Wedding shoes UK - dress for comfort or fashion?

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Wedding shoes come in so many different styles in the UK, it is often difficult to decide which kind is right for you. The first thing to remember is that they will be put to the test for comfort on your wedding day as you will be on your feet a lot — walking down the aisle, posing for photographs, the receiving line, and of course dancing at the reception. However, brides also like to look elegant and fashionable so it is best to try to find a middle ground when choosing your wedding shoes.

The height of the heel can help you look taller and more elegant. Heels up to four inches can really maximise your silhouette, but you should consider how easily you can walk and dance in high heels when making your choice. The height of your groom is also an important factor - you don't want to be towering over him on his big day, poor chap!

If your intended is tall, platform shoes are a great way to increase height whilst keeping you comfortable, and lower half inch heels are best for dancing after a couple of glasses of champagne! Whatever you choose, make sure you take your shoes with you for your dress fitting so you can avoid your wedding gown dragging on the floor if your heels aren’t high enough, or even worse your heels being too high and your dress too short!

When choosing the style of your shoe, it’s possible to pick anything from sling-backs to peep-toes. If you would like something delicate as well as comfortable, silk or satin pumps are a popular choice. Wedding salons have a huge range of styles, so it is a good idea to look carefully at the choices available. You don’t have to buy your shoes at the most expensive salons — discount bridal shops or online companies also have a large range of beautiful wedding shoes at more reasonable prices.

The fabric of wedding shoes is generally silk or satin. You could have leather, but this is not usually considered delicate enough. Silk or satin shoes can be dyed to match your dress perfectly, and they can later be dyed another colour so you can wear them more than once. If your dress if very simple, you could also choose embellishments like beading, lace, pearls or crystals to decorate your shoes. However, very detailed wedding dresses are best teamed with shoes of a simple design.

If you find it impossible to choose between glamorous stilettos and comfy pumps, some brides opt for both! Why not wear the high heels for the ceremony and photographs, but slip in to something more comfortable when dancing at the reception? One of the best pieces of advice is to break your wedding shoes in prior to your big day. Wear them around the house for no less than four hours to help avoid nasty blisters, which can potentially ruin your big day.

© The Pink Fridge Online Magazine 2008 - Wedding Shoes