You’ve found the dress. Now, what are you wearing on your feet?
Wedding shoes might feel like one of the smaller decisions on your planning list, but the right pair has a surprisingly big job to do. They affect the length of your dress, the way you walk, your overall bridal look and, importantly, how comfortable you feel after ten hours of celebrating.
So when should you buy them? Does comfort mean compromising on style? Do they need to match your dress? And is ivory still the obvious choice?
We asked the experts at Charlotte Mills, our Official Catwalk Shoe Sponsor this season, for the wedding shoe advice every bride should know.
Buy your shoes earlier than you think
If wedding shoes are near the bottom of your list, it might be time to move them up.
Ideally, you should have your shoes before your first dress alterations appointment. Your heel height determines where your dress falls, so your seamstress will want you wearing the pair you plan to wear on the day when fixing your hem.
Charlotte Mills recommends starting your search around three to six months before the wedding.
“That gives you plenty of time to find the right pair, wear them around the house and make absolutely sure you’re happy with the fit and heel height before alterations begin.”
And remember, you could be wearing them for ten or twelve hours.
“As bonafide shoe lovers, we’re obviously biased, but we do think your wedding shoes are so important! They deserve to not be an afterthought.”
Choose for your wedding, not just the photo
One of the biggest mistakes brides make? Falling in love with a beautiful shoe without thinking about the reality of wearing it all day.
Think about your venue. Will you be walking over grass, gravel or cobbles? How much time will you spend standing? And are you planning to be on the dance floor until the very end?
Most importantly, think about what you normally wear.
“If you never normally wear a high heel, your wedding day probably isn’t the ideal occasion to start wearing one for twelve hours.”
Equally, if you love heels, don’t feel you have to suddenly choose something low.
Your wedding shoes should still feel like you.
Comfort or style? Have both
You absolutely do not have to sacrifice one for the other.
Comfort starts with finding the right shape and heel height for your feet. Look for supportive straps, stable heels and soft materials. A block or flared heel can also give you more stability while still feeling elegant.
“A beautifully padded shoe can still be uncomfortable if the heel is much higher than you’re accustomed to or the shape simply doesn’t suit your foot.”
At Charlotte Mills, comfort is considered from the beginning of the design process, with signature comfort cushioning across the collection and a wide fit range.
Whatever you choose, don't save your shoes untouched in their box until the wedding morning.
Wear them around the house on clean, soft flooring for short periods and get used to how they feel.
Your wedding day should not be the first time you discover what your shoes feel like after an hour.
Your shoes don't have to match your dress
In fact, a little contrast can make the whole look more interesting.
A beautifully simple gown can be the perfect opportunity for an embellished or statement shoe. If your dress has intricate lace or lots of detail, a cleaner shoe can work beautifully.
Also think about how much of your shoes will actually be visible.
With a full length gown, guests might only catch a flash of colour or sparkle as you walk. But with minis, midis, tailoring and second looks, your shoes become a much bigger part of the outfit.
“Shoes have increasingly become part of the outfit rather than simply something underneath it.”
And they definitely don't have to be ivory
Ivory will always have its place, but brides are having much more fun with their footwear.
Charlotte Mills is seeing plenty of love for powder blue as well as richer shades such as Wine.
“Brides are becoming more confident about choosing shoes that feel like an extension of their personal style rather than something conventionally bridal.”
There’s also a shift towards choosing something you’ll actually want to wear again.
Wedding shoes can come back out for anniversaries, parties and special occasions, instantly taking you back to the day you first wore them.
That sentiment is particularly fitting for Charlotte Mills. Every pair of bridal shoes contains an original silver sixpence in the left shoe, with the traditional “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” rhyme engraved into the soles.
One final test before you decide
Try your shoes later in the day.
Feet naturally swell and fluctuate, so Charlotte Mills recommends trying them when your feet are slightly warmer or fuller, perhaps after you’ve been out and about.
And while practicality matters, don't become so sensible that you forget what you're shopping for.
“They’re your wedding shoes. They should still give you that little flutter of excitement when you put them on. The sweet spot is finding the pair you can’t wait to wear but also won’t be desperate to take off.”
We think that might be the ultimate wedding shoe rule.
See Charlotte Mills on The National Wedding Show catwalk
Charlotte Mills joins us this season as the Official Catwalk Shoe Sponsor, completing a range of bridal looks across our live catwalk shows.
And this is where you’ll really get to see what the right pair can do.
“You can really appreciate how heel height changes the posture and movement of an outfit, how a flash of blue or sparkle catches your eye beneath a gown, or how a statement shoe can completely transform a shorter bridal look.”
So while you’re watching the dresses come down the catwalk, remember to look a little lower.
Your dream wedding shoes might be walking straight towards you.
