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Style Guide - Bridal Shoes
Choosing your bridal shoes well before the wedding must be a top priority. It absolutely essential to wear your bridal shoes for the first and subsequent wedding dress fittings and alterations to be assured of the correct hem length for your wedding dress. Wedding shoes style may be a matter of personal preference, but the following simple guide will assist you in all aspects of your final shoe selection. The three main physical features for bridal shoe selection include shoe fabric, style and heel height. Most important, however, your personal comfort is of utmost concern. For your convenience, KnotTheGroom.com has created a Bridal Shoe Comfort Guide which includes information on how to measure, prepare and wear these formal shoes for your up-coming wedding.
 Wedding Shoe Fabrics
Shoe Fabric Selection is totally dependent on the dress fabric of your wedding gown. Make sure that the material at the bottom of the dress hem is the area you will be matching, since wedding dresses often have a combination of material types varying from the bodice to the skirt. This is also very important for bridesmaid shoes, as the shoes are typically dyed to match the dress. The primary shoe fabric selections are Silk Satin, Satin, Crepe Luxe. All dyeable bridal shoes include a swatch for dyeing purposes and detailed information about the shoe dyeing process can be viewed at Wedding Shoe Dyeing.
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Silk Satin
Silk Satin, a natural fabric with a soft, satin sheen texture, has a slight off-white hue. This bridal shoe fabric is a superb match for wedding dresses that are made of silk or have a “diamond white,” natural coloration, or slightly off-white silk color. All of the Liz Rene Couture Shoes are created in silk satin. |
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Satin
Satin, a luxurious high gloss material, dyes particularly well to deep rich colors such as navy, brown, red, burgundy and hunter green. Satin is a desirable fabric choice for bridal shoes which are worn with wedding dresses that feature satin bottoms. Satin also blends beautifully with iridescent gowns and velvet dresses. |
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Crepe Luxe
Crepe Luxe, also referred to as Crepe, is a pebbly material with a matted, flat look and low sheen. This crinkled surface dyes exceptionally well and works fabulously with crepe, chiffon, silk or lace wedding dresses. As seen in the picture, the crepe luxe shoes have a matted, or less shiny finish, in comparison to the same shoes above in Satin. |
 Wedding Shoe Styles
The style of your bridal shoe is defined not so much as what fashion dictates, but rather your personal prerogatives – the look you want to create to express yourself and complement your wedding gown while retaining the comfort level you desire. The main categories of bridal shoe styles include Pumps & Slingbacks, Platforms and new-wave Sandals and FlipFlops.
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Pumps
Classic Pumps are a traditional style of closed toe and sides shoe style which simply slip onto the foot. If your wedding gown is quite intricately designed or ostentatious, the pump style bridal shoe may mesh well with a more down-keyed tone. The pump also allows for more foot support and discreet insertion of foot pads or supports for exceptional all-day comfort and fit. Pumps also may camophlage the less-than-perfect feet or toes by covering the entire foot area. |
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Slingbacks
Slingbacks are pumps or sandals that the heel of the foot is exposed, yet secured to the shoe with a strap that goes around the heel. The strap varies in widths and can be elasticized or buckled for greater comfort. Depending on your choice, these bridal shoes may be worn with or without hosiery which allows for air to circulate over the feet, creating a cooling effect. Foot support is not as easily achieved with a slingback, as arch supports or heel pads cannot be worn since the side and back of the foot are exposed. |
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Sandals
Sandals have exploded onto the wedding scene with a multitude of styles. A sandal is defined as a shoe that has an open toe with a strap across the toes. Bridal sandals are perfect match for summer weddings since a bride can show off a new manicure and stay cool without the need for nylons. A variety of strap styles aid in anchoring the sandal to the foot and speak of sheer comfort. |
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Platforms
Platforms, as indicated by the name, have an up-raised, thickened sole on the entire shoe which is literally a platform. This style works well for the bride who finds it difficult to walk in very high heels, or stilettos, but still wants the added elevation with an ease of walking in her step. Platforms allow for a range of variations in heights, since the entire surface of the shoe is exactly the same amount of height. This wedding shoe type definitely has a heavier, more solid foundation for a less wobbly effect. |
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Flip Flops
FlipFlops are newcomers to the bridal scene and are perfect for more casual, care-free weddings. With merely a single strap over the toes and a band between the big and second toe, this non-traditional bridal shoe style has its merits for the contemporary young bride or a tropical beach scene wedding. Flip Flops are conventionally flat shoes with slight heel height. |
 Wedding Shoe Heel Height & Width
Heel height and width define the bridal comfort zone. As a bride, your first impulse may be that fashion-model elegance is your only concern, and that you are willing to sacrifice comfort for just one day to impress your guests with your Diva, upbeat, ultra-chic look. Before you make that decision, seriously analyze the type of heel that you are accustomed to wearing. If you never wear 3” inch stilettos, now may not be the best time to attempt that feat, unless you are willing to practice walking in those heels before the actual day. Your best advice may be to select the heel height that you normally wear for special occasions or even the height of your everyday shoes.
There is a gamut of wedding shoe heels and widths available, but KnotTheGroom.com has organized shoe heels into five different categories - High, Mid, Mini, Low and Flat. Wedding shoes are listed according to heel height by increasing height. The best way to choose a bridal shoe heel height is to measure the height of a pair of shoes you have worn all day or all night and were comfortable the entire time. Too much or too little incline for your foot could make for a long wedding day on your feet.
Flats are precisely that, having little or no heel, and range from height of 0" to 3/4" inch. Flat shoes may be the option for maximum comfort and less strain on the arch of the bride’s foot. If you are concerned about a height difference, bridal flats may be the perfect choice as practical and down-to-earth, and more user-friendly on rough surfaces or outdoor areas. Satin ballet slippers are a type of flat shoe which are unequaled for comfort with their soft, cozy texture and softer cushiony sole. Many brides choose slippers for after the ceremony as a comfortable alternative to going barefoot at the reception or dance.
Low heels may seem a little less luxurious, but brides may appreciate the security and equalized pressure on the foot and heel. At 1" to 1 1/4" inches, low heel shoes make it less challenging to navigate uneven surfaces or outdoor areas in this style of near-flat bridal shoes.
Mini Heels, which are 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" inch heels, combine comfort with class and may be more workable for any type of surface, particularly in the wedge, or wider, heel style.
Mid Heels offer more balance and support for the foot as the height of the heel starts at 2" to 2 1/2" inches. Mid heels are considerably more user-friendly, still exuding a dressy, somewhat formal look while creating less pressure on the toe area than the high heel shoe style.
High Heels start at 2 5/8" to 4"+ inches which are considered to be more formal and wear more easily in flat, indoor surfaces. High heels that are thin and narrow will sink into grassy outdoors or beach areas. Keep in mind that if you plan to dance the night away and kick off your shoes, your wedding gown will probably drag on the floor without the height of that higher heel.
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Measuring Shoe Heel Height
The heel height measurements provided in each of the shoe descriptions are measurement taken from from the inside of the heel to the floor, as indicated by the arrow in the photo. There may be as much as a half inch to an inch difference in comparison to the back of the shoe heel, which is normally what most alterations experts and seamstresses measure. Likewise, the larger the shoe size, the higher the heel will be in proportion to it. For example, a size 5 1/2 shoe will not be quite as high as a size 11 shoe. |
Have further questions about wedding shoes?
Visit our Frequently Asked Question shoe page or contact us.
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