What’s the use of the perfect wedding dress without the accompanying bridal shoes? The bridal accessories you’ll wear on your big day can ultimately complete the elegance of your wedding attire. You want to look your absolute best for this momentous occasion, and looking good doesn’t stop with just the dress. To look good from head to foot, you need to pick out the proper footwear and that means shopping for the perfect bridal shoes.

Bridal shoes come in many different styles, colors and designs. You could go for regular pumps or you could spice things up with sexy and strappy stilettos. If comfort is your main concern, then bridal slippers or flip flops for a beach wedding are perfectly acceptable.

When it comes to design, you will find various types of bridal shoes all decorated with rhinestones, sequins, flower appliqués and even genuine freshwater pearls. With the numerous bridal shoe types and designs on the market, the choices could be dizzying!

Choosing Your Bridal Shoes

To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve come up with a list of tips and suggestions designed to lead you to the perfect bridal shoes.

Tip 1: Comfort wins over style, cost and design.

What’s the use of having gorgeous footwear if you can’t dance or walk in them? Stylish shoes may be great to look at, but if they’re causing your feet pain, then those shoes are not worth it.

Although you don’t have to spend a small fortune just for your bridal shoes, it’s better to choose a pair of moderately priced, simple and stylish low-heeled shoes, than go for cheap shoes that would break with the slightest pressure.

Tip 2: Pick the right size.

Purchase bridal shoes that are around half a size bigger than what you normally wear. When bridal shoe-shopping, be sure to wear your stockings or your dress socks while trying on different shoes.

Tip 3: Before the ceremony, walk around with your shoes and break them in.

In the same way you break your other shoes in, your bridal shoes shouldn’t be an exception. Stretch out your shoes and try to climb stairs or walk with them to help your feet get accustomed to the shoes’ style, height and material.

Tip 4: Decide on whether you should buy high-heeled bridal shoes or flats.

If your groom is only a couple of inches taller than you, avoid looking like an awkward couple by going for low-heeled bridal shoes or flats. If height is not a problem, then just keep in mind that the higher the heels, the more difficult it is to walk around.

Tip 5: If your heart is set on going for high-heeled footwear, practice your walk.

While for some women, walking with high heels is as effortless as breathing, some of us are simply not that fortunate. If you’re great with heels and stilettos, then kudos to you, but if you tend to lean towards the clumsy or the klutzy side, then practice walking with your heels before your big day.

It’s not just about breaking your shoes in, it’s about getting used to walking with those pair of shoes. You wouldn’t want to fall headfirst on your way to the aisle, right?

Tip 6: Forgo going “designer”. True, walking around wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo’s or Manolo Blahnik’s gorgeous and luxurious bridal shoes can make any girl feel like a princess, but that’s only because you’re paying a hefty sum for that feeling. Unless your list of wedding guests include the world’s top fashion critics, no one will be able to tell the difference between a pair of genuine Christian Louboutin’s and inexpensive retail bridal shoes.

Tip 7: While shopping, bring a picture of your wedding dress to help you pick out the right bridal shoe color. Before you make your purchase, you have to first “see” how the bridal shoes will look with your gown. Pick a shoe color that matches your wedding dress color.

If you’re wearing a pristine white dress, then go for white or a pale pearl color. If you’re wearing an off-white gown, then go for pearl or ivory-colored bridal shoes.

Tip 8: Decide on whether you’re going for open-toed sandals or closed pumps. If you’re exposing your toes, then get a pedicure before the wedding ceremony.

When picking out your bridal shoes, find the perfect balance between comfort and style.

Want more tips in choosing your bridal shoes? Just watch the video below.