Choosing bridal shoes 1875 views

With increasing numbers of brides opting for three-quarter-length or shorter dresses, bridal footwear is more on display than ever before. Victoria Babbs of Varna Shoes shares some advice on choosing this most important accessory.

Shop around

If you buy your wedding dress from a shop, most will also offer shoes as an accessory. If you don’t like the range they stock, or you think their prices are excessive, don’t feel obliged to buy. Take some time to consider the height, style, colour and level of comfort you are looking for.

Heel height

Firstly you need to decide on the heel height. High heels, kitten heels or flatter pumps are the main choices. Ask yourself the following questions before making your decision:

• How long are you likely to be on your feet throughout the day?
  
• What height are you normally comfortable wearing?
  
• How tall do you want to be as compared with your groom?
  

Don’t go for an incredibly high heel if you don’t normally wear them; painful feet can really spoil your day. If you have set your heart on a high heel, consider having a pair just for your photos and changing into a more comfortable pair later.

Style

The next choice is the style. Court shoes, peep toes, sandals or even wedges are all possibilities. Another consideration is whether or not you will want a style you can use again. Here are a couple of hints:

• If your dress is touching the floor, a closed toe generally appears more elegant and we would recommend a court shoe.
  
• If you have a three-quarter-length wedding dress, or shorter, you need to consider the time of year you are marrying. Sandals might be perfect for summer, while court shoes or peep toes will be more appropriate in winter.
  
• If you are marrying abroad, low-heeled or thong sandals can be an excellent choice, offering a practical solution to walking through the sand.
  

Colour

When it comes to colour, the first question to address is whether to go for shoes in the same shade as your dress or an accent colour. Either way, bear in mind that they will need to complement accessories such as your bouquet and/or wedding bag.

If your dress is a bolder shade than white or ivory, you should consider matching it with a differing (complementary) shade or colour. If your dress is patterned, we recommend you pick one colour from the pattern and look for wedding shoes in that one colour.

Material

Pay close attention to what your wedding shoes are made of as this will make a huge difference to the comfort factor. Soft leather or even suede are good choices from a comfort point of view as these will mould to your foot comfortably. Be aware that traditional wedding shoes made of satin or other fabric have no ‘give’ in them, so if these are your choice you’ll need to break them in by wearing them in advance of your big day.

Varna Shoes stocks a selection of designer and luxury ladies’ shoes, including a bridal collection.

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