The bride-to-be is the center of attention at every wedding event. For many brides, the stress of planning a wedding is overwhelming, but there’s one thing she never overlooks and that is her nails. No matter how big or small the wedding budget is, there’s always a budget for the perfect acrylic nail art. Acrylic nails have become increasingly popular because of their professional look, flexibility of design and easy maintenance.

The application of acrylic nails is fairly simple. While there are hundreds of at-home kits for the do-it-yourselfer, salon quality acrylic nails can rarely be achieved on your own. With a salon manicure affordably priced around $30, many women prefer to have their nails done by a professional.

First the nail technician will remove any polish or residue from the fingernails. Next, she will buff down the nails to create an abrasive like surface. This creates ridges for the nail glue and acrylic to latch onto which makes it last for weeks. Plastic nail tips are attached on the edge of your nail and cut to the size and shape you prefer. Acrylic powder is mixed with base oil which helps create a gel. Using precision technique and a small paint brush, the technician will apply the acrylic over top of the nail and plastic nail tip. Once all the nails are finished the technician will file and buff until the acrylic offers a luster shine similar to a real nail.

The next phase is where acrylic nail art comes into effect. When you walk into a salon you will see posters and nail chains displaying different designs. The nail chains typically feature 20-30 nail designs painted on artificial nails. You can line these up with your fingernail to see what they look like and if they would be ideal for your wedding day. Many salon technicians prefer that you to pick out a color or design that you would like before the manicure begins. Also bring a swatch of your wedding colors with you if you would like the technician to incorporate them into your nail design. Acrylic nail designs are painted on using a combination of airbrushed nail paint and tiny precision brushes.

The final step in the process involves a UV gel coat placed over top of your nails to help the acrylic nail art stay and the nails last. You will be asked to sit with your hands under a UV light for a few minutes to help the acrylic set and harden.

You’d be surprised in the WOW factor custom nails can create coming in at a very tiny portion of the overall wedding budget. Just think of how often a bride’s hand is featured throughout the big day. There’s the meet and greet, then people checking out the ring and don’t forget about the wedding photos. It’s no surprise that a manicure is the one to-do that gets done right away!