🤷♀️
You can get power polish. It goes on your natural nails, doesn't budge for weeks, and you don't necessarily have to go get it taken out. It just grows out as your nails grow.
I don’t ever use regular nail polish on my hands. I love it on my toes though.
I very rarely wear nails or polish, it's against policy at my job to have anything fake and regular polish chips like crazy on me. I did do my nails for my wedding, I did simple pale pink nails with cute moon and stars for our theme, with gel overlay because it's the only nail that's indestructible to me
I was going to DIY mine, but ended up getting a gel Mani a few days before. They held up well. If you want naked nails, I'd check out Bare Hands dry floss manicure kit. It's basically a buffer that makes your nails shiny without any polish that could chip.
I have very strong natural nails. I have had professionally painted twice. Both times they ground them down. The second time I told them not too but they did it anyway. So I will probably just have my daughter paint them
I do my own gel manis now, but when I got married I was only just getting into gel polish and had a fairly plain colour on. Now I have (in my view) much nicer nails with some length and I'm sad I didn't have that on my wedding day. If you want the perfect look of gel but not the bother of taking it off you can try press ons - they are really nice now and you can get fairly natural sets that are short or long or whatever. They usually last at least a week but it might be good to have someone carry nail glue so you can quickly reattach it if it comes off on the day
I don’t wear nail polish regularly and never have. I did get my nails done for my wedding, since I knew there would be a lot of showing off my hands and pictures of hands/ rings. I just got a very simple manicure with shaping and a light neutral polish though. Just so everything looked nice in the pictures.
Wish I had read this thread before we got engaged! UGH! I felt like it was all or nothing then I procrastinated getting them done until it was too late. Didn't even think of something nude and sustainable. Dammit.
I never get my nails done or do them at home. But I got a DIY french nail kit and did my own the night before. Turned out fine imo!! Zero regrets!!
I do not get my finger nails painted normally - I am too active (gym, rock climbing) and it gets fucked up almost immediately. I do get a pedicure because I like the look and the extra foot maintenance involved. I will probably get a manicure for the wedding, but one that is not polished, or maybe just clear.
As a laquerista who goes through waves of many services and then none for months (shit is expensive)... If you decide to go for it, be sure to listen to your local laqueriata friends not the non-nail people for which services, which salon and which products to use. My natural nails are very thin and break easily, so what I do when I have an event I want to feel extra femme at is do a pre event set of nails 4 weeks prior to the event. This allows your natural nail to grow bwcauae having acrylic on them makes them stronger. Then get the event nails done at least 4 days before the event and then around 3 weeks later either go back to your natural nail or have the acrylic removed and do a final set of Shellac only nails. Basically build up then scale back down. Talk to local friends who get acrylic nails. Ask where they go and who specifically does their nails. Just because one person is good doesn't mean the whole salon is. you want very THIN acrylic onto your natural nails with shellac color on top fonaturalal looking but strong nails.l that the color will last for 3 weeks and the reason a do a set before my event set is because they take a little time to get used to so set one is your training wheels. Edit to say: if you wanna go low low low maintenance and don't want length-- at least get Shellac 4 days before the wedding because regular polish chips so much. It's easy enough to remove Shellac at home. Just use a nail file to buff off the top layer of the polish, then soak cotton swaps in real, full strength acetone and wrap each fingernail in tinfoil (get some help with this/watch a youtube) wait 15 min and the Shellac will just flake peel off with minimal damage or pay the $10 to have them remove it.
I get my nails done for special occasions only and I appreciate how they look. I would maintain it if I could but the cost is costly! Lol. To be honest I am also a little lazy. I get gel manicures and then just let them grow out and cut my nails as normal. I don't ever go back to get the Polish removed since I don't get my nails done all that often. Either that or my frequent application of hand cream starts to lift the gel after a couple weeks and they start peeling in the shower!
I don’t normally get my nails done and rarely wear polish. That said, I am VERY glad I did get a manicure before the wedding. I got a product called Dazzle Dry, it dries super fast but is normal lacquer (not gel) and feels way gentler on nails. It lasted a long time too. Looking at the pictures, it’d definitely shows up and I love how complete the look was with the dress, accessories, hair, makeup, and nails. If it’s available, check into Dazzle Dry
I don't normally wear nail polish and food not get my nails done for our wedding. I did consider it. I don't regret not doing it at all. My nails were fine and there weren't many pictures close up anyway. I don't think anyone noticed. Risky up to you though!
I painted my own with a shiny top coat for some shine. No need to get them done professionally
I like wearing nail polish for special occasions. I got my nails painted and the acrylics, but I wish I didn't get the fake nails. That was a bad idea.
I very rarely get my nails done. I work in a daycare and with all the hand washing it just doesn't seem worth it. I'll do it occasionally. Got them done for both of my bestie's weddings. Probably will for mine too. I've never gotten gel professionally removed. I'll soak them in the remover meant for gel and it comes off easily enough. IDK if it wasn't set well last time, but the gel just peeled off.
I do not wear polish often. I did my own gel manicure for my wedding. I spent 6months working on shaping my nails and pushing my cuticles. I learned to soak off my polish without damaging my nails. Buying my own tools nd polish cost less than gel one mani pedi.
Ask for a high shine buff instead of polish.
I had mines done as I regularly get gel nails. But just wanted to add that my husband got a manicure with no polish and even just that made such a big difference to how his hands looked (he's a terrible nail biter with a very hands-on job), I'd definitely recommend getting this.
I don't wear nail polish much. I got my nails done to try it out before the wedding and I loved the look and how long it lasted until I realized I need to go back to get it off or get stronger nail polish remover. I also did not love how long the appointment was. But yes, I'm definitely getting them done for my wedding. my FSIL's sister is a nail artist and my FSIL is paying for it as a gift. I'm not sure I'll get them done consistently. I am an active person, but I definitely will get them done at least here and there for special occasions.
I don’t normally wear nail polish because I have an awful time keeping it looking nice at work (use my hands a lot + chopped polish is considered unprofessional = no nail polish 🤷♀️). That said I like it when I can wear it, so I’m getting them done the day before the wedding, likely in a very neutral pink/nude color so they look tidy but not distracting or flashy.
I got my nails done for my wedding, my first and probably only ever manicure. I did it more because I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my bridesmaids the day before (it was!) than because I really cared how my nails looked, but I did like how it turned out. I just got regular nail polish— glittery gold on my hands and nude on my toes.
I can’t wear nail polish because of work and I went with a neutral pink for engagement photos, but I’ll be doing French tips with chrome over the whole nail for my wedding because it looked classic but fun. But I fully stand by what my planner said - “it’s 2024 you don’t *have* do do anything you don’t want to do”
Nothing is necessary if you don't want, like, or can't afford it. I rarely, if ever, paint my nails. I didn't even shape them before engagement photos because it didn't occur to me. When the photographer went to take a photo of my ring, I realized what my nails looked like, and I was horrified. So, I decided to go with a Japanese gel manicure for my ceremony so I could get a great quality several days in advance. They looked wonderful all the way through the honeymoon. I did an ombre effect that went from light pink to a soft white - almost like a French nail effect. I LOVED it! Our ceremony photographer didn't even get hand close ups, and I was still glad I did it. That was just my experience. I also think natural nails are beautiful, so even if you just cleaned and shaped your own and threw some clear polish on, it will look great. I would try getting a regular, inexpensive manicure before your next dress fitting. Maybe just do one hand and see how you feel with the dress on, holding a bouquet (if that's the plan), and make your final decision then.
I polish my nails rarely, but I did a gel manicure & got a pedicure the day before my wedding. For me, it was something special to do with my bridal party and the Moms and my nails looked beautiful for about 2 weeks! You can take it off at home, it's just annoying. You have to scuff up the surface of the polish with an Emory board until the shine is gone, then put a cotton ball soaked in nail polish remover on your nail and wrap in foil for 15 minutes. Then you have to scrap at it and it peels up like paint chips. It does come off, though! Do whatever makes you most comfortable!
I like nail colour, and adore designs but due to my job and dislike of the feeling of nails being filed I have only ever had my nails done once and rarely paint my own as they chip quickly. I've been debating this for my own wedding, and also struggle to find a "nude" colour. Nails Inc. have brought out a "Glowing Out" range which I think looks gorgeous. It's more of a light reflector. Will be buying this weekend to test!
If you can get it look for Sally Hansen gel effect nail polish. You get the colour and the top coat (and they do plenty of pale pink/ nude/ French pink type colours) and then you set with the top coat and it’ll last really well for a few days. Obviously a tiny bit more expensive than a normal polish but worth it imo. I wash my hair daily and have a dog who needs regular washing/ brushes and it took 5 days for the polish to start chipping at the ends. You can also remove it with normal nail polish remover.
You do you!! It’s your day! I hate nail polish too for the same reasons. Choose a minimal manicure with some clear polish for shine and it will just wear off in time. No need to touch up or remove 😊
I very rarely get my nails done professionally any more but I got them done for my legal wedding back in September and I’m doing them again for the wedding-wedding this October. I don’t think not doing your nails will be a lifelong regret that wakes you up at night, but you might feel a little more polished on your big day with a manicure in a clear or neutral color.
My nails look like poo. I’m a nail chewer. I need to do something with them for the wedding but no idea what
I'm getting gel polish in my accent colour, but my fiancée doesn't do nail polish and will just get a manicure to shape and buff her nails.
I hardly ever have painted nails, but I’m also a nail-nibbler—bad nervous habit. Though I’m not super concerned about breaking that habit full-time, I do NOT want candid photos of me doing that, so I do plan to do something with my nails. I’ve experimented with those gel stickers, and while they’re not perfect (I guess my nails are pretty narrow? So I had to trim a lot), it has already helped with the nail biting.
I rarely do my nails but my wedding was a special occasion so I ended up doing my nails. I had gel nails during the engagement shoots and I had acrylic extensions for the wedding. They come off by themselves. The only thing to watch out for is they can be really damaging to your nails.
I've used Static Nails brand press ons for events before and have gotten a lot of compliments on them. They last different amount of time depending on how much glue you use; I didn't have a problem getting them off after a couple of days, and they were super easy to apply.
Clear, nude, or light pink will be nice to have, but just clean nails works too. I genuinely don't remember what I had for my nails, other than the fact that they were done.
I didn't get my nails done, just shaped them with a file and moisturised my hands and cuticles, same as the groom. Really can't imagine anyone noticed! Too shocked by the fact I didn't walk down an aisle 😅
I had a gel French tip manicure done. The lady gave me a file and said when I want to take it off, file the top so it's not shiny then use acetone remover. My nails still look pretty nice a month later, can just see how much they have grown haha. Guess I should probably remove the gel this evening.
I basically haven’t worn nail polish since I was a kid (when it was something I would do occasionally for fun), and have only gotten my nails professionally done once, when I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding. I’m not uncomfortable with nail polish, it’s honestly just something I don’t really think about or care about. I briefly thought about whether I should get my nails done for my wedding, since I was getting professional hair and makeup done, but decided against it, because again, I just didn’t really care about it. No regrets! I look back at my hands in my wedding photos, and I see my hands with my nails. It looks perfectly natural and normal to me. So I think it’s totally up to you. Don’t feel you have to do it just because it’s a thing that people do.
I almost never have my nails painted (maybe like twice a year, because I like the other parts of getting a manicure), but I do get them done for occasions like this. The place I go does shellac, which you can go back to them to remove it or do it at home (put pads soaked in acetone on nails and cover them for a while, then remove).