30 Gorgeous Wedding Guest Nail Ideas

Choosing a manicure as a wedding guest is a delicate balance. On the one hand, you’re not the bride, so you can get a little more funky, colorful, and fashion-forward. On the other hand, you may not want to pull focus on yourself with a fully blinged-out set of long tips. 

“You don’t want to take attention away from the bride,” says celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce. “It’s not the best time for a super flashy manicure with tons of 3D art like spikes or chains.” But even though spikes are off the table, that doesn’t mean you don’t have plenty of other options. 

Think about where you’re going, what type of wedding it is, and what you’re wearing—then match that vibe. A New Year’s Eve wedding is great for sparkle, metallics, and shine. A countryside wedding might be a wonderful time to lean into the floral nail art trend you’ve been seeing all over Instagram. And for a traditional Catholic Mass, well, a simple neutral manicure might do the trick. 

Ahead, we’ve collected all the wedding guest nail inspiration you’ll need for every type of wedding.