Wedding Shoe-Shopping Guide
If you're going to be walking down the aisle soon - and standing and dancing for hours - it's crucial that you put a little consideration into what shoes will be on your overworked feet. Comfort is of the utmost importance, but you also want your bridal shoes to suit your dress, the tone of the wedding and the setting, not to mention personal taste.
Here's what to do to ensure no one, including you, will notice your feet on your wedding day - unless you want them to.
Comfort First
There's no point having a fantastic-looking shoe if you can't wear it comfortably during your ceremony and reception, says Alison Rowe, accessories editor for Modern Bride magazine. To avoid unnecessary pain on your big day, try on your shoes a few times inside your home and practice both walking and standing around in them. You want to make sure they aren't too tight or too loose, the straps aren't pinching or cutting you, they won't give you blisters and they won't slide on a slick dance floor. If you're concerned about slipping, you can add self-adhesive sole pads to the bottoms of your shoes for added traction or use sandpaper to scuff the soles.
It's also in your best interest to select a style you've worn before and already feel comfortable maneuvering in. "A woman who never wears heels shouldn't choose her wedding day to pull on a pair of 5-inch stilettos," warns Desiree Stimpert, the Guide to Shoes for About.com.
Follow the Gown's Lead
No need to mince words: Your dress will be the star of your wedding day attire. To that end, you want to choose shoes that complement the gown rather than compete with it. As a general rule, very ornate gowns will look best with simpler shoes, while very elaborate shoes are best suited to dresses that aren't overly embellished, says Stimpert. And style may not matter as much with a gown that sweeps the floor, whereas you may want more of a showpiece paired with a super modern or retro '60s mini.
"In many ways, wedding dresses are no different from other dresses, so many of the regular fashion rules apply," says Stimpert. For example, shoes with ankle straps have a tendency to make calves look shorter and thicker, so they're not the best choice for a mid-calf dress.
As to color, the classic white or ivory shoe will never go out of style; however, donning an elegant but brightly colored shoe, or even just a delicate hue, has recently become popular with brides. "I think this stems from today's bride wanting to incorporate her own personal style and put her own unique stamp on her wedding day look," says Rowe. Just be sure the color adds subtle character - you don't want it to look garish or be distracting.
Match Your Shoes with Your Event
The setting, vibe and time of the wedding should also play a role in which bridal shoes are chosen. If you are getting married in a field or garden or on the beach, you'll want to avoid heels that will sink into the ground with every step you take, warns Rowe. Instead opt for flats or something with a kitten heel, or in the case of the beach, you might choose to forgo the shoes entirely or slip into a pair of flip-flops.
If the wedding is a traditional and/or formal church affair, then a pair of classic, closed-toe pumps will likely be more appropriate than a pair of shimmery sandals, says Stimpert, whereas those strappy sandals or a pair of sophisticated slides or mules would be ideal for a chic urban or museum wedding.
If the wedding is more on the casual side and the tone is playful or especially personal, some brides might choose to tie the knot in their favorite pair of running shoes or cowboy boots, or buy a white pair just for the occasion.
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