One of the many important tasks on a prospective bride’s to-do list is a wedding manicure. Some of the loveliest images from a wedding are a close-up of the bride’s hand sporting her new wedding ring or the hands of the newly wedded couple cutting the cake together.  Yet your hands may not be at the top of your list of things to check before the wedding.  Although most brides will apply a fresh coat of polish on the day you should take care of your hands in the lead up to the wedding in order for them to really look their best.

If you’ve been having regular manicures, by all means, keep it up to keep skin soft, nail beds tidy and hangnails avoided. If you aren't a manicure kind of gal, start getting them a few weeks before to ensure that your nails are healthy and in tiptop shape. Either way, you should schedule your final bridal manicure as close to the wedding day as possible.

As the date draws near, avoid doing tasks that might chip the finish on your nails or worse, cause you to break a nail and create an uneven outline on your fingers, such as scrubbing pots and pans or moving heavy furniture. Wear gloves when gardening or doing dishes to avoid scratches on your hands, or damaged nails. Also, don’t use your nails as tools for opening letters, cans or anything else.

Use hand cream often and be sure to massage it into the cuticles, especially at night to keep them smooth and even. Some prospective brides apply hand cream before bed and sleep with soft cotton gloves on to give their hands an extra intense moisture mask.

If you’re a nail biter, now is the time to quit! There are many foul tasting paints that you can apply to your nails to put your chewing.  If this doesn't work for you, consider having tips applied to your nails; if you can’t get to them, you can’t bite them!

Traditionally, most brides opt for either a very pale polish or a French manicure which is a white stripe painted just across the top of the nail and a clear or very sheer pink polish applied to the entire nail. The result is a classically beautiful, elegantly understated look that when photographed allows the attention to be drawn to where you want it to be — on your engagement ring and wedding band. In addition, a French manicure looks stunning in black and white photography and does not date. 

For a more colorful look, or if you are having an evening wedding, choose a darker red or pink polish.  If choosing this route keep your nails away from your white dress as even completely dry polish can sometimes rub off onto fabric.  For added protection, finish your manicure with a layer of clear polish to seal the color in.

Whether you choose a classic look or opt for something more dramatic, take the time to make sure your hands look their best.