This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (2024)

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Wedding season is nearing...and so is the drama.

by Krista TorresBuzzFeed Staff

There are a lot of things that are "off limits," so to speak, when it comes to weddings. For example, we all know wearing white on someone's wedding day is offensive, but have you ever thought about nail polish color? Well, this bride did and it has set the internet off. Here's the story...

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (2)

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It all starts with this "Am I The Asshole" Reddit thread which involves a 24-year-old bride and her best friend of 15 years (who is 25 years old, and the author of this thread, or OP for short) as one of the bridesmaids. "We have always been on good terms with zero fights previously; this may be chalked up to the fact that I absolutely hate conflict so I always try to either de-escalate situations or simply adhere to her wishes," the OP said in the thread.

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (3)

Su Arslanoglu / Getty Images

"She has been planning a wedding for close to two years now, and she asked me to be her maid of honor as soon as she got engaged. I was ecstatic to be a part of this happy time for her, but that excitement has slowly started dying down because of how she's been treating me the last few months," continued the OP.

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (4)

Urbazon / Getty Images

The final straw, according to the OP, was during the bridal shower. "I arrived early to set up decorations, games, food, etc. before the event because I wanted to make sure she'd have a memorable day. Everything looked beautiful, and when my best friend got there, she looked thrilled... Until she saw my white nails. I could see she was staring at my hands and making a face, but she initially brushed it off when I asked what was wrong."

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (5)

Dimensions / Getty Images/iStockphoto

"We started to get ready for some fun bridal games when my friend pulled me aside to have a private chat. I assumed it would be about how the day was going, but what she said honestly just hurt my feelings. She told me she wanted me to either rip off my nails or go home because she felt like the white nails were a subtle dig at her or a way for me to take attention off of her as white is 100% reserved for the bride."

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (6)

Devmarya / Getty Images

"I absolutely did not wear them on purpose; I had bought cute little press-on nails for a date with my boyfriend and just hadn't taken them off. Anyway, I told her no, I would not be taking them off because this situation was honestly ridiculous and it wasn't like I was wearing a white dress or anything to take the attention from her. As I said before, I absolutely hate conflict, so I think the fact I was standing up to her caught her off guard. She looked stunned, and then she started tearing up and saying I was trying to ruin the day for her. Her mom came over to ask what was wrong, and I tried to explain it was just a misunderstanding, but my friend told me to leave because I wasn't respecting her wishes as the bride."

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (7)

Ljupco / Getty Images/iStockphoto

So, the OP left. However, now she says people are messaging her siding with the bride, that she should have removed her nails. "Her fiancé even asked me to apologize and make up so the wedding can run smoothly in a few days. Apparently, she didn't think I'd actually leave and thought I'd rip off my nails after her threat."

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (8)

Comezora / Getty Images

She wraps up the situation saying, "Honestly, I'm just really confused about how this all happened. It's making me question my friendship with her; my boyfriend said she's acting jealous and I didn't do anything to warrant her reaction. But honestly, I'm starting to feel like the asshole. All I had to do was take the stupid nails off and let the day go smoothly. I genuinely don't know if I f*cked up or not, or if she's just being controlling. So, am I the asshole?"

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (9)

Emmanuel Faure / Getty Images

Now, I scrolled long and hard to find differing opinions but, on Reddit, I couldn't find a single one that sided with the bride. Everyone seems to back the OP in this situation. Here's what a few people said:

"Nails? Really? If her granny comes to the wedding is she going to have to cover up her white hair? This girl sounds utterly exhausting. You didn't show up in a bridal gown, and it wasn't even the wedding. I'm not personally familiar with any rule that says that you can't wear a white dress to a bridal shower, much less white nails! Is white forbidden in her presence from the day of her engagement until after the honeymoon? Ridiculous."

u/molly_the_mezzo

"If this is her hill to die on, so be it. She lost her mind and threw you out for press on nails. If she can’t realize she messed up, I’d say stay home. Not because you cannot wear white nails, but because of the disrespect and disregard for all your efforts. You sound like a fantastic and very thoughtful friend. But friendship is a two-way street. How does she take care of you?"

u/Ryuloulou

"Not the asshole. They are nails. I get not wearing a white dress but never heard of not being able to wear white nails. She needs to get a grip and get over herself."

u/Fun-Two-1414

"This person is NOT your friend. She has NEVER considered you equal to her in the relationship. She says 'jump,' you respond 'how high', and she is used to this dynamic. All of a sudden, you stand up for yourself and she is upset that she is no longer the 'boss' of the relationship. She wasn't upset at the white nails, she was upset you stood up for yourself. If you want to go back to being the 'underling' the 'subordinate' then apologize and grovel, because we all know she is going to want you to grovel. Otherwise, tell her to GTFU and be an adult. Your relationship will change but it will be better for you."

u/AussieTopCat

"'Oh, look everyone, do you see how pretty her nails are? Much nicer than the brides.' You see how ridiculous that sounds? Your 'friend' is a bully. It is more telling how everyone wants you to agree just to appease her because there is no freaking way I'd be messaging you saying to just take the nails off. Seriously, crying over nail colors?????"

u/capricorn40

Even though Reddit doesn't think the OP is in the wrong, there are still people in the wedding party who think she is. So, we want to ask our BuzzFeed readers: what do you think? Let us know in the comments!

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (10)

Chev Wilkinson / Getty Images/Image Source

This Bridesmaid's Nail Polish Color "Ruined" Her Best Friend's Bridal Shower (2024)

FAQs

Do bridesmaid nails need to match? ›

If the bride doesn't have any preferences, Brooklyn-based nail artist Erica Hipp has a good rule of thumb for bridesmaids to follow: “You never want to upstage the bride," she says. “When choosing a nail polish color, it's probably safest to go neutral or match your [bridesmaid] dress."

Is it rude to have white nails at a wedding? ›

Can you wear white nails as a wedding guest? White nails at a wedding aren't breaking any rules. Your nails are a small enough accent that the bride's white dress will still be the star of the show.

Are bridesmaids responsible for the bridal shower? ›

The Traditional Bridal Shower Host

The maid of honor traditionally takes on the role of chief shower planner. But she isn't a one-woman show: She relies on the bridesmaids to help her with planning logistics. On the day of, the girls run the party, making sure everything goes smoothly and that guests are taken care of.

Can you have white nails as a bridesmaid? ›

The Best Bridesmaid Nail Colors

If she has curated a specific palette or only wants classic shades, avoid bright colors and stick to neutrals, pinks, and whites. For evening weddings, deeper hues, which match the bridesmaid dress, may be acceptable since they won't steal the attention in photos.

What color nail polish is best for bridesmaids? ›

What are the best nail colors for bridesmaids? There is no “best” nail color as every wedding is different, but there are certain colors and stylesthat reign supreme for the bridal party. Neutral nail polish colors including nude, white, or light pink are beautiful options that go with any bridesmaid dress color.

Who pays for bridesmaids nails? ›

We'd say there's a fairly solid consensus that the couple should pay for anything beauty-related for bridesmaids, like hair, makeup, tans or nails. Basically, anything that affects the way the girls look that the bride has specifically requested.

What color nail polish should I wear to a wedding? ›

Something soft and neutral that matches the dresses - silver, nude, french manicure, gold, ivory, champagne, light pink, etc. What color nails should a wedding guest have? I would do a French manicure maybe with some silver or even gold accent nails for a wedding guest. Nothing too elaborate.

What does red nail polish mean? ›

“Men remember women who have red nails, which is good if you are hoping to make a lasting impression. Red is associated with strong emotions, strength, power, courage, and danger. Red nails are a clear signal a woman is ready to attract a partner.”

What does pink nail polish mean? ›

Pink nail polish often symbolizes femininity, romance, tenderness, and innocence. It's a versatile color that can range from soft and subtle to bold and vibrant, depending on the shade chosen. In various contexts, pink nail polish may also represent sweetness, compassion, and sensitivity.

What is the average cost of a bridal shower? ›

According to CostHelper, a bridal shower costs $15 to $40 per person. That works out at $300 to $800 for a 20-person party but can go as high as $150 per person or $3,000 for a 20-person shower.

How much should a bridesmaid pay for a bridal shower? ›

For the parties, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette, bridesmaids can spend several hundred dollars or upwards of $1,000. Family or family friends could also host and pay for the shower, which could cost between $500 to $2,500, according to Yeah Weddings. Gifts for the shower typically range between $25 to $75.

Who should not host a bridal shower? ›

Traditional etiquette dictates that the maid of honor—not the mother of the bride—should host the shower. Nancy is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Some etiquette rules were meant to fade away into oblivion, like the one about family members of the bride not hosting her bridal shower.

Can sister in law be bridesmaid? ›

If your soon-to-be spouse has sisters, chances are, you'll have a sister-in-law bridesmaid; however, experts point out that the decision of whether or not to ask your sister-in-law to be your bridesmaid is a personal one.

What not to do as a bridesmaid? ›

10 Things a Bridesmaid Should Never Do-But Always Unknowingly...
  • Complain about how she looks on the wedding day. ...
  • Drink too much. ...
  • Forego sunscreen. ...
  • Harp about costs. ...
  • Buy a size-too-small bridesmaid dress because she's sure she'll lose weight. ...
  • Play the martyr. ...
  • Weigh in on wedding decisions.
May 26, 2014

How do you nail mismatched bridesmaids? ›

Secrets to Nailing the Mismatch Bridesmaid Look
  1. Color block chic. Incorporate your wedding colors into the bridesmaid dresses, with each gal representing a color.
  2. Pick a color, any color. ...
  3. Different silhouettes. ...
  4. Tie together with accessories. ...
  5. Mixing patterns.

Do bridesmaids makeup have to match? ›

While it's important for the bridal party to look cohesive, their makeup absolutely does not need to match exactly.

Do bridesmaids need to match the decor? ›

Putting together a look and choosing colors does not mean that the bridesmaid's dresses have to match the linens for the guest tables. In fact, they rarely do! Often the colors for a wedding come from the invitation since often that is designed quite early in the wedding planning process.

Should your bridesmaids hair match? ›

Traditionally, bridesmaids have worn their hair the same - but it's totally up to you! The most flattering hairdos are based on the bridesmaid's face shape. Or, if one of your bridesmaids has short hair and one has long hair, it's almost impossible to have the exact same hairstyles.

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