Pairs of Shoes A Bride Needs (From Bridal Shower to Wedding Reception)

From the moment you get engaged (and maybe even before that), you probably have a pretty clear picture of yourself in a wedding dress. For many of us women, it's been something we've dreamed about since we were kids, even more than we've dreamed of our future spouses. However, in this head-to-toe vision of our gown, our shoes aren't always so clear. Still, what you wear on your feet is incredibly important not only to your nuptial style, but also, your comfort and enjoyment of all wedding-related events.

If you're a little foggy on your bridal footwear, read on. Here are the shoes you'll need to get you through every major event in comfort and style.

Your Shower Shoes

No, we're not talking about the flip-flops you wear in the shower at the gym, but the shoes you will wear to your wedding shower. These are the shoes you can confidently select for (almost) pure love alone: you don't need to think as much about practicality because you will be seated for the majority of the time. While you may not make it more than an hour standing in a pair of towering heels at your ceremony or reception, you won’t have to make it an hour standing in your shower, so throw caution to the wind: unlike your future partner, you don’t have to spend the rest of your life in these shoes. Pick something you adore on aesthetic merits alone.

Your Ceremony Kicks

Depending on the length of your ceremony, you could be standing for awhile — and then there’s that walk down the aisle. While you doubtlessly want bridal shoes that are beautiful, they have to be functional. If you are getting hitched in a religious ceremony, they should also err on the side of conservative. Thankfully, functional and (maybe) conservative doesn’t have to be boring.

Here’s what to look for in functional, comfortable shoes:

A heel you can comfortably stand in for at least an hour - or more if you intend to have your pictures taken right after the ceremony. This will probably mean you want a shorter heel, but depending on your experience with higher heels, it might not. The point is to lower your centre of gravity and decrease the likelihood of embarrassing (and painful) topples.

Something with ankle support, which will keep your shoe on your foot so your heel does not slip out and lead to a fall.

In addition to these traits, here’s what to add on if you are looking for more conservative shoes:

A closed toe — though this doesn’t mean you need a closed back.

An understated, classic look: sparkles and a little bling is fine, but steer clear of loud embellishments.

This shoe needs to be the most comfortable of them all, which means you will almost definitely want a shoe with a wider heel, or even no heel. A wider heel will give your foot a greater basis of support, which means you’ll be able to mix, mingle and dance the night away without having to spend your honeymoon soaking your aching feet. If you do decide to go with a flat shoe, just keep in mind this will affect the hem of your dress. If going from heel to no heel means you are going to be tripping on your gown all night, it’s safest to opt for a heeled shoe.

That’s it! These three pairs of shoes will take you functionally and fashionably from shower to reception. Be sure to try them on with your dress to make sure they gel, and to spend at least two weeks before the event breaking them in. Don’t just buy them and wear them: get to know them a little!