Bridal Shoes-How to choose a bridal/wedding shoe

Shoe length

A medium or low heel is the ideal size for comfort, style and posture - even a small heel provides better posture than no heel at all.  

Consider the height of your partner when selecting your heel size.  Most brides prefer their partner to appear taller than them in wedding photographs, so if you are comfortable in higher heels and your partner is significantly taller than you, go for the higher heel.  If you are not comfortable in really high heels, your wedding is not the best time to try them out.  If you want some added height, consider platform heels or lower kitten heels.

Wedding shoe shape

Great wedding shoe choices for summer/ harmattan weddings include open-toes and sandal-style toes that show off beautifully manicured toes and let your feet breathe.  If you are getting married on a beach, or if you are walking around a gravel area for photographs, consider an opened toe sandal or you may spend your whole day removing sand and gravel between your toes.

                                     

Wedding shoe style

Choose a shoe style and fabric that complements your wedding dress, your personal style, and your overall look.

Your wedding setting and style are important in choosing the style of your wedding shoes.   The basic style principle to follow is fancy shoes for simple wedding dresses and simple shoes for elaborate gowns.   Simple wedding shoe styles can be worn with both elaborate and plain wedding dresses, however a simple wedding dress can be enhanced by more elaborate bridal shoes.  An evening wedding and a glamorous gown call out for strappy evening sandals, a reception hall commands beaded mules and a non-traditional wedding dress will work best with non- traditional wedding shoes like this one below.

Silk or satin are the two most popular choices for wedding shoes, however your wedding dress and personal taste should have the greatest impact on the shoes you choose. The choice of fabric choice plays a major role in ‘look’ of your wedding shoes.   Shoes made of fabrics such as lace, velvet, satin and silk are more delicate and feminine looking, whilst leather and suede fabrics appear more bold and off-beat.  If you are planning an outdoor wedding, consider a more durable fabric as light fabrics such as silk and satin tend to stain and tear more easily.

Treatments and embellishments such as beads, sequins and embroidery add more drama to fabric wedding shoes.  Rhinestones or crystals on your shoes are great with bejewelled or shiny, sequined dresses and beaded shoes are perfect for pearled dresses.  If you decide to have both your wedding shoes and wedding dress to have embellishments, it is important that the details coordinate.

The bottom of your wedding dress is a good guide to help you decide which fabric to choose for your wedding shoes.   Satin shoes work best with shiny fabrics and crepe shoes look great with wedding dresses with a matte sheen.   If your wedding dress is lace, shoes with lace are the perfect choice.

Whilst your shoes should compliment your dress and the setting of your wedding, they should also reflect your personal style.   A funky, trendy bride may choose wedding shoes with chunky heels – it’s your day, it’s your style!

Wedding shoe color

Wedding shoes come in a wide choice of color with white, cream and light hues the most popular. 

Satin and silk wedding shoes are available in pure white, winter white, off-white and ivory. Most wedding shoe suppliers offer most styles in both ivory and white, however remember that all whites are not the same.  Some wedding shoe suppliers offer a bleaching service if you want white shoes but your chosen style is only available in ivory.

If the shoes you like do not match your gown, most shoes can be dyed to match your dress and / or your bridesmaid dresses.   When selecting your wedding shoes, take in a swatch of fabric from your wedding dress and / or bridesmaids dresses for color matching.

Try Them on first

When it’s time to start shopping for your wedding shoes, a great tip is to shop towards the end of the day (particularly in summer) as your feet swell over the course of a day.  It’s best to try your shoes on when your feet are largest to take into account any swelling as your wedding day progresses.

If you are going to wear stockings on your wedding day, take some along when trying on your wedding shoes.

Pre-wedding preparation

Girls, we all know what it’s like wearing new shoes with heels for the first time…aching feet and blisters.  To ensure that wedding shoes aren't killing your feet on your big day (and on your honeymoon), break in your new gorgeous shoes and make them comfortable.

A few weeks before your wedding, try wearing your wedding shoes around the house (but not outside) for a short period of time.   During the next couple of weeks build up the amount of time you wear your wedding shoes by walking and standing in them longer until you can wear them comfortably for at least 4 or 5 hours.

Some brides choose to wear a second, more comfortable pair of shoes at their wedding reception.  If you decide to do this, make sure that your second pair of shoes are the same heel height as your wedding shoes so your dress does not drag along the ground while you are dancing or mingling with your guests.

Another great tip is to stick self-adhesive sole pads to the bottoms of your wedding shoes or scuff the soles of your shoes with sandpaper, for potential slippery surfaces such as carpeted isles, tiled walkways or the slick floors of some reception venue halls.  Either of these floor surfaces are difficult to walk or dance on with new shoes.  The last thing you want on your perfect wedding day is to slip and fall in your gorgeous dress.

If you have dyed your fabric shoes, it's always a good idea to have your wedding shoes ‘scotch-guarded’ to help prevent the colour running if your shoes get wet.  The dye used to colour fabric shoes is not normally waterproof.

Whatever the style, colour or shape, choose a pair of wedding shoes that make you feel fabulous!

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