13 Bridesmaid Nail Polish and Dress Color Combos Everyone Will Love

Here's how to choose the right nail shade for your bridal party.

By
Chinea Rodriguez
Chinea Rodriguez

Chinea is an experienced fashion and beauty writer who previously worked as a wedding style and fashion assistant for Brides.

Brides's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on 07/09/22
woman

PHOTO BY JENN OCKEN PHOTOGRAPHY / Design by Jiaqi Zhou

If there's one must-have accessory for bridesmaids, it's freshly polished nails. A glossy manicure is the perfect finishing touch to add to any bridesmaid dress, but with so many polish colors available, choosing the best shade for your bridal party can be overwhelming. Do you match those blush bridesmaid dresses with equally pretty-in-pink nails? What about black bridesmaid dresses? Does a neutral dress color mean you can choose any shade of polish?

To help you choose the ideal bridesmaid nail color for your bridal party's dresses, we reached out to Candice Idehen, owner of Bed of Nails salon. She breaks down which mani hues pair best with some of the most popular bridesmaid dress colors.

Meet the Expert

Keep reading for expert tips on choosing the best bridesmaid nail color and dress combination for your bridal party.

01 of 13

Gray Bridesmaid Dresses With Silver Nails

Bride with bridesmaids in shades of gray

Photo by Kaylee Chelsea Photography; Event Planning by Novelty Events; Bridesmaids Dresses by BHLDN

Pair gray bridesmaid dresses with a silver shade like Côte Nail Polish in No. 110 Molten Metal for a daytime wedding. For a nighttime soirée, try a deeper metallic shade with a hint of bronze that'll bring the drama.

Côte Nail Polish in No. 110 Molten Metal

Courtesy of Côte

SHOP NOW: Côte, $18

02 of 13

Red Bridesmaid Dresses With Burgundy Nails

Bride with four bridesmaids in red-burgundy dresses

Photo by Alejandro Cerdena

If you're outfitting bridesmaids in shades of red, burgundy is the way to go. "To offset the red, I would go with a nice burgundy because it leaves room for makeup to have color as well as accessories," Idehen says. "The burgundy has just enough color to get noticed but won't overpower since red is such an intense color." Consider Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Nail Colour in Miziggoo, a rich shade that's flattering on all skin tones and nail lengths.

Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin Nail Colour in Miziggoo, a deep burgundy color

Courtesy of Christian Louboutin

SHOP NOW: Christian Louboutin, $50

03 of 13

Black Bridesmaid Dresses With Jet Black Nails

Bridesmaids in black dresses with bride

Photo by IVASH 

For a look that's fresh off the runway, pair black bridesmaid dresses with matching jet-black polish for all the noir elegance. Essie nail polish in Licorice is a tried-and-true staple. For a more demure touch, consider sheer, barely there shades that give nails a healthy shine sans color.

Essie Licorice Nail Polish

Courtesy of Essie

SHOP NOW: Essie, $10

04 of 13

Coral Bridesmaid Dresses With Nude Nails

Bride with six bridesmaids in mismatched coral dresses

Photo by Taylor McCutchan

If your bridal party is looking cool in coral, Idehen recommends pairing the fun and flattering hue with a neutral shade, such as Essie's Perennial Chic—a nude with peachy undertones. "The color is very interesting, so I wouldn't want to overload the look," she says. "Complement it with a clean, always beautiful color."

Essie nail polish in Perennial Chic, a soft peach color

Courtesy of Essie

SHOP NOW: Amazon, $10.04

05 of 13

Blush Bridesmaid Dresses With Pale Pink Nails

Bride in red lehenga sitting and luaghing with bridesmaids in matching pink lehengas

Photo by The Present Perfect

Wear a matching pale pink polish with this perennial favorite shade. Have your bridesmaids pair their pretty-in-pink look with a similarly soft blush nail color, like Nails Inc. Gel Effect Nail Polish in Mayfair Lane.

Nails Inc nail polish in Mayfair Lane, a soft pink color

Courtesy of Sephora

SHOP NOW: Sephora, $15

06 of 13

Yellow Bridesmaid Dresses With White Nails

Bride smiling with bridesmaids in yellow slip dresses

Photo by Sotiris Tsakanikas; Event Planning & Floral Design by Stefanotis Weddings

For this bright spring shade, Idehen recommends a surprising nail polish color: white. "White would be my pick," she explains. "It complements yellow. They melt together nicely, and it's super chic." She recommends Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color in Amazing Grace, an opaque white polish that leaves plenty of opportunities for minimal nail art.

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color in Amazing Grace, a white color

Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann

SHOP NOW: Deborah Lippmann, $20

07 of 13

Mint Bridesmaid Dresses With Peach Nails

Bride holding bouquet and hugging bridesmaids in mint slip dresses in desert

Photo by Hailley Howard Photography

It may sound like it wouldn't work, but try pairing a mint bridesmaid dress with a warm peachy nail. The complementary colors look like pure summertime! We love Peach Side Babe, a juicy and bright shade by Essie.

Essie nail polish in Peach Side Babe, a pink peach color

Courtesy of Essie

SHOP NOW: Essie, $10

08 of 13

Navy Blue Bridesmaid Dresses With Chrome Nails

Bride and four bridesmaids in navy dresses holding white bouquets and standing in front of sand dune

Photo by Heather Waraska

For a bold dress, Idehen suggests an even bolder hue. "I love a good chrome against a navy dress. I think it pops but still reads as elegant and sexy as well as sophisticated and trendy." Her pick is Deborah Lippmann's aptly named Wow.

Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro nail polish in Wow, a silver color

Courtesy of Deborah Lippmann

SHOP NOW: Deborah Lippmann, $20

09 of 13

White Bridesmaid Dresses With Opalescent Nails

Bride with four bridesmaids in white dresses and fur shawls

Photo by Laura Gordon

Nearly any nail color pairs well with a white, and nothing says "wedding" like a clean white polish. Suggest your 'maids match their white dresses with the opalescent Zoya Nail Lacquer in Genesis.

Ask your bridesmaids to keep their nail color neutral to avoid drawing too much attention from the rest of the bridal party's looks—including your own!

Zoya nail polish in Genesis, a crystalline white shade

Courtesy of Ulta

SHOP NOW: Ulta, $12

10 of 13

Pink Bridesmaid Dresses With Moody Plum Nails

Bride in lace long sleeve dress surrounded by bridesmaids in pink dresses

Photo by David Bastianoni Studio

Freshen up a feminine pink look by opting for moody manicures in deep jewel tones like oxblood or plum. Pink may bring forth the most feminine and demure imagery, but that doesn't mean you're confined to prim and proper pastel hues. We love OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark, a decadent inky hue that never disappoints.

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark nail polish

Courtesy of OPI

SHOP NOW: OPI, $10.49

11 of 13

Orange Bridesmaid Dresses With Creamy Coral Nails

Bride with six bridesmaids in mismatched yellow, orange, and gold bridesmaid dresses

Photo by A Heart String Weddings

Depending on the season, burnt oranges, sepias, terracottas, and bronzes can all create a wedding-worthy manicure palette. Orange is a versatile fashion choice as it can evoke all the playful whimsy of summer or the warm spiciness of autumn. For a bridesmaid nail color that flatters any month, consider Gucci's Peggy Sunburn—a vintage coral—for a retro touch.

Gucci's Peggy Sunburn nail lacquer

Courtesy of Gucci

SHOP NOW: Sephora, $30

12 of 13

Nude Bridesmaid Dresses With Champagne Nails

Bride in white off-shoulder dress holding large white bouquet and walking towards camera with bridesmaids in nude dresses

Photo by Danilo and Sharon

While nude nails are an obvious choice for nude or champagne bridesmaid dresses, the ideal nude polish can differ for everyone depending on individual skin and undertone combinations. If uniformity is what you're after, opt for a metallic champagne like Orly's Moonchild for a similar lengthening effect with a hint of glam. For a bold statement, we love saturated jewel tones like velvety blues or vampy reds.

Orly Moonchild nail lacquer

Courtesy of Orly

SHOP NOW: Orly, $11

13 of 13

Purple Bridesmaid Dresses With Smoky Mauve Nails

Bride with bridesmaids in shades of purple

Photo by Judy Pak

For a sophisticated bridesmaid manicure, we're obsessed with chic creamy grays or dusty mauves that elevate any shade and undertone in the purple spectrum. Essie's Chinchilly, a smoky urban mauve, is a cult favorite for a reason.

Essie Chinchilly nail polish

Courtesy of Essie

SHOP NOW: Essie, $10

FAQ
  • When should bridesmaids get their nails done?

    Ideally, a day or two before—enough time for nails to fully dry but not enough for them to chip (with any luck). The morning of the wedding is not recommended. Even if it seems like the bridesmaids have plenty of time, it can take up to 24 hours for nail polish to fully set.

  • Should all the bridesmaids wear the same nail polish color?

    If you'd like to get a close-up photo of your 'maids holding their bouquets, it may be worth it. But, really, there are no rules. Have your bridesmaids pick from approved colors or let them do their own thing.

  • What nail polish colors go with everything?

    Neutrals are fairly foolproof. Try shades of nude, gray, or blush—and don't forget about French manicures. Classic red plays nicely with a wide range of colors, especially jewel tones and neutrals.

Related Stories