No bride should have to sacrifice comfort for beauty when it comes to her wedding shoes. If you shop carefully, you’ll be able to walk down the aisle in footwear that looks fabulous, causes no pain and adds the perfect finishing touch to your ensemble. These are some ideas for finding the right shoes whether you’re a traditional bride or looking for something a little less conventional.

Start with the Dress

You’ll want shoes that will complement your dress so choose that first. The level of formality, style, color and length will help determine your options for footwear and other accessories. Take a coordinated approach so your shoes work with your hairstyle, headwear, bouquet and jewelry to show off you and your dress to their best effect. A more elaborate gown calls for simpler shoes and vice versa. If you’ve got a lot of lace and beading going on, consider understated pumps or mules. A basic and versatile A-line dress will let you flaunt sandals with big jewel ornaments or flowery ruffles. Keep in mind that a longer gown means that your shoes won’t get much visibility making it easier to accommodate features that can enhance comfort like ankle straps and thicker heels.

Consider Color

Wedding shoes don’t have to be white but there are always lots of beautiful cloth styles you can have professionally dyed to match a gown in white or ivory or any other shade. Metallic shades are another popular choice that are flattering with almost everything including whites. On the other hand, you may want your shoes to be your something blue and some brides like to add a twist to a conventional gown by pairing it with fun footwear in a vibrant shade. 

Comfort Tricks

As always, shopping for shoes later in the day when your feet naturally swell will help you get a more comfortable fit. Many brides bring along a second pair of shoes so they can change into something more comfortable later on. In any case, always bring your shoes to your dress fittings so your hemline comes out right. Shoe pads can also be a life saver. They cut down on blisters, chafing and other common problems. Use them to keep your toes from hanging over the front of open toe shoes or to protect the back of your heels from getting sore. 

Venue

Your venue may also be a consideration. If there’s no carpeting, don’t risk skidding on hard wood floors. Roughen up the soles of your shoes with sandpaper or apply a little padding. If you’re getting married outdoors, beware of skinny heels that could pin you down in sand or grass. Wedges may be a safer bet.

Have fun with your wedding shoes. Whether you’re a trendy or traditional bride, you’ll probably be on your feet for hours so look for style and comfort in your footwear.

Olivia Nicholas is a wedding and event blogger for Storkie. She has been writing for brides and the wedding industry for more than 10 years. Olivia loves every wedding as though it were her own.