Your Guide to Choosing the Right Bridal Shoes
Your wedding is an event you'll remember for the rest of your life—the dress of your dreams, your closest friends and family, your favourite music and a lot of dancing. Staying comfortable during those hours is very important and the shoes you're wearing can make a difference. What's your style? Which materials do you like? Heel or no heel? Answering these questions can help you make a decision about the type of wedding shoes you should buy.
Flats
If you’re not a fan of high heels or you don’t want to feel uncomfortable during the whole wedding, you should probably buy some flats. More and more brides opt for this option because of how comfortable they are and because there are so many classy and beautiful women's flat bridal shoes available.
They have no heel at all or a small 1 cm heel that just lifts the heel of the ground a bit. These shoes come in many different styles. There's something for everyone. Pointed-toe flats are a classic choice. They have a narrow, long point that creates an illusion and elongates your legs. The ballet flats are made for a snuggly fit and comfort. They usually don’t have any straps and are slip-ons.
Some of them are plain, one-coloured, and some come with embellishments like lace, beads or sequins. Flat sandals have straps that can close in several different ways. For a more glamorous touch, they can be decorated with beads, pearls or crystals. There are also ankle strap flats that have a closed heel and straps at the ankle. This gives you more support and a guarantee that the shoe won’t slip off.
You can also find slingback flats with an open heel, a closed toe, and an elastic strap around the heel. They have a more modern vibe and a minimalist design. Last but not least, you have D’Orsay flats. Their sides are cut away and the heel and toe area is connected with a thin strip. They have a very sleek and elegant look.
When choosing these flats, make sure you take a few things into consideration. First, think about the style of the dress. This will dictate the shoes’s style and embellishments. The venue also matters. Flat sandals are good for the beach, ballet flats will work in chateau, and slingback flats are good for a villa or a city wedding. Of course, don’t forget the weather prediction.
Stilettos
Did you know that the stiletto dagger inspired the name for these shoes? They're easily recognisable because of their long and thin heel. The heel will have a height of around 7–15 cm. Although they look amazing on your feet, they’re one of the most painful shoes to wear. The thinness of the heel is what makes them uncomfortable. It puts all of the pressure on the ball of the foot and you feel it.
These heels are most appropriate for indoor weddings because they are not really dance floor friendly. They can have intricate details or some simple, minimalist embroidery for a classy and elegant look. If you haven’t worn them before, don’t buy them for your wedding. They take time to get used to, and your wedding is not the time to experiment. Instead, go for women's flat bridal shoes.
Platform Heels
There are many heights of platform heels. They can have heels as low as 5-7 cm or as high as 20 cm. Additionally, the heel itself can range in thickness from extremely thick to pencil-thin. However, the thickness of the sole, directly beneath the toe ball, is what makes them easily-recognisable. They're great if you want to add a few cm to your height on your wedding day.
In addition to the heel, the shoe's toe is raised as well. Despite its looks, this heel is very comfortable because of the angle of the shoe from back to front. If it went all the way to the ground, it wouldn’t be that small. This is the right shoe for you if you're a bride who needs comfort and height.
Block Heels
Besides the flat wedding shoes, block heels are one of the most comfortable wedding shoes because the heel is wider in diameter. They're good for both indoor and outdoor events, give you stability and make your movements easier. They come in different designs: open heel, open toe and heel, wide and thin straps, cross-cross straps and much more.
Kitten Heels
Kitten heels are also known as short stilettos because they have small but thin heels. They're very compact and won’t be higher than 5 cm. They were made popular by Audrey Hepburn and are still among the favourites. They look flattering and have a minimalist, elegant look. If you need something classy but stylish, go for kitten heels.
Wedges
Wedges are easily rocognisable because of the continuous height. It starts at the toe and increases as it goes towards the heel. Despite being suitable for both indoor and outdoor weddings, they are not a particularly popular choice among brides. There aren’t a lot of wedding-friendly-designed wedges. However, some manufacturers offer custom-made ones if you’re so keen on wearing wedges at your wedding.
Strappy Sandals
Sarah Jessica Parker introduced the strappy sandals to the ladies through her main role in Sex and the City as Carrie Bradshaw. Once the trend started, every new bride wanted to have a pair of strappy sandals on her wedding day. These shoes have thin straps that give your heels a nude look. They're great for summer weddings and indoor venues. If you want to wear them, you need to break them in first. Otherwise, your feet will swell and you’ll feel very uncomfortable.
