A Shopping Guide to Bridal Shoes

An important part in any woman’s life is the time when she would walk down the aisle to exchange vows with the love of her life. But what if this dreamy moment turns into a disaster when the bride slips, trips, or feels every inch of pain and discomfort as she treads down the aisle?

This is something that you would never want to happen in your own wedding. That is why you vow to yourself that you would find the perfect pair of bridal shoes that will help you turn that dream moment into a reality. Now, if you have no idea how to find the right pair, here is some vital information that would surely be of good use to you.

Comfort = Happy Feet

Sometimes, brides fall in love with a beautiful pair of shoes that they ignore the fact that they do not feel comfortable wearing them. They make the mistake of thinking that it would not matter. Come the day of the wedding and they realize they have made a huge mistake when blisters start showing up or when the bride could hardly walk halfway during the event. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to ensure that a pair of shoes is comfortable. A bride should feel comfortable wearing and walking with her pair of choice.

The Fit Factor

The fit of the shoes is one factor that affects the degree of comfort. Since the feet are at their largest during the end of the day, it would be better to do your shoe shopping at this time. It is also essential that you do not simply fit the pair but you try walking on it as well.

To Heel or Not to Heel

Another factor that contributes to comfort is the heel. Some “vertically challenged” brides would prioritize height and opt for killer high heels just to look good even when they are not used to it. But the smart thing to do would be to choose a heel height that you are comfortable wearing since you will be doing a lot of standing, dancing and walking all throughout the day.

If you really are not a fan of high heels, flat shoes like satin ballet slippers can also be a nice pair of bridal shoes. Moreover, choose a heel height that would complement the length of the dress and not make the gown drag the ground while you are dancing or walking.

All in the Style & Color

Many brides choose bridal shoes depending on the style and color. There are various styles a bride can choose from such as pumps, sandals, strappy, stilettos, silhouettes, sling backs, ballet flats, open toes, close toes, pointed, rounded, squared and so many more. Apart from this, there are also various embellishments available, which include jewels, bow, beading, lace, color trims, and embroidery, all of which can make the pair more stunning.

As for the color, most bridal shoes come in bronze, silver, gold, white, off white, pewter metallic shades, cream, light gray and light brown. Choose style and color that would enhance the wedding gown (without drawing attention away from the bride) and would complement the overall theme and style of the affair.

Fantastic Fabric

The two most common choices for wedding shoes are silk and satin. If you are non-traditional or if the wedding is not a typical wedding gown, you may choose other kinds of fabric. However, it would be best that the fabric of the wedding gown and shoe match closely to achieve a harmonious feel.

Designer Bridal Shoes: Chic & Trendy

When it comes to bridal shoes, some of the most popular choices are Vera Wang, Kenneth Cole, Jimmy Choose, Gina Shoes, Kate Spade, Stuart Weitzman, Delman, and Manola Blahnik. Choose a pair of designer shoes that would best fit your style, taste, comfort degree, and budget.

Bridal shoes should be of good quality and stylish design but remember that comfort is still the most important factor. After all, she will be wearing this pair all throughout the day. She will dance on it, walk on it, and even jump while wearing it (if she is that happy). She would walk on carpeted floors, on slick ones, and probably on rough terrain (if the wedding were outdoors).  Therefore, it is a must to find a pair that is beautiful, elegant and most of all, comfortable.

Uncomfortable Bridal Shoes Can Ruin Your Big Day

Some brides are not aware that there is a factor more important than style when it comes to choosing bridal shoes. They do not realize this until their big day comes and they can hardly walk because of the pain their uncomfortable shoes are giving them.

It is true that comfort is not something that many brides consider when shopping for a pair of bridal shoes but this is definitely important and should never be overlooked. After all, if a bride is going to wear a long gown, nobody will see how beautiful or stunning her shoes are but the comfort it will give her is priceless.

These bits and pieces of information will help you have a comfortable pair to wear during your special day.

Comfort is King.

Make sure you keep this in mind when shopping for shoes. This means that you should never buy shoes without fitting them. Try on different pairs and try walking while wearing each pair. If you feel a pair is making it hard for you to walk in a gracious manner, skip this, and go on to the next one. Never buy bridal shoes without fitting them even though the shoes are the same size as your feet.

To Heel or Not to Heel

When picking a heel height, choose the one that you typically wear on a daily basis. Going for a higher heel may mean discomfort during your special day. Now, if you are not a high heels girl, ditch the heels, go for flats or lower heels that can look just as elegant. You can also opt to wear shoes with wide, broad, or wedge heels that are more comfortable than stiletto heels. Just make sure that your wedding gown complements your choice of pair.

Comfort = Confidence

Being comfortable is also about being confident. If you are not confident about your shoe choice, you would probably not feel comfortable either. For example, if you dislike showing off your toes, then stay away from open-toe shoes.

High Quality: Always a Priority

If you are looking for comfort, your best bet is to rely on high quality brands made of top quality materials such as silk, satin, or leather which are usually easy on the feet. Just do not forget that the fabric and texture of your shoes should match or complement that of your wedding gown.

Shopping Online?

If you are going to shop online, fit the shoes as soon as they arrive. Order in advance, so you will have enough time for return and replacement.

Break them in!

No matter how busy you are, never wait until the big day before you wear the shoes. Wear them a couple of weeks before the wedding. Strut them around the house everyday for one to two hours to break them in.

If you want to ruin your big special day, the best way to do is to don a pair of uncomfortable bridal shoes that will give you sore toes, painful soles and make you unable to walk graciously down the aisle. Otherwise, make sure you exert extra time and effort in finding shoes that are not only beautiful and stylish but also comfortable.

Source: This article was submitted by Nina Lampe from Favors4DestinationWeddings.com. She loves to help brides and grooms plan their wedding and in particular giving them advice with beach wedding decor.