How to Pick Shoes for Your Wedding

Find the right shoes for your big day.

Your dress may be the biggest part of your bridal look, but your shoes are still important. As a bonus, unlike a gown or veil, you might actually wear your shoes again!

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Photo: Carasco Photography

Your dress may be the biggest part of your bridal look, but your shoes are still important. As a bonus, unlike a gown or veil, you might actually wear your shoes again! While there are likely hundreds, if not thousands, of different wedding dresses in your price range to choose from, the pool of shoes can be even bigger because the right pair might not even be marketed as bridal. Understandably, that can be incredibly overwhelming, so we’ve come up with a list to help you shop for the shoes you’ll wear for the big day. You may have longer to decide on your shoes than on your dress, but you’ll still want to finalize this decision before your gown is hemmed! 

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Photo by AL Weddings

- Find your dress first. The style of your gown will dictate your whole look, as you’ll want your ensemble to be cohesive. A vintage lace dress might not work with crystal-covered pumps, and a beaded mermaid gown isn’t the right fit for cowboy boots. Should you choose a flirty tea-length frock, your shoes suddenly become a focal point, but a frothy tulle ball gown may obscure them entirely. 

- Decide on a heel height. This will be one of the quickest ways to narrow down your search. If you don’t own heels of varying heights, try some on at a store to learn what is manageable for you. Perhaps you want six-inch platforms to even out a large height difference with your future spouse, or maybe you’ll find you can’t walk in anything higher than a kitten heel – or even opt for flats. 

- Color or neutral? In a way, this is like choosing between bold or classic. Do you want your shoes to make a statement, or would you rather they fade elegantly into the background so your gown is the sole focus of attention? There are no wrong answers; you just need to decide what is right for you! 

- Comfort is key. While high heels – if that’s what you go with – are never truly comfortable, you do want a pair that you can stand, walk, and dance in for hours without getting blisters. Breaking in whatever shoes you choose to buy will help, but any styles that result in major pinching as soon as you try them on should be eliminated. 

For more wedding shoe ideas, learn how to make your heels more comfortable and get inspired by seeing 25 stylish pairs of bridal shoes worn by real brides