Brides-to-be often spend weeks, and sometimes months, searching for the perfect wedding gown, but for some reason will leave shopping for the perfect shoes to go with it to the last minute. When the wedding gown is floor length, as so many are, you can be forgiven for thinking that the shoes probably won’t even be seen and therefore are not overly important, but the opposite is true. The shoes you wear to go with that beautiful wedding gown serve a very important role and so should be selected with great care. The following tips will help you choose the perfect wedding shoes to walk down the aisle in.

Shop early – Once you have chosen your dress it is time to go shopping for the shoes to go with it. Don’t make the mistake of leaving it until very close to the big day. Shopping for shoes may take you almost as long as choosing the dress. It may well take some considerable effort to find the perfect pair.

Buy new – It may be tempting to buy a used pair of shoes to save money but try hard to resist. You deserve a new pair of special shoes for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful pair of shoes to go with that stunning wedding gown. Look for sales where the markdowns make the shoes affordable.

Comfort first – The last thing you want on your wedding day is to be wearing a pair of shoes that leave your feet feeling pinched or blistered. Find a pair of shoes that you feel comfortable in right from the minute you slip your feet into them. Have the shoe shop assistant measure your feet to get the right size.

Match the dress – Once you have chosen the dress ask your bridal gown consultant for a small swatch of the fabric so you can match both the color to the color of your shoes. It is quite surprising how many different shades of white there are and ideally the shade of white of your shoes should match that of your wedding gown. Alternatively, if you want to make a statement and go with a splash of color buying a pair of shoes in a bright shade will work too. Just make sure that the color you choose doesn’t clash with the fabric and color of your gown.

Suit the venue – Choose a pair of shoes that are suitable for the wedding venue. If you are planning to get married on a beach or on a lawn you should avoid choosing shoes that the heels will sink into the ground as you try to walk in them. Stiletto heels are sexy and beautiful but impractical for walking in sand or on lawn. If you are having an indoor wedding and plan to wear stiletto heels check with the venue management to see if they allow stiletto heels, as some venues, particularly older buildings with beautiful floors, will not allow them.

Have a backup pair – The pair of shoes you wear with your wedding gown may be perfect to walk down the aisle in but may become very uncomfortable when dancing at the reception. Choose a second pair of shoes that are more suitable for dancing and won’t cause your feet to hurt by the end of the night.

Wear them in – Buying your shoes at least 6 weeks before the wedding day will allow you the opportunity to wear them around the house each day (on carpet please, to keep them clean) and let them mould to your feet. By doing this you can be sure that the shoes will fit your feet perfectly on the big day.

Practice – Once you have your dress practice walking in both the dress and shoes to make sure that you can walk without tripping. This should be done before your final fitting so that the seamstress can adjust the hem length if necessary. You need to feel confident that you can get through the entire wedding ceremony without worrying about the hem of your wedding gown getting tangled around your feet.