Bridal shoes can make or break a wedding day for a bride. Not only should the shoe match the bride, the day, and the dress, but it must also be comfortable enough to wear all day long or at least throughout the ceremony, photo session, and reception formalities. Fortunately, finding shoes that suit both you and your dress is easy these days. As long as you give some thought to your personal style and plan ahead, finding the perfect shoe for you is a cinch.

Pick a shoe that fits your personality. The era of traditional, high heeled, white, wedding shoes is over. Nowadays, you can get away with wearing any type of shoe to your wedding, be it dress shoes, sneakers, cowboy boots, or sandals. The most important thing is that whatever shoe you pick suits your personality. So you want to find one you’ll feel completely comfortable and happy in. For example, if you never wear heels, you probably don’t want to wear them on your wedding day. You’ll likely have trouble walking in them and will, in turn, feel awkward and uncomfortable.

If you commonly wear vintage items, buy a 40s or 50s inspired shoe from a site. In the same vein, if you’re the type of person always in workout gear, try a new pair of sneakers!

Select a wedding shoe color to complement your gown. You can opt for the traditional and choose a color that matches your dress, which may mean having to bring a swatch along with you to ensure that your colors are identical or you can go outside the box and pick a bright, standout color. The most popular colors for bridal shoes are white, neutral, yellow, violet, purple, grey, and black. However, picking a jewel tone like an emerald or a ruby is a great way to add some extra character to your gown and showcase your personality. Keep in mind if you can’t find the color you want, most shoes can be dyed. There is also the option of picking a shade that diverts from your dress but matches your accessories, such as silver or gold. You can also change up the color through embellishments, such as pearls, beads, sequins, and rhinestones.

Decide on the fabric of your shoe. Raw silk, crepe, or satin shoes are common choices because these are often the fabrics of the dress. However, diverting from the norm and selecting a different fabric from the dress, like leather or metallic, can add a unique touch to the overall ensemble. Keep in mind if you choose shoes that are vinyl or plastic, they are likely to pinch and rub awkwardly against your feet. They also don’t breathe well, which can cause your feet to swell more.

Lastly, match the style of your shoe to your dress and the occasion. Take into account the formality of the wedding, the style of your dress, and the season when selecting a wedding shoe. For example, a satin, open-toe, off-white slipper would work well with an off the shoulder, open back, satin gown during the summer. In contrast, a plain raw silk closed shoe would complement a traditional raw silk, full-skirted gown during the fall and winter months. Informal weddings allow for casual looks, such as ballet slippers or embellished sandals.

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