You’ve made the big decision to wear heels and not flats on your wedding day. But how are you to choose between all the beautiful wedding heels vying for your bridal attention and limited funds?
If you’re on the hunt for some footwear for your perfect day then here are our factors to consider when finding high heels to tick all the wedding shoe boxes.
1. Color. We love the trend towards colored wedding shoes in all sorts of bright and funky hues, but the classic white or shade of white remains very popular.
When you’re making your shoe decisions, you really need to start with this question: am I going for the traditional white shoe or something else entirely? Only once you’ve decided that, you can start narrowing your options.
2. Material. White satin wedding shoes are the heels of choice for many traditional weddings, and some not so traditional as well. It’s not all that often that we wear satin shoes – after all they are hard to clean and easily damaged – but weddings are a very special occasion.
But you might choose to go with leather heels or vegan-friendly faux-leather instead. Whatever your preference, the material is a key consideration in choosing your wedding shoes. This is another choice to make early on.
3. Simplicity or sophistication? A simple pump has no straps to go wrong or to itch or scratch or otherwise get in the way and cause you discomfort on such a special occasion. And the minimalist look is definitely on trend for sandals as well , so you’ll be up with the latest fashion if you keep things simple.
On the other hand, a more sophisticated shoe – a slingback or even a bejeweled strappy sandal perhaps – will certainly capture attention and might be worth the added complexity given the importance of the occasion. Each option has pros and cons.
4. Open toe or closed toe? There’s a reason brides get manicures and pedicures, and we don’t think it’s just for the wedding night once all the guests have gone home. If you’re choosing a pump, then peep toes remain popular amongst brides.
But if you’re having a winter wedding, or prefer a less revealing style, then a closed-toe pump is a good option as well.
5. Comfort. Some women say that a four inch heel with no platform strikes the perfect balance between fashion and practicality. Others wouldn’t make it up the aisle in such high shoes, let alone through their wedding night.
Choose a heel height that is good for you, not one that you think will look the most glamorous.
We also suggest that you are wary of advice that says expensive shoes will be comfortable, and cheap shoes will be uncomfortable. Sometimes that is true, but not always.
The best advice for wedding shoe comfort is to check the shoe reviews from other brides – if someone has had a painful wedding day because of their shoes they’re sure to let the internet know about it!
6. Glamour. Like it or not, the bride is the center of attention on her wedding day. So don’t be afraid to wear a shoe that’s a glamorous as your big day itself, rather than a more standard heel.
For example, a revealing d’Orsay cut showing off the arch of the foot is sexy, but not too sexy if you know what we mean. They’re glamorous, fashionable and ageless – without being tarty.
7. Price. Everything on your wedding day has a budget, even heels unfortunately. There’s no need to completely cheap out, or to spend four figures either. The wedding shoe market is highly competitive and a budget of a couple of hundred dollars will see you shopping in a big range.
8. Features. Crystals, rhinestones and sequins are popular additions to add sparkle to wedding heels. A sparkling broach detail on the front of the shoe allows the bride to shine on her big day, without being too blingy.
However if you’re looking to reuse your heels after the wedding day, you will have to consider whether the bling works outside of a wedding.
9. Old, new, borrowed, blue. It’s traditional for a bride to have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Perhaps your shoes could be old favorites, or maybe you could have a brand new to market design. Or you could even borrow them from a friend or relative who fits your size.
10. Feel. Choosing your perfect wedding shoes is such an individual decision. We hope that you find the above advice helpful, but you should disregard it if it doesn’t feel right to you.
Good luck in your hunt for the perfect wedding heels and we hope you have a wonderful wedding day.