What Your Bridal Shoes Say About You!

More than just a beautiful complement to the dress, the right wedding shoes have power! Laced between the straps and rhinestones, there’s a rare opportunity to say something special and unique about your life, your personality and even how you view marriage. Such was the case with a ceremony I attended once where the shoes […]

 

More than just a beautiful complement to the dress, the right wedding shoes have power! Laced between the straps and rhinestones, there’s a rare opportunity to say something special and unique about your life, your personality and even how you view marriage.

Such was the case with a ceremony I attended once where the shoes were the talk of the wedding–not because they were so cute but because her choice left many of us scratching our heads. Underneath the beautiful, flowing gown, she wore…combat boots!

Now your first thought might be that she was in the military. She wasn’t. Or maybe she was an off-beat, rocker bride daring to be different. She was a minister. Like I said, it left many of us scratching our heads–until we got to the end of the ceremony. Gasping at the sight of the well-worn boots as she lifted her dress, we were relieved to watch her change them to a beautiful pair of wedding shoes with just a shimmer of rhinestones as a part of her unique right of passage ceremony–a changing of the guard if you will. For her, the combat boots symbolized how hard it was raising two boys by herself–she felt as though she was battling all the time. But now, as a married woman, she could trade those shoes in like Cinderella at the ball, as if all of her dreams came true at that very moment.

Now, you may not go so far as to wear combat boots down the aisle, but if you’re looking to make a statement (even a slight on), your shoes are the way to do it. If you’re daring and full of whimsy, anything but white will do. Go for red, purple or some other fun color like this royal blue on the left that shows your fun personality to give guests an unexpected smile as you walk down the aisle. For the fashionista bride, a sweet pair of Manolo Blahnik’s like these on the right will give your wedding wear a sassy “Sex In The City” kick!

Speaking of kicking it up a notch, even the traditional bride can say it with a little extra style with a strappy slingback or an elegant pump in white or ivory. And, the comfort of a pair of chunky soles or flats can’t be overlooked when it comes to the amount of time you’ll have to stand, walk and dance the night away. No matter which style you choose, be sure to take into consideration these helpful tips:

Keeping it comfortable: Be sure to break them in! A couple of weeks before your wedding, start wearing your shoes for an hour or two at a time inside the house, then work up to three to five hours total to be sure that you won’t end up barefoot by the end of the night.

Let your venue be your guide: Avoid spiky stilettos if your wedding is in a garden or on the beach because the heels will easily sink into grass or sand. Try platforms, chunky or wedge heels or a pair of bridal flats. The lighting at your venue may also play a factor, especially if you’re choosing dyeable shoes, which may take on a different hue indoors and out. Finally, check out the floor surfaces–carpet or hardwood? If there’s a hardwood dance floor, you might need to add sole pads for extra traction or use sandpaper to scuff the soles to avoid any embarrassing wedding wipeouts.

Opposites attract: When it comes to embellishments, a good rule of thumb is “opposites attract.” A heavily detailed hem requires a simpler shoe, while a plain hemline allows a more elaborate shoe. Coming together from opposite ends of the design spectrum, they balance each other beautifully.