The Dos and Don’ts when buying your wedding shoes.

A few things to keep in mind when buying your wedding shoes for your big day.

DO: Buy shoes that are comfortable.

This might seem like an obvious one, but comfort while wearing your shoes is so important. These shoes will be on for around 8-10 hours, and sadly if you are uncomfortable this will be what you remember. Wearing them around the house, to work, to practice your wedding dance, or as you approach the day is highly recommended. This will make sure that they are comfortable, you can walk in them and if they cause blisters; you are all healed for the day. Wedding shoes can often be sold on to other brides, so sometimes this investment can be sold on after the day.

DON’T: Buy shoes with the idea that you will “just take them off”.

The number of brides I have had that come into my studio and state that it doesn’t matter as they will be “taking their shoes off anyway” blows my mind. Even if you take your shoes off later in the evening, you will be spending at least 4-6 hours in the shoes. This includes the getting ready photos, ceremony, canapés, cutting the cake, photos and your first dance. Even more important is the fact that I always hem the dress with your shoes on. This makes sure that for all photos your dress looks perfect, however, it will not be perfect if you take your shoes off and now drags on the floor. By having the correct shoes on for most of the time you make sure that you preserve the dress and it looks perfect for the entire evening. I totally understand flicking them off for a real boogey, but all photos are done by this point.

DO: Consider the shape of your dress.

Whether you have a mermaid style, princess poof or something a bit more silky; choosing a shoe shape to match your dress and keep it from sliding under your foot is really important. Pointed shoes move the hem of the dress out of the way while walking. This makes sure that a more fitted skirt lies perfectly to the ground, but also parts as you walk. If you have a dress with a fuller skirt or a slit, open toe shoes work well. This type of shoe shows off more of your foot, and because of the cut of the skirt will not be a tripping hazard.

DON’T: Buy white shoes without considering what shade of white your dress is.

Yes, there are a million shades of white! Making sure that your shoe is the correct shade of white is super important (if that is the colour you want to go for). This can either make your dress look dirty, or your shoes look blue. It is a bizarre concept, but making sure that they complement each other is just as important as the shape you choose.

DO: Consider the flooring/ground you will be walking on.

Beach, grass, hard wood, stones, or concrete. All of these floors call for careful consideration when looking at shoe options. Keeping in mind where you will be walking, or in some cases what the rules are for your venue. This can dictate what kind of shoe you wear. If you know that you will be taking a helicopter ride and running around a mountain; stilettos are maybe not the way to go. Choosing a block heel is sometimes the best way to navigate grass or cobblestone, while heelless is best for the beach and sand.

DON’T: Forget about the flat lay.

So what is a flat lay? This is the moment your photographer takes all the beautiful details of your wedding and flat lays them into a beautiful composition. This includes your rings, veil, flowers, stationery, jewelry and shoes. This can be a great opportunity to tie in your wedding colours through the choice of your shoes. I have seen a few brides go for a colour shoe that links the groom’s bowtie or the florals she has chosen. This also means the shoes are far more likely to be worn again, as they don’t immediately look bridal.

Venue: Welder Events

Styling: Blank Space Events

Photo + Video: Agnes Grace Photo + Film

Dresses: Sarah Stoute Bespoke

Florals: Farmhouse Botanics

Stationary: Paperweight Design

Hire: Statement Events

Hire: The Little Hire Company

Signage: Statement Events

Jewellery: Love In A Jewel

Jewellery: Willox Luxe

Shoes: The Shoe Curator