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How to choose the best shoes for your wedding day

How to choose the best shoes for your wedding day

 

Slipping your feet into your wedding shoes before walking down the aisle is just one of those magical moments on your big day!

Remember: You will wear your wedding shoes all day long (and all night).

Make sure you choose the right wedding shoes you’ll feel comfortable in until the last wedding guest leaves.

Of course, you can also have wedding shoes for the day, and slip into a different pair in the evening.

We have created this post to help you choose your wedding shoes, as well as a few helpful tips!

How to choose the best shoes for your wedding day

Before you go shopping for your wedding shoes…

Now, before you head out on that quest to find the perfect pair, we have a few tips for you:

6 Tips before you go shopping for your wedding shoes

1 | Know your wedding budget

As soon as the term “wedding” is slapped in front of an item, you can be sure that a few zeros will be added to that price tag…

The same goes for wedding shoes – so be prepared!

If you haven’t worked out your budget for your wedding shoes – or other items – yet, plan it all out with our helpful Wedding Budget Planner.

2 | What is your wedding dress style?

Pick your wedding shoes according to your wedding dress style – never the other way around!

Do you perhaps have a floor length dress with a long train? Will you guests be able to see your expensive new wedding shoes?

Pro tip: The cost of shortening a wedding dress via a seamstress can be one of those unforseen expenses. Opt for higher heels instead if you only need to shorten your dress a little bit.

3 | Consider your height when choosing your wedding shoes

When you are choosing something with a high heel, will you be taller than the groom? This can make for some awkward wedding photos…

If your groom’s height isn’t an issue, again, consider the length of your wedding dress.

4 | Do you have a prominent wedding theme?

Clueless about choosing your wedding shoes? Consider your wedding theme…

For example:

  • Vintage type theme: leather shoes, rounded pumps
  • Barn wedding: Cowboy boots
  • Classic wedding: court shoes, strappy heels
  • Sexy wedding style: stilettos, platform heels

5 | Save some wedding shoes ideas to decide which look you’re going for

A great treasure trove full of beautiful wedding shoes ideas is, of course, Pinterest. Create a wedding shoes board and save all of your ideas!

You can also download a local shopping app and favorite some items. If the app doesn’t have this feature, simply add them to your cart and revisit them later.

6 | What will the weather be like on your wedding day?

If your wedding falls into the colder seasons of the year, make sure you choose warmer shoes such as boots.

For hot spring and summer months, go for airy or strappy shoes so that you can keep your feet cool.

Let’s have a look at all of your different wedding shoes options:

12 Types of wedding shoes to choose from

12 Types of wedding shoes we have compared for you

1 | The Pump

  • A classic, thin heel.
  • The most popular kind of wedding shoe chosen by most brides.

Comfort: 7/10

Dancing: Yes

Bling Rhinestone Wedding Shoes by BlingQueenAu
Bling Rhinestone Wedding Shoes by BlingQueenAu

2 | The Peep Toe + Open Toe

  • Similar to a pump.
  • Peep toe: Normally two toes stick out at the front of the shoe.
  • Open toe: Most of your toes stick out.
  • Comes in various heel types.

Comfort: 7/10

Dancing: Yes

The Ahuva Sparkly Gold Vegan Bridal Flat Sandal by RoniKantorShoes
The Ahuva Sparkly Gold Vegan Bridal Flat Sandal by RoniKantorShoes

3 | The Stiletto

  • The design is like that of a pump, but the heel is much higher.
  • If you’re not used to this kind of shoe, your feet will most definitely hurt after a while.

Comfort: 5/10

Dancing: Possible (with lessons)

Blue Grey Bridal Heels by walkinonair
Blue Grey Bridal Heels by walkinonair

4| The Platform

  • Dangerously high shoes.
  • Made a return to the fashion scene around 2010.
  • Also known as “stripper shoes”.
  • If you like this style, consider buying backup dancing shoes, too!

Comfort: 3/10

Dancing: No (unless you have the balance of a prima ballerina…)

Dark Ivory Wedding Shoes by EllieWrenWeddingShoe
Dark Ivory Wedding Shoes by EllieWrenWeddingShoe

5 | The Kitten

  • Very short, thin heel.
  • Good choice if you don’t want flats or pumps.

Comfort: 8/10

Dancing: Yes

Ivory Wedding Kitten Heels by EllieWrenWeddingShoe
Ivory Wedding Kitten Heels by EllieWrenWeddingShoe

6 | The Chunky

  • Pumps that have a very thick heel.
  • It’s less straining on your feet.
  • Can wear them for a long time.

Comfort: 9/10

Dancing: Yes

DANCE QUEEN. Leather shoes by BaliELF
DANCE QUEEN. Leather shoes by BaliELF

7 | The T-Bar

  • These are quite common among professional dancers – for freestyle, Latin-American and ballroom.
  • If you know you’re going to be dancing for hours, these might be the perfect choice!

Comfort: 8/10

Dancing: Yes

Vintage Wedding shoes by ForeverSoles
Vintage Wedding shoes by ForeverSoles

8 | The Wedge

  • These shoes come in different heights.
  • Shorter heels can be less straining on your feet.
  • They give more support to the arches of your feet, because there isn’t a gap.

Comfort: 9/10 (for shorter heels)

Dancing: Yes

Navy Blue Wedges by walkinonair
Navy Blue Wedges by walkinonair

9 | The D’orsay

  • This is what classic wedding shoes are made of.
  • They are usually more expensive, because they look super elegant.

Comfort: 7/10

Dancing: Yes

Custom Bridal wedding  Peeptoe dorsay by TheCrystalShoeCo
Custom Bridal wedding Peeptoe dorsay by TheCrystalShoeCo

10 | The Flat

  • Not the most popular choice of wedding shoe.
  • The wedding shoe industry has caught on and started to provide beautiful choices!
  • This option is perfect for bohemian and outdoor weddings.

Comfort: 10/10

Dancing: Yes, if correct height for Groom

The Bridal Ballet Flats | Wedding Shoes with Satin Ribbons by thewhiteribbon
The Bridal Ballet Flats | Wedding Shoes with Satin Ribbons by thewhiteribbon

11 | The Mary Jane

  • They’re flat, or have a low heel, but with a strap (and sometimes a clasp or buckle on the side).
  • These shoes made a comeback along with the vintage wedding trend.

Comfort: 10/10

Dancing: Yes, if correct height for Groom

Bridal vintage Mary Jane by AnjaBarlowBridal
Bridal vintage Mary Jane by AnjaBarlowBridal

12 | The Ankle Strap

  • It gives you better support and control over your wedding shoes – especially higher shoes.
  • Will make you feel more confident in high wedding shoes.

Comfort: 8/10 (depends on height of shoe)

Dancing: Yes, depending on height of shoe

Women's Bridal Shoes by Pink2Blue
Women’s Bridal Shoes by Pink2Blue

Have fun with your wedding shoe shopping! And remember: Choose a pair that you can possibly wear to another elegant event, to get the most out of it!

Pro tip: Always consider how comfortable your wedding shoes have to be, and how long you will be on your feet, before you buy them!

 

by Tanya Guilfoyle

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tanya has been an active contributor and planner in the wedding industry since 2016. When not writing useful content for brides and wedding professionals, she can be found designing templates for her Etsy shop, TWCprintables