October 29, 2020
You're about to embark on what is probably the most eagerly anticipated day of your life and it's only right that everything is absolutely perfect. Choosing the right shoes for your big day can either go one of two ways, either you know exactly what style you want and you're not going to deviate or... you have absolutely no idea what style or colour to choose and at this rate, it looks like you'll be going in your slippers.
But never fear! There are a number of things that you can do to help you make the right decision when it comes to buying the right wedding shoes for you, it might be that a traditional look is what you're going for or something a little more unconventional is more your thing, either way, getting it right is vital.
There's nothing absolute about what colour your wedding shoes should be, but the general consensus is that they match the colour of your dress or if you're looking to make more of a style statement, go for a contrasting colour.
When wearing a white dress, the most common option would be white shoes that match the dress, silver is also a nice, neutral option if you want to add a bit of jazz. If your dress is quite detailed with embellishments or lace, a classic and simple pair of shoes might be more suitable so as not to draw attention away. If however, you're opting for a timeless, understated dress... shoes that have a splash of colour such as silver or sparkle will certainly add a little something extra.
Though ivory isn't a traditional wedding dress colour, there's no denying its popularity. The great thing about an ivory wedding dress is the amount of versatility it affords you when buying your wedding shoes. Ivory dresses are particularly suited to vintage, muted colours such as rose pink, duck egg blue or gold tones.
It might be that the wedding dress you've chosen is a colour that isn't usually considered the norm but more in keeping with the theme of your wedding, in that case, a matching colour or something a shade different would work best.
TOP TIP: If you aren't able to find the colour that you want, buy a light, neutral pair and dye them!
Choosing the right colour isn't the only thing to consider when buying wedding shoes, oh no! There are other things to think about too; this could include things such as style, heel height and the type of material. Always take into account the weather and the type of venue too, a dainty pair of stiletto platforms probably won't be the best choice if you're planning to get married in the middle of a farmer’s field.
If your wedding is themed, you'll most probably want tie in the type of footwear you choose, so if you're getting married on the beach, a pretty pair of flip flops or gladiator sandals might be what you go for. Likewise, a Christmas wedding would probably call for more traditional Victorian style boots that can protect your feet from the elements. More often than not, your bridal party will also wear similar footwear to continue the theme.
Comfort should also play a big part in the wedding footwear that you choose, you need to bear in mind that this is a pair of shoes that will be worn all day, so always be sure to try on the shoes before your wedding, ensuring you get the correct size and they fit well. Most importantly, make sure you can walk in them... the last thing you want when walking down the aisle is a stumble! Alternative footwear such as wedding trainers and pumps are becoming an increasingly popular choice, so if dainty heels aren't really for you and it’s more important for you to be comfy on your big day, there is always another option available.
When planning your wedding, it's easy to get a bit carried away when it comes to buying things, one thing that can present itself quite early is coming across what you think are the perfect pair of wedding shoes. There's no harm at all in buying your wedding footwear before you buy your wedding dress, it's just about knowing what is more important to you, do you want your shoes to match your dress or your dress to match your shoes?
If the dress is more important to you, always wait until you have this sorted first... As tempting as it is to run off to the nearest shoe shop as soon as you've set the date!
The other thing to consider is time, if your wedding date is a fair distance in the future, it may be worth waiting a little while before going shoe shopping. Things can change so something that may fit now, may not fit at a later date or the style that you've gone for is no longer to your taste. However, give yourself time to bed them in. As mentioned before, comfort is everything when you have to wear them all day, a stiff pair of box fresh wedding shoes is not something you want to consider, potentially causing blisters and distracting you from the celebrations. Even if you want to wait a little while, don't stop looking, this will help inspire you and give you a clearer idea of what it is that you want.
Choosing the right wedding shoes for your big day might seem impossible but taking into account what your needs are, the colour and style that you'd like and the theme of your wedding, there's no reason why your feet can't look as beautiful as the rest of you.
Check out the shoezone blog for more style tips and footwear suggestions for every occasion.