The Top 7 Trends for 2025 Wedding Nails, According to Celebrity Manicurists

This year, it’s all about giving classics a modern twist.

Photos: Stocksy, Getty,Design: Ashley Detmering for The Knot

Updated Jan 14, 2025

As a 2024 bride, my wedding nails felt like one of the few things I had true control over during the planning process. While I had a very specific wedding vision in mind and a roster of great vendors on my side, I knew it wasn't possible to know exactly how everything would play out on the big day. I would never know whether or not my guests would get rained on during dinner (they did), and I would never know if my DJ might still play a certain line dance song even if I plead with him not to (he did). It was possible, however, for me to sift through Pinterest nail ideas and test drive a fresh Gel-X manicure every month so that when the time came, I knew exactly what I wanted my nails for the wedding to look like.

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If you're in the same boat—or perhaps are a guest or wedding party member looking for inspiration—you've come to the right place. Not only have I been through it, but I've also chatted with some of the industry's top nail artists and experts to bring you an official 2025 wedding nail trend forecast. Read on for predictions from the manicurists of Sofia Richie Grange, Margot Robbie, Zoë Kravitz and more, then visit The Knot Vendor Marketplace to find nail professionals near you. To do that, just select "beauty" from the category dropdown menu and type in your city and state, then select "nails" under the beauty services dropdown menu. Once you find the one, you'll have plenty of inspo photos to show them—just keep scrolling.

The traditional choice for wedding fingernails, especially for brides, has always leaned toward the classics. French manicures, barely-there neutrals and baby pinks à la Essie's "Ballet Slippers" and OPI's "Bubble Bath" are a few examples that come to mind. But Ann McFerran, founder of Glamnetic, tells me this will change a bit in 2025. "Upcoming wedding nail trends are all about giving classic looks a fresh twist." she says. While we'll definitely still be embracing neutrals this year, we're going to have a lot more fun with them. "Whether it's a tiny bit of nail art, adding depth with velvet finishes or layering chrome for a glow, it's all about finding something that feels personal and works with your wedding's vibe," says Mazz Hanna, CEO of Nailing Hollywood. This allows to-be-weds and wedding guests to keep things understated (or not!) while also making them feel a lot more interesting. From multidimensional finishes to bold embellishments like you've never seen before, scroll on for the wedding nail ideas you're going to see everywhere this year.

In this article:

Blush Nails
Pearlescent & Chrome Finishes
3D Embellishments
Modern French Manicures
Velvet and Glass Nails
The No-Mani Mani
Minimal Nail Art

1. Blush Nails

Neutral wedding nail colors will always be big, but this year, you can expect blush, in particular, to be the biggest. It's a timeless, sophisticated, true-to-the nail shade, adding just a touch of color while keeping things chic and understated. This trend is a personal favorite of Georgia Rae, the celebrity manicurist behind Sofia Richie's baby pink bridal nails. Though the star's wedding took place in the summer of 2023, the images of her perfectly manicured hands from that day still grace my Instagram feed on a regular basis—and the Biosculpture shade Rae used to achieve them (Sweet Candy Breath) still frequently sells out. "Classic, sheer nudes stand the test of time. They're so versatile and can be layered or mixed to create a custom bridal shade," she says. "Blush pinks, specifically, give the nails a healthy, glowy appearance." Also ideal for engagement nails, bridal shower nails and everything in between, you can never go wrong with blush.

2. Pearlescent & Chrome Finishes

From the moment Hailey Bieber's glazed donut manicure went viral in 2022, chrome nails and pearlescent finishes have shown no signs of slowing down. While the two terms are often used interchangeably and refer to similar looks, there is a difference between the two. Pearlescent finishes will top the nail with a subtle iridescence—like that of a pearl—while chrome finishes create more of a mirror-like, metallic effect. Both options, however, leave the nails with a soft, luminous glow that feels so right for weddings. "These finishes will continue their popularity," says McFerran. "They add such a chic and modern flair to classic styles. Plus, they're so versatile—you can add the glazed finish to any color."

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3. 3D Embellishments

CHANEL nail artist Betina Goldstein—whose wedding nail designs double as works of art—says bold embellishments will be a big wedding nail trend in 2025. "Real pearls, gemstones, gold and diamonds create a luxury manicure that will make the bride feel extra special on her special day," she says. Adding peek-a-boo embellishments underneath the nails is a great way to give the trend a modern spin while sticking with a classic neutral—understated on the top, bold on the bottom. Goldstein did this for Whitney Peak's 2023 Met Gala manicure, adding one freshwater pearl to the underside of each almond-shaped nail. "This isn't limited to just pearls—it can be created with other stones like turquoise for an Aspen or Santa Fe wedding, or emeralds or rubies for a more opulent bride."

4. Modern French Manicures

2025 bride nails will be all about giving classic looks a modern twist. Switching up timeless French-tip wedding nails is a great way to keep things understated and minimal while adding a bit of interest and personality to your nails for wedding day, whether it's by swapping classic white for bridal blue or adding an ombré effect. The "micro-French" manicure—a term coined by Goldstein herself—will also be a major take on the trend. Sometimes called a "baby French manicure," the technique consists of topping neutral or bare nails with a teeny-tiny white line at the tip. "I always love a micro-French manicure for a wedding nail," says Goldstein. "It's very versatile and an easy way for brides to add a little extra something to their nails. You can keep it traditional with an off-white or true white, or you could add sparkle or color."

5. Velvet and Glass Nails

Velvet nails, glass nails, cat-eye nails—whatever you prefer to call them, it was only a matter of time before this manicure trend made its way into the bridal space. The look is achieved through a unique polish formula consisting of tiny metal particles that can be manipulated with a magnet for a unique, three-dimensional effect. "Glass and velvet nails with magnetic gels and polish are very trendy right now and they are definitely going to have a big presence in the wedding scene," says Butter LONDON nail expert Sigourney Nuñez. "Whether you wear them with a nude or soft silver base, this is a perfect effect for a bride's manicure." This is a great nail trend for the to-be-wed who wants to add eye-catching interest while sticking to simple wedding nails. Though, it can just as easily be done in a bolder shade and works well for wedding guest nails, too.

6. The No-Mani Mani

Akin to the "no-makeup makeup" or "your lips but better" wedding makeup trends, this 2025 wedding manicure idea is all about letting your natural nails shine. "I'm a huge fan of a super natural nail look on your wedding day—looking like the best version of yourself," says Rae. "So I love the barely-there trend where the nails are preened to perfection and finished with a super glossy sheer shade that perfectly complements your skin tone, still allowing the natural nail to show through." This look goes hand-in-hand with the trend toward short wedding nails, which feels refreshing and classic after years of extra-long coffin and almond shapes as the norm. "Short nails work well with any classic shade and are a great option for weddings in 2025," says Hanna.

7. Minimal Nail Art

Nail art is nothing new, but modern, minimal takes will be a fan favorite among brides this year. Whether it's tiny flowers and bows, a pretty lace pattern to match the bridal gown or a bit of abstract line art, these delicate details a great way to add interest to an otherwise simple and classic bridal manicure. "I recently had a bride client ask for a mix-and-match set that incorporated a complementary nude color, a crisp white and glittery silver. Minimal and abstract nail art isn't going anywhere, so this was a very modern way to incorporate the trend to her wedding day nails," says Nuñez. "Keeping the color palette pretty neutral allowed us to get playful with the designs without it being too distracting."