Weddings are an ideal time to entice clients to try nail art. An elegant, sophisticated design is the perfect complement to a bride s gown and/or her bridesmaids’ dresses. Read on to see what designs some nail technicians are doing for their clients’ special day

This airbrushed design by Dawn Marie Moretti of Nails By Gunpoint in Campbell, Calif., is a takeoff of a French manicure. Using Creates. airbrush paints, Moretti sprayed the nail bed with iridescent pearl gold, then she used a curved diagonal stencil and sprayed the free edge white. She used opaque pink for the ribbons and placed two pearls and one pink crystal on the curves of each ribbon for a finishing touch.

Annie Heimberg, a nail technician at Hair & Nail Xpressions in Somerville, N.J., created these nail designs to match her bridesmaids’ dresses and rhinestone jewelry. For the “Fancy Check Mark” design (bottom right), Heimberg used Essie Cosmetics’ Marshmallow polish for the base coat. Next, she used Essie’s Blanc polish to paint a diagonal line across one side of the nail, then a smaller diagonal on the other. She outlined the diagonal with black acrylic paint and made a border, then placed alternating black and clear rhinestones inside the border. She sealed the design with Seche Vite top coat.

To create the “Fancy Chevron” design (top right), Heimberg used Essie’s Snowflakes polish as a base coat, then painted chevron tips with Essie’s Blanc polish. On the ring finger, she painted four white acrylic stripes and accented each square with clear rhinestones She also placed a clear rhinestone at the point of the chevron on the index and middle fingers. On the pinkie, she placed a triangular rhinestone nail charm set in 14K prongs made by Snails Italian Jewelry Co.

Christi Vreeland, co-owner of Half Moon Nails in Allentown, Pa., created these elegant nail designs (top photo) for a bridal fair. For each design she used OPI’s Start-to-Finish as a base coat and top coat. From left to right: For this design, Vreeland applied two coats of OPI’s Custer’s Last Stand #A01. Next, she used salmon, rose, ted green, white, black, and gold water- based acrylic paints to make the nail art.

For the second design, Vreeland started with two coats of Orly’s Lilacs & Lace #82. She created the floral nail art using dark green, white, black, and silver water-based acrylic paints.

Vreeland used Nina International’s French Pink Tint #409 as the base color for the middle design, then painted Nina’s French Parfait White #401 on the tip. She painted the bridal bouquet using pink, gold, white, black, and blue- green water-based acrylic paints.

For the next design, Vreeland started with two coats of Orly’s Platinum #58, then used purple, blue, green, and white water- based acrylic paints to make the design, finishing off with iridescent rhinestones.

Vreeland applied two coats cf Orly’s Dainty Pink #99for the last design. To create the rosy design, she used rose, pink, cream, green, black, and gold water-based acrylic paints.

This elegant matching J. French manicure (middle photo) was done by Brenda Sweat, owner of Nails. By Brenda in San Jose, Calif. First she applied a base coat, then used Jessica Cosmetics’. White Cap polish for the tip. For the second coat of color, she applied Avon’s Creamy Sheers French Pink polish, then brushed-on top coat for a high- gloss finish.

For this design (previous page), Judy Jensen, a nail technician at The Electric Chair in Las Vegas, Nev., used Essie’s Baby’s Breath polish on the tip. Next, she applied Essie’s Marshmallow polish, then Essie’s Ballet Slippers polish. To make the roses, Jensen used white and purple paint, then added emerald green leaves. She used a dotter brush to paint white dots, then applied silver beads and sealed with Pro Finish’s top coat.

For this bridal design (top right), Patricia Alotta, owner of Patty’s Creative Nails in Brooklyn, N.Y., first applied two coats of Tantra’s 18k polish, then she used one coat of Tantra’s Cotton polish for the diagonal. Next, she used acrylic paint and a striping brush to make three gold lines on each nail, then added one rhinestone on eight of the nails. On the ring fingers, Alotta painted peach rose buds with green leaves.

For this glitzy design (bottom right), Alotta started with one coat of Tantra’s Sheer White polish and one coat of Tantra’s Opal Glitter polish as a base coat. Next, Alotta painted a basic French manicure, then applied a row of opalescent rhinestones.

These pretty, sophisticated designs (above) were cre­ated by Laura Scott, owner of Nails By Laura in Newhall, Calif. From left to right- Starting with a single coat of OPI’s Parisian Pink polish, Scott air- brushed a French manicure look with a faded line. Next, she used deco mauve and white water-based paints swirled together to make the roses and buds. She added a few white dots, then painted a deep green vine connecting the flowers. Next, she applied rhinestones, then sealed the design with OPI’s clear polish.

For the next design, Scott airbrushed a white, double “V” French manicure over a single coat of OPI’s Parisian Pink polish. Next, she used deco mauve and white water-based paints swirled together to make the rose buds. Then, Scott painted deep green leaves and vines, and added a few gold balls for accent. She sealed the design with OPI’s clear polish.

Scott applied OPI’s Parisian Pink polish as a base coat for the third design, then painted a V-shaped French manicure-looking tip with opalescent-colored fitter. Next, she used a gleaming teal pearl paint swirled with white and added a flower at the middle of the V shape. Then, Scott painted small buds using the same colors. She painted the leaves o the flower and buds with antique gold, then added fin black lines. Next, she created, vine using green-painted dot and gold balls. Scott also added three gold balls to the leave of two buds, then sealed the design with clear polish.