Selecting Your Wedding Shoes

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Between the ceremony, greeting guests, and dancing, you will be spending a lot of time on your feet. Through all the excitement, you may temporarily forget about the comfort of your feet; however, it is important that your shoes are as comfortable as possible, as well as look stunning.

SELECTING YOUR SHOES

Nothing ruins an outfit more than the wrong shoe. Pick a shoe that is consistent with the style and feel of your gown, and a heel height that is appropriate for your size and that you are comfortable wearing. If your wedding is outside, you will want to avoid long narrow heels that will sink into the ground and gather dirt. A lot of brides are concerned with spending a lot of money on a pair of shoes they will wear only once. If you can find a comfortable inexpensive shoe, definitely grab it! However keep in mind, that you will always be able to utilize a lovely party shoe. Most shoes can be dyed black for later use.

SHOE COLOR

White gowns require white shoes, ivory gowns require ivory shoes. If you decide to go with a cloth-covered shoe, consider a silk or matte satin, as these fabrics tend to stay true in various lights. Keep in mind that shoe color will vary, (especially if they are dyed) in different types of light as well as indoors and outdoors. Examine your shoes next to your dress in the type of lighting your wedding will take place in.

DYING SHOES

A 2" x 2" piece of fabric is needed for accurate color matching. The larger the fabric piece, the better. If there is any type of fabric overlay, this must be included as well. Keep in mind that dyed shoes can not be returned once they are dyed. Different colors appear differently in different types of light, and can look completely different in sunlight versus artificial light. Pastel colors are the most difficult to match and vary the most. When having shoes dyed, ask about the cast or flare of the color. When approving the dye job, look at the shoe compared to the fabric in a light box. A light box allows you to simulate different types of light, so you can select the light that your wedding will be in. If you are concerned with the challenge of dyed-to-match shoes, consider ivory, black, gold or silver shoes, which work with most colors and can be worn for other special occasions.

PREPARING YOUR SHOES

Break your shoes in. Wear them inside and gradually increase the wear periods. Build to 3-4 hours of wear time.