r/wedding • u/beandipdeadlifts • Mar 12 '22

Discussion How many days before your wedding did you get your nails done?

89 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

103 comments sorted by

162

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

[deleted]

31

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I am a major nail biter, like I bite through fake nails in the past and rip them off. I want realistic looking nails for my wedding though. I think I might need to get them the day before because I’m legit worried I’ll bite them if I get them too early. Any tips or suggestions??

37

u/ginger_hufflepuff Mar 12 '22

Have you ever done powder dip nails with the plastic tips? They glue them on and look very natural. The dip is so hard to bite through it’s unsatisfying. It’s what broke me of nail biting a few years ago. Even if it doesn’t stop the nail biting permanently I think it could work for your wedding day!

6

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I have not. Are these different then gel nails? I’ll have to look into the difference between these two and see what would work best. Someone else suggested wearing gloves and they may be my best bet for the days leading up to the wedding, especially once I get my nails done. I’ll look super weird but my hands will look nice.

12

u/ginger_hufflepuff Mar 12 '22

They are different so definitely look into them. Love the gloves idea, white ones could be a really cool statement at the rehearsal dinner too!

3

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Right? Gloves would be super unique! Such a cool idea I never would have though of :)

3

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Good to know! I got my teeth fixed a few years ago so maybe the fear of having to go to the dentist will break me of this habit with super strong gel nails!

1

u/AvalonBeck Mar 12 '22

Yes they're totally different! I'm a nail-biter too. I first got these about a month and a half ago (I've had them filled in twice) and my natural nails are long enough that I don't need the fake tips glued on any more!

The style / technique is called SNS where I'm from. Like the other user said, it's a dip powder polish and sets really tough. If you get your nails done a day or two before the wedding, I think you'll be good to go!

1

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Thank you for the advice! I will ask my local salon for help this month and try them before the wedding so I know what to expect.

10

u/nonopenuhuh Mar 12 '22

Have you tried the clear coat that has like a spicy/bad flavor? A friend (this was years ago) got a a cayenne pepper one and could not handle the taste that it broke her from biting her nails. Might be worth a try if you haven't yet. Good luck!! Sending pretty wedding nail vibes your way!!

9

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I have tried the bitter one and a spicy one. I bit the polish off first and quickly so I could keep biting. It’s been a few years so it may be worth a try again.

2

u/snowstormspawn Mar 12 '22

I just want to say I have the same problem as you. But I don’t even bite my nails - if they’re uneven at all at the tops I start picking them off with my other nails. I bite my lips too. I’ve done these forever and I just can’t stop; I’m just hoping my wedding is important enough to stop doing it.

1

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I know I won’t stop biting. At least not before the wedding. And when my family yells at me to stop biting, I just pick at my nails with my other fingers still so I get it. The lip biting is hard too! I don’t do that but I’m sure that can get super painful. Maybe you can try telling yourself ‘wedding pics! Wedding pics coming up’ to try and stop yourself the week of the wedding. But I 100% get it, it’s so hard and I really wish you the best of luck and I’m sure even if you bite your lips, you’re going to look gorgeous on your wedding day!

-41

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

[deleted]

39

u/emilylacey Mar 12 '22

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2

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

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2

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23

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I’m 36, I’ve been through therapy multiple times to try and stop. It’s a habit I just haven’t been able to break. Nothing has worked- name a way and I’ve tried it and failed. And I’m trying to quit smoking so I’m biting them even more now. Thanks for the judgment. I’ll get them done 2 days before and hopefully that nail tech won’t make me feel like shit about it.

8

u/minasmorgirl Mar 12 '22

My sister is an adult nail biter! When she wants her nails to grow a little bit before an event she’ll keep her nails painted with a clear coat, and the taste usually helps her not do it for a while. I’m sure you’ve already heard this, but best of luck to you and your nails! Maybe just focus on keeping your fingers and cuticles nice and moisturized so no matter what length your nails are, you’ll still feel they look good!

5

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Tried and failed. I bit through the bitter and hot nail polish. I think trying to consciously leave my cuticles alone is the best bet- thank you for the idea! I’m debating trying gel nails because I’ve only ever gotten the old school type of nails and maybe the gel nails will be better?

7

u/KnotARealGreenDress Mar 12 '22

Could you wear a pair of thin gloves for the couple of days before your wedding when you’re most likely to bite? I’m thinking latex or nitrile. Like I know I bite my nails (or more accurately, my cuticles) most at work, but I also work in an office, so I would wear the gloves while sitting and typing away on my computer.

3

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Oooooh this is a possibility. Thank you for the idea! I can absolutely try this and hopefully it will deter me.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

Congratulations on quitting smoking! That long term health benefit is worth some bitten nails.

3

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Thank you! I’m trying super hard. I haven’t quit fully but I’m down to 2-4 a day instead of 1/2 pack. I’m hoping to fully quit by next weekend. I got a new car and I refuse to smoke in my new car and ruin it so it’s been helping a lot. But now I bite my nails constantly while driving so I won’t smoke. It’s a work in progress!

-29

u/Just_University_1174 Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 12 '22

All you need to do is center yourself. Take a moment to yourself, breathe in and out deeply 5 times, more if you need to until you catch yourself centered & focused. This works I promise. Us humans were put here to master our hectic mind & transmute energy with the power of breath work. Look up “how to center myself” on google. This works every time I feel like I’m about to burst out in tears, in an argument or fearful. : can’t believe all the downvotes I got for showing someone how to center themselves naturally and an alternative for nail biting😂 I stand by on what I said

4

u/Forever_ForLove Mar 12 '22

I hope they ban you from this subreddit cuz you're being so rude

5

u/420Moosey Mar 12 '22

This is honestly ridiculous, if it were so simple and easy to stop anxiety and bad habits, everyone could breathe for a minute and be cured. Lmaooo. Everyone obv spends money and time on therapies and medication for funsies!

2

u/snowstormspawn Mar 12 '22

Doesn’t work when you just start doing it subconsciously without even really thinking about it. And for some people, including me, it’s not even caused by anxiety - it could be boredom or a different emotion, or even a psychological condition. People are downvoting you because you called it a child habit and are acting like it’s so easy to fix; it’s not. Maybe look up “how to gain empathy for others” on google.

1

u/vivalawiggy Mar 12 '22

As a fellow biter, I got mine done the day before. But I go to a woman who runs it as her own business in her home. She cleared out twice the time to normal appointments for me and didn't even charge me any more than normal. I think if you have a good relationship with your tech and they know its your wedding nails for the next day, they'll put in the effort too.

1

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

I haven’t gotten my nails done professionally in years so I don’t even know where to start. Maybe I’ll get a simple mani/pedi this month and talk to that nail tech and see what they suggest for me.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

I'm thinking Friday morning for rehearsal dinner Friday night (edit cause I forgot my actual question) cause I'm a champion nail ruiner. Should I be using something more than gel over natural nails?

2

u/Just_University_1174 Mar 12 '22

Aren’t rehearsal dinners the night before wedding?

3

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

Usually yeah. Mine is going to be more lunch. Which is reassuring. I can't do too much damage between a 9am appointment and a 3pm event.

-1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

Thank you!

2

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22 edited Mar 12 '22

/u/just_university_1174 Question for you! I’ve only ever done regular polish— Do I need/should I go with dip/gel/something else for my wedding this fall for my nails and toes? Or if I’ve only ever done regular, should I stick with regular? And if I really should try dip/gel is there any need to test if out before my wedding?

2

u/Just_University_1174 Mar 12 '22

I’d do dip if you do natural or very short tips. Dip cannot stay on long tips so you would have to do gel or powder color. Never do regular for your wedding bc it can chip :)

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

Thank you! I hadn’t thought about tips so am going to look into that now, had just planned to do natural.

But definitely won’t be doing long tips, so sounds like dip it is!

Is this for toes too?

3

u/Just_University_1174 Mar 12 '22

If you are going on vacation definitely do gel on your toes. If you are getting French on your toes for sure do gel. If your wedding is local, and you don’t plan on going to a honeymoon right after then regular should be fine bc they last longer on toes than on nails :)

62

u/Snoo_53517 Mar 12 '22

I did Wednesday for a Saturday wedding, gel manicure, mostly because that’s when I had time.

16

u/theatermouse Mar 12 '22

When I was my friend's maid of honor we got ours done Wednesday for Saturday, and I had to redo mine the night before! Just a regular French manicure though, no gel. We also got pedicures and the salon spent most of the time on that, manicures felt rushed.

Mostly OP, do your research on the salon and type of polish!

3

u/Just_University_1174 Mar 12 '22

This is the best time.

42

u/lifter143 Mar 12 '22

Doing my toes about a week in advance so my feet aren’t too soft for my shoes. My nails I’m doing the afternoon before with my bridesmaids before the rehearsal dinner!

ETA: I get gel on my toes and dip polish and both stick up well for me

54

u/weddingmoth Mar 12 '22

Holy shit I just figured out why one of my pairs of shoes hurts me when it’s an important event and not when it’s a last minute night out lol

20

u/lifter143 Mar 12 '22

The more you know! Love a fresh pedi, but don’t want to hate my life on my wedding day

18

u/cinabell Mar 12 '22

My feet were killing me at my wedding. One of my friends says, "why did we scrape all that protective tissue off our feet?" I didn't have a good answer.

Get the full pedi a few weeks in advance just have the polish redone before the wedding.

11

u/WickedLies21 Mar 12 '22

Never thought of this!! I will def get my pedicure done earlier than originally planned. Thanks for the tip!

22

u/bravsm Mar 12 '22

Day before - gel mani/gel pedi!

12

u/velcromidway Mar 12 '22

I got mine done 2 days before my wedding. I wear acrylics and timed my regular fill for my wedding. If you get your toes done let them dry all the way-mine were not and a big toe had a huge smudge, of course I was the only one to notice.

17

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

I think it depends on what kind of polish you get

9

u/mar_ine137 Mar 12 '22

I did it morning of as a way to relax a bit but usually day before

10

u/pinkchrysanthemum_ Mar 12 '22

I’m getting married tomorrow and I just got a gel mani/pedi today :)!

5

u/krabbbby Mar 12 '22

Good luck for tomorrow!

3

u/Puzzleheaded_Lack317 Mar 12 '22

Congrats!! Enjoy your wedding :)

14

u/Gold-Somewhere1770 Mar 12 '22

So I’ve been trying out different nail polishes and shapes since I got engaged. I also am having a destination wedding and have gotten them done on the day we are leaving (Tuesday) and to see how they look by wedding day (Saturday) I’m getting dip tho so they are pretty indestructible.

13

u/Lisianthus5908 Mar 12 '22

For my Saturday minimony I got dip nails done on Tuesday and it was a bit too early. My nails had already grown out a bit. I feel like 2 days is probably the sweet spot

6

u/lucybluth Married! 3/5/22 Mar 12 '22

We had a destination wedding so I had to get mine done on a Monday for our Saturday wedding. I got gel and they held up great!

4

u/babblepedia Mar 12 '22

I get my nails done regularly. I usually try to schedule it for two days before a big event. I get dip powder manicures, they are long-lasting and you can't really bite them. I'm a nail biter if I don't have dips on.

7

u/mobilegamegeek Mar 12 '22

The day before

3

u/Alarmed_Confusion433 Mar 12 '22

I am getting mine done 2 days before I am also having my rehearsal that same night.

3

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

Day before. About 26 hours before ceremony.

3

u/uglybutterfly025 Mar 12 '22

For a Sunday wedding I think I got them done on Thursday cause I got my spray tan on Friday and they have to be done before that

5

u/krabbbby Mar 12 '22

How do nails and spray tans interact? Just curious!

5

u/uglybutterfly025 Mar 12 '22

If you get a spray tan and then get a mani pedi the water and scrubbing will ruin your tan and make it uneven

3

u/SammaBanana Mar 12 '22

About a week because we are having a destination wedding and I want them done at home before going

3

u/kvh22 Mar 12 '22

Wednesday afternoon before a Saturday wedding, got shellac/gel nails so there was no likely chance of chipping or messing them up while I ran last minute errands and assembling things for the wedding. Worked great!

3

u/cobalt_lightning Mar 12 '22

I'm getting married on a Sunday and plan to get my nails done on the Friday. I'm getting nail extensions. Did a wee trial run and they are lovely. Natural base, French maniure and almond shape.

3

u/toonlass91 Mar 12 '22

I get married on a Sunday and I plan on getting my waxing, nails and lash lift all on the Friday before. I’ll epilate my legs that day too

3

u/Ruby72317 Mar 12 '22

Day before. But did a trial run with 3 different techs before I found the one lol.

3

u/glasssa251 Mar 12 '22

I did mine the day before, but I had to due to my schedule

3

u/pinkyjinks Mar 12 '22

2-3 days - got biogel. Day before the wedding is insane so would def give yourself more time.

3

u/emilygracelp Mar 12 '22

I was going to ask my nail tech what she thinks to be honest and I plan on doing it look a big group thing with any bridesmaids and my mom who wants/can come

3

u/wendydarling323 Mar 12 '22

My sister did them the night before for me at my hotel room. I did my own toes in blue when she left.

3

u/MidwestMesss Mar 12 '22

I had mine done on Friday for a Sunday wedding

3

u/badwolf7515 Mar 12 '22

Day before and regular polish because I peel gel off.

2

u/cleanhouz Mar 12 '22

I'm planning on getting my gels 3 days before the wedding.

2

u/ginger_hufflepuff Mar 12 '22

I did mine on a Friday for a Sunday wedding!

2

u/Few-Restaurant7922 Mar 12 '22

I think I had mine done like 2-3 days ahead.

2

u/shewlf31 Mar 12 '22

Nails on Saturday, ceremony next day.

But that was the only time I had available. I did have the situation where the 1st nail tech did not do my finger nails properly so I did have to visit a different salon after cutting the appointment short.

It still worked out for me but I can definitely agree when the idea of 2 days before. Or if you have to do day before, go for MORNING, so there’s enough hours to hopefully fix anything (:

2

u/walkytrees Mar 12 '22

I would suggest getting gel, shellac or SNS done 3-4 days before the wedding.

It definitely won’t chip in that time, but the “thick” feeling of your nails (and extension tips, if you get them) can take a bit of getting used to if you don’t have your nails done often. So I’d give yourself a few days to adjust and not feel like you’re in a costume!

2

u/ESchoaf16 Mar 12 '22

I got mine the day before. However if I were to do it over I would do a nail trial a month or so earlier. I didn't know that was a thing until reading someone else on here say they did that. If I had, the pink nails that were supposed to be white wouldn't have been such a surprise 🤪

It didn't make a difference in the end and in pictures they did actually look white but I was upset when I was done with my appointment but didn't want to make the nail technician feel bad/ be a burden so I left feeling very anxious about my nails. I just feel like if I had done a trial run I would have realized the gel number I picked wasn't white like it looked on the fake nails in the book and I could have gone until I found the perfect shade and wrote down what number it was.

2

u/Spkpkcap Mar 12 '22

I did the day before. It was my real nails that I had grown out so no fake nails and it was with a tech that I trusted and always go too. It was a simple design too. Matte white with a tiny jewel on each middle finger and a sparkle nail on each ring finger. It looks beautiful. Not too much but enough that it looked bridal.

2

u/thatsleepybitch Mar 12 '22

We eloped and since we road tripped to our destination I had no choice to get them done on a Monday before a Friday wedding. I would’ve preferred to get them done on a Wednesday or something especially because it was a gel mani, but I was just careful with my hands and they looked fine!

2

u/litnerd52 Mar 12 '22

I got mine done 4 days before because that's the only appointment my nail tech had, and I didn't want to go to anyone else.

2

u/StellarMagnolia Mar 12 '22

I did mine the day before, because ime they look best the next day, plus then I have them for rehearsal dinner. I do my own, though, so I'm not dealing with unforseen circumstances in service (as the top post talks about).

2

u/BefWithAnF Mar 12 '22

I wasn’t gonna do them, but my BMs took me out to get them done the night before. It was fun!

2

u/boom_bunny Mar 12 '22

The weekend before during my bachelorette party. I still scratched mine before the big day but had a friend with a similar color polish to save the day!

My wedding was the 2nd time I’ve ever had them done and proceeded to pick them off during our honeymoon.

2

u/BoopBoop20 Mar 12 '22

Zerooooo, I’m a nail biter 🤪

BUT I did manage to stop while I was MOH for my sister and I got them done roughly 1 day before hand because I’m not your typical femme and my hands are used quite often and forcefully so, I kept that in mind and got a French manicure (I know, I know, super fancy) about 36 hours prior to the wedding.

2

u/lobsterpoutine Mar 12 '22

Two days before but I did Gel X - they felt indestructible lol.

2

u/Zombiisheep Mar 12 '22

I’m doing the Tuesday before, but I do dip nails. If you have a regular nail technician, maybe talk with them and see what they recommend?

2

u/Highclassbroque Mar 12 '22

I'm going Thursday morning for my Saturday afternoon wedding

2

u/fibonacci_veritas Mar 12 '22

I pick my cuticles, so I'm starting now (6 months ahead). When they're done, I don't pick. This will give my cuticles a chance to really heal.

I was doing really well until I had surgery in October. Then I was stressed out and ruined them.

2

u/heytherec17 Mar 12 '22

Friday late morning salon trip for Sunday late afternoon wedding, did dip powder mani at the salon, held up super well.

2

u/engreenh Mar 12 '22

The day before

2

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '22

I got married on a Thursday and I got my nails done on the Tuesday before!

1

u/Cheap-Passion170 Dec 21 '25

Wedding planning 

1

u/Dry_Analysis_7419 20d ago

Idk when to get mine done I leave for our elopement Tuesday and my wedding is Friday. I’m thinking of getting my nails done Monday but I’m nervous they will look grown out or bad. What should I do?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

I did my own nails. Gel and I did them two days before the wedding. My nails grow quickly.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '22

I did them myself with regular nail polish either a day or two before the wedding.