Today we’re talking about wedding shoes, one of our favorite accessories for the bride! What you wear on your feet adds to your overall look (and determines how your feet will feel by the end of the night). We’re unleashing seven of the most important wedding shoe rules every bride should know. Let’s begin, shall we?

Wedding Shoe Rules

RULE #1: Buy wedding shoes right after the dress.

Buy your shoes after you pick out your wedding dress, but be sure to bring them to all of your dress fittings. This is because your seamstress will be able to make proper adjustments depending on the height of your heel (or flat). You’ll also have a great idea of how the shoes will look with your dress ahead of time, in case the look just doesn’t work.

RULE #2: Break Them In.

A new pair of shoes needs to be broken in — at least around the house — before wearing them on your wedding day. Brides + bunions + heel pain = not a happy bride.

RULE #3: Thou Ought Not Trip.

Slippery floors and brand new shoes can cause issues for the bride-to-be. Also, grass or sand can be troublesome terrain. For beach weddings, we recommend wearing wedding sandals.

On grass, wear a sandal, wedge-style shoe, or casual slip-ons.

Also, if you’re not a heel-wearing girl, but you want to wear them on your wedding day, practice a bit in them to get used to the height before giving it a go on the big day.

RULE #4: Embrace Your Individual Style.

Wedding shoes are not meant to be boring. And, your wedding shoes don’t have to be ‘wedding’ at all. For instance, you don’t have to pick a color that coordinates with your dress, nor do they have to be super dressy if that’s not your style. EMBRACE YOUR STYLE + wear shoes that reflect you.

If that means you opt for a pop of hot pink heels, your favorite pair of sneakers, embellished sandals, or a pair of colorful flats, go for it.

Also, bonus points if your wedding shoes can be worn after the wedding day, because let’s face it: that’s just money well spent!

RULE #5: Always Have a Back-Up Pair.

Sometimes even the most well-intentioned pair of shoes can hurt after spending all day in them. That’s why we always recommend a back-up pair, just in case. A pair of foldable flats (like these or these, which are super inexpensive) can fit in your purse and be swapped at a moment’s notice.

RULE #6: Write on the soles.

There’s an old tradition where the bridesmaids sign their names on the bottoms of the bride’s shoes with a permanent marker. At the end of the night, the name that is the most visible is next to marry. Another alternative is to have the groom write on the soles of your shoes, because, well, does it get any sweeter than that?

RULE #7: Let Bridesmaids Wear A Pair They Own.

Give your bridesmaids a break and pick a shoe color that’s neutral and give them freedom to wear any style within that color. For instance, for my wedding I asked everyone to wear black shoes. First, black went perfectly with the dress, and second, everyone already owns a pair of black heels or flats. Easy! They’re already spending money on the dress, don’t give them another hefty price tag for a pair of shoes they’ll likely never wear again.

The bottom line is, you ought to love the pair you wear.

Whether that means a pair of colorful heels…

… lacy, live-in-them-all-year-long TOMS…

… your “something blue”…

… or a pair of colorful flats! Make sure it’s a pair that’s totally your own.

And, while we’re on the subject of wedding shoes, let’s talk about guest shoes, too: guests might also want to slip into a comfy pair of magic dancing shoes (flip flops) when their feet start to hurt. Just head over to Old Navy, Target, or a dollar store and buy a colorful array of flips and place in a designated basket.

Last but not least, be sure to include a photo of your wedding shoes on your wedding photography list. You’ll be glad you did!

xo
Emma