Getting engaged is one of the few times that you’ll be able to make a groundbreaking announcement without saying a word. All you have to do is hold up your left hand, and cue the squeals of congratulations and excitement. It’s pretty awesome! But it does mean that a LOT of people are going to be looking at your hand. And in this day of ring selfies, it’s not just the people that you encounter face-to-face who will be scoping out your digits – people all over the world might be celebrating with you over Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

All this means one thing for the newly engaged woman … it's time to do your nails!

Because I’m a big advocate for timeless wedding photos, I love that most brides go classic and minimal with their nails for their wedding day. But when you’re engaged and flashing your ring at all of your friends and family, it’s a great time to be a little more creative. Since I am nail-art impaired (I own a total of two shades of nail polish, and I usually only sport them on my toes), I took to Pinterest to find beautiful manicures that will help you show off your ring without overpowering your bling. :) Here are my top five looks for your newly engaged fingertips:

Nude with a twist – Nude nails are classic and classy. A simple nude will make your fingers look longer and provide an understated backdrop for your ring. But you don’t have to stop with a simple nude crème! Here are a few beautiful and interesting ways to play with nude polish.
Top left: Nude & white color blocking from A Beautiful Mess| Top right: Nude gradient by Casa de Polish | Bottom left: Nude dotticure by So Nailicious | Bottom right: Negative space abstract by Leah via The Bloguettes
Metallic – Metallic nails are stylish and on trend, but they also have just a hint of edginess. You can go glitzy with a glittery finish or elegant with a matte metallic. As a bonus, you can match your metallic polish shade to your pretty new ring.
Top left: Gold glitter stripe from Le Fashion| Top right: Silver holo by Liesl Loves Pretty Things | Bottom left: Black & silver nail art by PshiiiT | Bottom right: Rose gold nails by Essie
Ombre – Ombre is such a simple kind of nail art that even I can do it – haha! All you need to do is paint each nail a different shade in the same color family, transitioning from dark at your thumb to light at your pinky (or vice versa). It’s fun and eye-catching, without taking a lot of extra steps.
Top left: Neutral ombre by The Lacquer Log| Top right: Mauve ombre by Essie Envy | Bottom: Purple ombre by Pack a Punch Polish
French – A French manicure is clean and lady-like and just plain pretty. If you are a little more whimsical, many women like to play with French manicures by using unexpected colors or shapes. Whether you go traditional or funky, a French manicure looks GREAT accessorized by an engagement ring.
Bottom left: Pink French tips by The Polished Perfectionist| Bottom right: Blue French tips by Hungry Nails
Accent nail – Adding an accent nail to an otherwise basic manicure is an awesome way to add flair while limiting your effort to just one nail. It can also be a fun way to draw attention to your ring finger. :) The accent nail can be anything from a different shade of polish to a complicated mini work of art; it’s up to you!
Top left: Floral accent nail by Leah via The Bloguettes | Top right: Blue glitter accent nail by Peace Love and Polish| Bottom: Floral accent nail by Chalkboard Nails
Congratulations on your engagement! Being newly engaged is such a fun time in your relationship, full of excitement and anticipation. Whatever kind of ring you have and whatever style of manicure you wear with it , know that we -- like so many other people -- are happy for you! Now go share the news with the world!

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