Although most brides-to-be would say the wedding dress is one of the most important elements of their special day, others would argue that the wedding shoes are just as important. There are many factors you should consider—style, comfort, and whether they match your dress or not—to find the perfect shoes for your perfect day.
While finding the perfect fit may feel like searching for Cinderella, there are bridal shoes out there for every bride’s happily ever after. As you sort through your options, take these tips from Savvy Bridal into consideration to find the shoes you’ll feel confident in when you walk down the aisle.
1. Find Your Dress First
You may think you’ve found your dream bridal shoes, but you’ll want to wait until you find your wedding dress first. Your wedding shoes should match or complement every aspect of your gown, including color, style, and embellishments. You’ll want to wear something that complements the formality of the gown, which is something you can’t guarantee if you purchase your wedding shoes first.
The length of your wedding dress also matters. If you’re opting to wear a shorter gown on your special day, your shoes will be more visible and get a lot more attention. You may decide to wear statement piece shoes that add glitz, glam, color, or modern elegance.
On the other hand, full-length wedding dresses will cover most shoe styles, so this may sway your decision about which pair you wear and what heel height, if any, you choose.
2. Stick to Your Bridal Style
Wedding shoes for brides should also match their bridal style. Now that you’ve already chosen your wedding gown, you can pick shoes based on the bridal look you are going for. Whether your wedding style will be vintage, traditional, contemporary, or retro, you’ll want your shoes to match the vibe.
You may also decide on designer bridal shoes that complement the anatomy of your wedding dress, like classic lacework, detailed embroidery, or other materials like tulle and satin. These wedding gowns require a shoe that fits in more personally with the style of the dress, creating a more uniform bridal look.
3. Consider Your Location
With all the movement, walking, and dancing that goes into your wedding day, you’ll definitely want to consider your location when picking bridal shoes. Weddings can take place in a myriad of places, including churches, ballrooms, barns, or even outdoors. Outdoor weddings may feature a grass lawn, a garden, the beach, or other terrains that call for a special type of shoe.
Ultimately, your wedding location will influence how much heel you should wear. Heels are great for walking down the aisle in a church, but you may not feel as graceful walking through the sand on a beach. Similarly, other wedding environments may feature gravel pathways, stairs, or even a slippery dance floor.
As you consider what shoes you’ll pick, you’ll want to ensure that they work well with the location. Venues or outdoor spaces with uneven terrains and surfaces are more suited for flat wedding shoes or an extremely low heel, rather than wedding shoes with wedges or tall heels. You may even consider a wedding bootie, which is a mix between a heel and a flat, since it offers more flexibility with location.
