Many brides can tell you their own horror stories about how they regret wearing the shoes that they bought for their wedding.

Some will say that they were so uncomfortable that they got to the point where they landed up taking their shoes off at the reception and walking around barefoot. Others may tell you of how their heel broke as they were walking down the aisle!

Don’t be one of these statistics! Finding the best type of bridal shoe for you should be one of your top priorities when it comes to planning your wedding.

For some brides, shoes are the ultimate fashion quest and are thought-about even before a dress has been chosen. For other brides, comfort mixed with style is the order of the day. But the question remains, how do you decide on what bridal shoe is best for you?

Making the wise choice to incorporate fashion with comfort and affordability is ultimately the way to go. Don’t let the wrong choice of wedding shoes dictate how your wedding day is going to end up.

In this article, we are going to go through a list of criteria that you should consider before you decide on your wedding shoes.

Tips to Finding The Perfect Wedding Shoes for You

To find the best wedding shoe for your needs it is important to consider the following:

Do you want to make a statement, or do you want to be more conservative?
Are you and your partner wearing matching shoes?
Does comfort or style matter more to you?
Do you want to buy a quality pair of shoes that can be worn again?
Do you want to buy a pair of shoes that you will be able to wear for the entire day?

Tip # 1 Find The Dress First!

The bride’s shoes should complement the dress that they have chosen. If you are still to find your perfect wedding gown, then you should hold off on buying shoes until you have said yes to the dress!

What to consider when deciding which shoes will suit your dress:

If you have decided to go for a shorter cocktail wedding style dress, then your shoes need to be a major accessory as they are going to be seen by all the guests. The style, color, and material of your shoe are going to be seen, so it is important to choose well.

A full-length gown will make the wedding shoes a lot less visible, but the shoes should still match your wedding dress well.

Once you have chosen your gown it is a good idea to bring a swatch along when choosing shoes to see what best matches your wedding dress.

The most popular wedding shoe colors to date are white, neutral, violet, grey, purple, and black, but you can choose any color that suits you and your personality the best!

Remember that if you cannot find the color shoe that you need to match your wedding dress then there is always the option of having them dyed to the exact color that you are looking for.

You don’t always have to match the color of your wedding dress with your shoes. You can also match your wedding shoes to other accessories such as your hair décor, jewelry, tiara, or even the embellishments on your dress.

Tip # 2 Pick The Right Shoe for You

In the old days, brides would traditionally wear high-heeled white wedding shoes, but in the more modern era, it is alright to wear almost any type or color shoe to your wedding.

Whether your shoes are high heels, flats, sneakers, cowboy boots, or sandals they should ultimately reflect who you are and what you are comfortable wearing. Your shoes show your personality, so you want to make sure that you are happy and comfortable with your choice.

If you are the type of person that hates high heels then you don’t need to feel obligated to wear heels at your wedding.

Why should you suffer all day trying to walk around in heels when they are making you feel uncomfortable? There is nothing wrong with beautifully decorated sneakers to match your wedding dress.

Tip # 3 Pay Attention To Detail

Unless you are lucky enough to find the perfect wedding dress and matching shoes in the same shop you are going to have to try to be as consistent as possible when trying to match the bridal style that you have chosen.

If your wedding dress is vintage, then you should choose vintage-style shoes to match the style of the dress. It is also important to look at any detailing or embellishments on your gown that can match your bridal shoes.

Tip # 4 Your Shoes Should Match Your Dress and Theme

Your dress should match your theme. Your shoes, however, should match both your dress and your theme. Think about how formal or informal your wedding is going to be as well as the season in which you are getting married. This will influence the style of your dress and your wedding shoes.

While taking note of the seasons may sound pretty self-explanatory, if you are planning your wedding way in advance you may tend to forget the weather of the particular date that you have chosen to get married in.

The last thing you want is to freeze to death at your magical Winter wedding by wearing an off-shoulder open-back wedding dress with open-toe shoes.

Tip # 5 Budget is Important

Because brides normally spend a large amount of money on their wedding dresses, they often try to stick to a budget when it comes to wedding shoes. Bridal shoe prices can range from $25 – $500 depending on what you want, but most brides try to keep to a budget of $200 or less.

It is important to bear in mind, especially if you are wearing a long length bridal gown that the guests are going to have limited vision of your bridal shoes so there is no need to spend an enormous amount of money on shoes.

If buying a new pair of wedding shoes does not mean that much to you then consider borrowing a pair of shoes from a friend or wearing your favorite pair from your cupboard. Try, however, to make sure though that they do still match your dress as much as possible.

Tip # 6 Do Some Research

These days everything is online. Take a little bit of time to browse through some websites to see what shoe styles and colors are available from different stores.

Most stores tend to have a lot more inventory online as compared to in-store and browsing through the types of shoes that they have to offer will help to give you an idea of what style of wedding shoe you are looking for.

Take screenshots on your cell phone and narrow the choice down to shoes that you like. From there you can start looking for those styles at stores and bridal boutiques after you have decided on your wedding dress.

Tip # 7 Choose A Fabric You Like

Silk and satin are very common bridal shoe fabrics as they tend to match the fabric of the wedding dress. This is not a rule though and choosing a pair of shoes with different materials such as leather can add a great touch to your wedding outfit.

Tip # 8 Consider Where The Wedding Will Be Taking Place

Are you going to be having an indoor church wedding, a garden wedding, or perhaps a beach wedding? Don’t forget about this important fact when choosing wedding shoes. High heels are not going to work on soft grass or sea sand, especially if you want to go for the graceful look which most brides do!

Tip # 9 Try The Shoes on Before Buying Them

So, you have done a lot of your exploring online and you have come across the perfect shoe! The catch is that you have to buy and pay for it online before being able to try it on.

It is important to remember that while they may look great on the website they may not look as good in real life. Even if they do look like they did on the website they might not fit as well as you would like them to.

As a bride, you are going to be standing and walking around for most of the day, and shoes that are bought online and do not fit properly can make or break your special day.

It is imperative that when you are shopping for shoes to try them on and walk up and down the shopping aisle with them on your feet to see if they are going to fit you properly and comfortably.

Tip # 10 Decide on a Closed-Toe or Open-toe Wedding Shoes

It is important to keep in mind that comfort and style should be more important than deciding on whether to choose an open or closed-toe shoe. Think about the type of shoes that you normally wear to work or events. Do you have more open or more closed-toe shoes in your closet?

A closed-toe wedding shoe is best for a Winter wedding, yet for warmer weather open-toe shoes are an extremely popular choice. If, however, you are having a black-tie wedding then closed-toe shoes are normally recommended.

Velvet pumps are great if you are looking for a light fabric for a Summer wedding on the beach. If, however, you still want to wear heels at a beach wedding then sandals or wedges with a block heel are the best choices.

Tip # 11 Colors Galore

Depending on your dress style and personality you may decide to wear a wedding shoe that is different from the classic and traditional wedding shoes. Traditional wedding shoes are normally white, cream, ivory, and nude tones.

The options are endless when it comes to figuring out what color shoes to wear with an ivory wedding dress.

There is no need for you to stick to tradition in these modern times and a little bit of color can add flair and style to your wedding attire. You are allowed to have fun with your wedding shoes and if you want your wedding shoe to be a certain color then do it! After all, it is your wedding.

A new trend is to wear metallic color shoes that add glitter and shine to catch the eye of your guests. You can even choose something blue to the mix, bringing about a new meaning to the tradition of “something blue”. Bridal shoes can be found in many shades of blue and can add a classic and traditional twist to your wedding dress.

Tip # 12 Stay the Same Height or Shorter than The Groom

This is a very important thing to consider when looking for wedding shoes. If you are nearly the same height as the groom, then it would be a better idea to wear flatter shoes. Being taller than the groom may not look very good in the wedding photos.

If you are very short and your husband-to-be is tall then high heels will correct the situation and make for some stunning wedding images.

Tip # 13 Comfort First

This is probably one of the most important considerations when choosing the perfect wedding shoe. Take note of the height of the heel on the shoe. Remember that the higher the heel, the more pressure the shoe is going to exert on the ball of your foot.

If you have decided on a pair of heeled shoes then it is recommended that you purchase a strap shoe to add comfort, stability, and flexibility.

Heels that are lower and chunkier can significantly add to the comfort of the shoe and keep you standing for longer on your wedding day without being uncomfortable and sore.

Flats are also a very popular option when a bride is looking for a comfortable wedding shoe, and the good news is that you can find plenty of gorgeous flat shoes that will compliment your wedding dress.

When it comes to comfort the shape of the shoe can also be an important factor. It’s a known fact that shoes that have an open rounded toe are much more comfortable than shoes that have a pointed toe so pick wisely.

Another way to assure yourself of comfort for the duration of the wedding is to choose a shoe that has a heel strap so that the shoe will stay securely on your foot.

The fact of the matter is that weddings are normal events that last all day, and you shouldn’t take your shoes off until you are done with the wedding service and photography session.

Tip # 14 Are You Used To Heels?

If a bride is naturally short, she is going to want to look taller on her wedding day. The problem is that if you don’t normally wear high heels then it is not a good idea to wear high heels with your wedding dress.

It is important to choose a height that you are used to and that you feel comfortable in, but if you have your heart set on high heels then buy them in advance and break them in so that you can get used to wearing them. If of course you are used to wearing high heels daily, then you should not experience any discomfort.

Many brides are comfortable in high-heeled shoes and often find them to be more comfortable than a flat shoe. Wearing high heels adds to the excitement of dressing up for a special occasion, and what could be more of a special occasion than your wedding day.

Tip # 15 Break Your Shoes In Before The Wedding

Try on your shoes multiple times before the wedding. You can even walk around the house doing chores in them if you have to. Don’t worry about ruining them for the wedding day because if you take care you won’t.

You need to make sure that the shoes you have chosen are going to be comfortable and unbreakable on your wedding day.

Tip # 16 Bring Back-Up Shoes on The Day

This is probably one of the most important things to remember. No matter how comfortable your new wedding shoes are going to feel when you first put them on, they are no doubt going to start hurting you as the reception goes on. This is of course unless they are a pair of sneakers.

Most couples like to dance and have a good time on their wedding day so be sure to pack a pair of flat shoes just in case.

Tip # 17 Buy The Shoes In Time For Your Dress Fittings

It is good practice to buy your shoes before you start with your wedding dress fittings. This is of course if you are having your dress made. If you are buying a wedding dress, then the dress needs to come before the shoes.

When your dress is being made by a dressmaker the hemline of your dress and your train are very dependent on the height of your shoes. If your shoes are very high, then you are going to need the dressmaker to make some extra room at the bottom of your dress to cover them.

Your dressmaker must know the height of the shoes that you are going to wear to make sure that you are not going to be tripping all over your dress on your wedding day.

The earlier you get your wedding shoes the more time you will have to decide on if they are the best fit for you and your dress. Ultimately it gives you time to find a replacement shoe if you start to feel that the wedding shoe that you have chosen does not match your dress.

A Few Extra Things to Consider

It is a good idea to scuff the bottom of the soles with sandpaper. This helps the shoes to gain more traction, just in case your new shoes are slightly slippery. You don’t want to be slipping and sliding around the reception.
When you shop for your wedding shoes make sure to try on a size bigger and a size smaller and walk around the shop as much as possible to determine which size is best suited to your foot.
Once you have found the perfect shoe then you must remember to take them with you to your dressmaker. She may need to adjust the hemline of your dress slightly if the shoes are lower or higher than expected.
Not all shoes are made the same and while you may be a certain size sneaker you may not be the same size when it comes to some makes of high heel shoes.
Human beings have slightly different-sized feet. Fact! You may want to measure both of your feet and go with the biggest foot first. Also, ask the shop assistant that is helping you for the inner sole measurements of the size that you decide on.
If you have told your bridesmaids what type of shoe that they must wear with their dresses then it is important to be considerate, especially if they are not used to wearing heels. Allow them to bring a pair of comfortable heels or formal flat shoes with them to put on once all the formalities have taken place.

At the End of The Day…. Literally!

A wedding is one of the most special and memorable occasions of your life and a lot of preparation goes into every aspect of the wedding. This includes the bride’s shoes. The right shoe will finish off the look that you want to achieve as a bride.

A lot of thought should be directed towards choosing the right wedding shoe for you and your specific needs while at the same time making you feel special and beautiful.