“If I ever let my head down, it will be to admire my shoes“ – Marilyn Monroe
You could argue that your wedding shoes are a small detail when it comes to the many decisions you’ll be making as you plan your nuptials. But your shoes will effect how you’ll look and feel on your wedding day. They can impact your stance and walk, enhance your appearance, and contribute to your confidence. And, if you don’t choose carefully, your shoes have the potential to trip you up, literally, on one of the most important days of your life.
So, as you shop, consider these tips for selecting your wedding shoes, along with our bonus suggestions for putting your best foot forward.
1. Don't sacrifice comfort for beauty. Don't forget, you'll be on your feet for hours, during your ceremony, photos, your conversations with guests, your cake cutting, and your time on the dance floor. You don't want painful feet to be the overriding memory of the day.
2. Don't snub low heels or flats. Today, you can find a huge variety of gorgeous shoes that aren't high heels. Not only that, but your wedding dress hem probably will go down to the floor, meaning your wedding shoes won’t show at the altar, only when you’re walking—and then only the toe of the shoe.
3. If you do want heels, do not experiment with heights you aren't used to. There are advantages to heels: They can enhance your beauty, add elegance to your look, and improve your carriage. We’re simply saying, choose wisely. Your wedding is not the time to venture into new heights. You don't want to look awkward, feel awkward—or even worse, stumble. Generally 2 to 2 ½-inch heels are a good compromise if you want the visual impact of heels without sacrificing comfort. But, again, go with what you’re used to.
4. Select your dress first. This is the star of your wedding wardrobe. Your shoes are important, as we said, but they have more of a supporting role. Once you’ve picked out your dress, you can look for shoes that go perfectly with it.
5. Aim for shoes that reflect the formality and personality of your wedding. You can find shoes that say formal and elegant, yes, but you also can go with a retro look, something whimsical, or a groovy pair of shoes that tie in with your disco theme.
6. Ask yourself if the shoes you're considering could snag on your dress. If your dress is long, jewels or beading on your shoes could catch on it.
7. Shop in stores and online. You’ll find a wide variety of possibilities online, including some options that retailers don’t offer in their brick-and-mortar stores, that might inspire you. You definitely should try on any shoes you’re considering, but more and more retailers are giving consumers the options of ordering online, trying items on, and returning items that don’t work out at no charge. And, if you have the luxury of trying shoes on at home, you can wear them for more than a few minutes so you know how they’ll feel on your wedding day.
8. Try a variety of colors. White and subtle tones like ivory are still the wedding shoe standards, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try on a few other options, especially if you are going with a less-than-formal or themed wedding. Have fun. In fact, current shoe trends include less-than-formal bridal sneakers and, perfect for Texas, bridal cowboy boots.
9. If you’re planning an outdoor wedding, select accordingly. If you wear heels, you’ll need a pair that won’t sink into the ground, like block heels.
More Shoe Tips:
10. Break your shoes in before the wedding. We know you want your shoes to look perfect on your big day, but, again, comfort should be a priority. Try wearing them around the house, in the office, or other indoor locations.
11. Bring your shoes to your wedding dress fittings. That’s the best way to make sure your dress is tailored to the optimum height.
12. Consider bringing more than one pair of shoes to the wedding. If you’re planning to buy high heels for your wedding, you might want to wear them at key moments, like your ceremony, and go with a comfier pair while you’re getting ready or working your way from table to table at your reception greeting guests.
And…select backup shoes you can wear if your day doesn’t go as planned. If rain strikes, you’ll want shoes that won’t be ruined.
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