Selecting the Perfect Wedding Shoes

Wedding shoes are an important accessory item for brides, especially today, when "fun and funky" is totally "in" when it comes to selecting your wedding shoes. What a great way to express your personal style, by selecting a great shoe...perhaps one no one would expect!
As you prepare to walk down the aisle, your choice of wedding footwear can either provide comfort or be a source of pain. Whether you choose wedding athletic shoes, jewel-encrusted flip-flops or chunky heels, your wedding shoe must complement your dress and provide comfort throughout your special day.Wedding shoes are an important accessory item for brides. As you prepare to walk down the aisle, your choice of wedding footwear can either provide comfort or be a source of pain. Whether you choose wedding athletic shoes, jewel-encrusted flip-flops or chunky heels, a wedding shoe must complement the dress and provide comfort throughout the wearer's special day.

Function

1. The wedding shoe is a style element that matches the theme of the bridal gown. In fact, shoe styles range from traditional to unconventional. Elegant brides who prefer column gowns may select a pump without embellishment or beading. A trendy bride, whose style choices reflect current fashion trends, will choose a strappy evening sandal over satin ballet flats.

Types

2. The types of bridal shoe choice vary based upon style and fabric choices.Wedding shoes are constructed from satin, silk and lace to velvet, cotton, crepe and even plastic. Brides may select from the following footwear options: sandals, flip flops, open-toed, mules, platform, flats, stilettos and slingbacks. Heel height can soar as high as 5 inches (ouch!) or remain comfortably chic as low-heeled flats and sneakers....ummm. Prices for wedding shoes can range from $29 for basic footwear to $900 for designer wedding shoe creations.

Prevention/Solution

3. Many a bride has made a wrong choice when selecting bridal shoes. The most popular mistakes are buying the gown without considering the heel height of the shoe, or not factoring in shoe shrinkage and color matching when dying wedding shoes. To prevent these wedding shoe mistakes, brides should wear their bridal shoes during their dress fitting. Prevent wedding shoe sizing errors by trying on your wedding shoes towards the end of the day when your feet are at their largest.

Warning

4. From dyable sandals to satin pumps, finding the perfect wedding shoes can be easy, considering you know the important rules of the bridal footwear selection process. Variations of white and ivory for wedding shoes differ greatly. Ask the bridal store for an accurate color swatch from your gown to select shoes that complement the style of your gown and its color exactly. Consider your wedding venue before selecting shoes. If you have an outdoor wedding on a lawn or in the woods, certain silks and satin shoes will soil easily.

Expert Insight

5. Match the bottom of your wedding gown with the style and color of your shoes. To break in your shoes, wear your shoes for one hour at the end of the day. Start this shoe stretching process at least 4 weeks before the wedding to ensure a proper fit. Don't let your wedding shoes overpower your bridal gown. Shoes with sparkle and embellishment complement simple dresses, while elaborate gowns require a basic wedding shoe. If your feet swell when standing for long periods of time, select an additional pair of flat shoes to wear on your wedding day in case of a wedding shoe emergency.