The 6 Wedding Guest Nail Trends to Try This Season
2 min readYou’ve got your rotation of maxi dresses, a lineup of comfortable (yet chic) heels, and a roster of clutches to get you through the wedding season. And while you might have your appointments at the nail salon lined up, you need to know exactly what to tell your manicurist. Naturally, we have you covered.
We turned to Essie’s global lead educator and nail artist, Rita Remark, for some pointers. “Choose your nail color according to a couple factors: season and dress code,” Remark tells ELLE. The latter is key. Having worked with Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner, and Kate Moss—just to name a few—Remark knows a thing or two about dress codes. “For a classic wedding, feel free to wear unique textures like chrome or cat eye and follow seasonal color trends in hues that are either timeless (like red) or soft and toned down (think: pastels or sheers),” she says. “For a black-tie wedding, keep it timeless in neutrals, soft sheer pinks, or dressed up in soft pearl or glazed finishes at most. For any wedding, avoid colors that may be distracting in photos like neons, aqua, coral, hot pink, or the like.”
Now that you know what not to do, we’re going to tell you what you should do. Your wedding guest nail inspo is here.
Milky Shades
Instead of a pastel pink or stark white, milky shades are the perfect medium. “You can wear these as a full cream or as sheer,” Remark says.
Jelly Delight
Not to be confused with milky hues, jelly nails are completely transparent and glossy. Even beyond the wedding day itself, these nails will match your casual summer ’fits.
Pale Butter Yellow
Butter yellow isn’t just a fad; it’s clear it’s here to stay. Even Remark says it “pairs well with any wedding dress.”
Frosted Chrome
As Remark mentioned, you can go for something bolder for a classic wedding. Frosted chrome, popularized by Hailey Bieber, is a winter-meets-summer design that makes a statement without drawing too much attention.
A Matcha Moment
Similarly to butter yellow, matcha’s pale green hue goes swimmingly with almost any wedding guest dress. “Crunch crunch” is a great shade to start with.
Nearly Naked
Or, as Remark puts it: “The quiet luxury of nail color.” Tried and true, the natural look is timeless.