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Three Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Shoes

For many brides, the most exciting part of preparing for a wedding is picking out her dress. Picking out wedding shoes to go with it can be a close second. Plus, unlike the dress, a good pair of wedding shoes can be worn after the ceremony and serve as a reminder of that special day. Here are three tips for picking the perfect wedding shoes.

Consider the Venue

Pairs of men's and women's wedding shoes

When focusing on something that looks spectacular, don’t lose sight of practical considerations. The bride has to actually be able to walk down the aisle! If it’s a beach wedding on the sand or the ceremony is being held on a lawn, stiletto heels are probably not a good idea. On the other hand, if it’s a wedding in a fancy ballroom or church, “dressing down” in flats or sandals might not cut it. Consider the venue and what will be practical for the terrain and setting when selecting wedding shoes.

Why Stop at One Pair?

From photos before the event to the ceremony, the reception, dinner, dancing, and everything in between, wedding shoes have to be up to the task. It might be worth having one pair of shoes for the ceremony and then another, more comfortable pair to wear at the reception. Make sure to take into account that the length of your dress will be affected by the height of the heel, so if you’re considering changing from a heel to a flat, be sure to discuss with your seamstress the best way to address your hem.

It’s All About the Dress

Of course, no amount of practicality is going to be enough if the shoes just don’t go with the dress. It’s a good idea for brides to choose the dress first and then try out wedding shoes while wearing the dress to see what looks best. The right wedding shoes should complement the color and detail of the dress, along with your own style. Certain shoes can change the vibe of your dress as well, for instance a fun ballgown with a pair of cowboy boots or even sparkly sneakers underneath, or a vintage dress with a pretty ballet flat. Maybe your shoes are your “something blue”! Don’t forget to keep your eyes out for a pretty rain boot – just in case!

Remember that certain shoes will give you more stability. A flat shoe is easy to wear, but if you want to have a little height on your day consider a wedge or platform heel that give you a wider lift surface and help balance better than a thinner heel. They are also more comfortable! Another good idea is to wear the shoes outside before your wedding day to make sure the bottoms are not slippery. Lastly, ideally at your first fitting, walk around in your dress with the shoes on and make sure they do not stick to or get caught on your dress. Shoes with gemstones or attachments can snag on the fabric of your dress causing problems when you walk and can rip it as well.

Ultimately, the most important thing to consider when picking out the shoes you’ll wear for your big day is whether they make you happy. Darianna Bridal & Tuxedo is here to help make your entire day unforgettable. Our team is dedicated to creating your vision of your perfect day, from head to toe. We also provide tuxedos for the groom and bridesmaid dresses to ensure a cohesive look for the whole wedding party. Call or text 215-491-8500, or make an appointment online to get started.

Our Staff Picks: Favorite Wedding Dresses

Our bridal consultants hear it often, “These dresses are all so beautiful, how can anyone pick one?” It’s true, we do carry fashionably savvy designers who make our job carrying their lines enjoyable because every wedding gown in our store is beautiful for varying reasons.

Often brides will ask for the opinions of our consultants and because this is what we do (and what we love to do, I might add), it’s easy for us because we work with brides every day and, therefore know our selection and inventory quite well. This works in our favor to help find the perfect dress for our discerning brides.

There are dresses that work on certain body types, and then there are dresses that work on every body, and truth be told: when a bride thinks she can’t wear a certain style dress, and we put it on her and she realizes she can – well in our store there is really no better feeling. We know she will feel as beautiful as she hopes to feel and it is our job to show her that.

However, all of that being said, each of our consultants has a couple of gowns that are their favorites. Just like a bride, we know what we like. So for this blog, we decided to have some fun and go behind the scenes in our bridal gallery and find out from our consultants which gown is their favorite.

Wendy’s Pick

Let’s start with shop owner, Wendy. Wendy started this business over six years ago with her husband, Franco, so, as the owner, she makes the final selections for our bridal gallery.  We consultants always get to choose our favorite new ones, but since we cannot bring all of them in, she has the final vote! In all of the years, and thousands of gowns later, Wendy’s top pick is Jayda by Kitty Chen.

“To me, this dress is perfection. It’s a classic style, an A-line with a full skirt, perfectly shaped and flattering sweetheart neckline, dreamy layered lace, a little sparkle… it’s so full of romance and joy. When I see a bride try this on, I can picture her with flowers, walking down that aisle, I actually see her as a bride.”

Of all the dresses Wendy’s daughter Daria has modeled  over the years, this is the one that made her cry (and it was only to take a photo!).  “That’s Daria’s dress.  At least for me, that’s it.  In the blush color.  We put her in Jayda and a veil, I just lost it. I’ll let you know if something ever beats it.”

Daria’s Pick

Daria has been working in the family business since opening in 2013  (it is named partly after her!) and, like her mom, she too has seen thousands of dresses and worked with hundreds of brides. Every bride is unique and so is every dress. Daria’s favorite is Sedona by Casablanca Bridal.

“The delicate lace is very classy and timeless, but still really fun with the royal train and the right amount of sparkle. The fit is gorgeous and works so beautifully on every bride.”

Daria said she also loves Jayda, but she prefers it in the ivory color… like Mother, like Daughter

Suzanne’s Pick

Suzanne joined Darianna as a bridal consultant with over 20 years in the industry. She’s seen the change from the age of the 90’s brides into the early 2000’s and now closing in on 2020. Working with thousands of brides, she’s also seen thousands of bridal dresses, yet even with all of that, her favorite wedding dress is the 1975 by Casablanca.

“This dress has everything. Lace and beaded applique, fit and flare with sweep train.  The built in corset is not only slimming but emphasizes the waist and curves and brides of all sizes look gorgeous in it. It is also equally appropriate for a boho chic wedding or a formal ballroom wedding.  Colors available to suit all skin tones, lightweight and easy to wear, it is definitely a go-to for me.”

 

Shannon’s Pick

Shannon has been a part of the Darianna family for over a year now, and her youthfulness and fun personality have certainly brought energy to the bridesmaids and brides. Not only that, she seems to know everybody!  Jumping into the bridal world can be overwhelming and new inventory comes quickly.  Shannon’s current favorite dress is the brand new December by Jessica Morgan.

“This dress is so elegant and with color options can be versatile to fit the venue.  The back is open, great neckline, pretty sparkle, and to top all that off, it’s light weight and more comfortable than most of the fuller dresses.”

 

Esther’s Pick

Esther is our most recent addition to the consultant floor and she loves working with our brides and spotting the perfect dress for each individual’s shape, personality and style. Her favorite gown was one she saw before she ever joined us. She was here helping her niece, Kirsten, find the perfect dress and her niece just happened to choose Esther’s pick (without even knowing it). Even as new styles come in, Esther still loves Casablanca’s Amber (#2289).

“I love the traditional elements of the lace over chiffon, the timeless elegance of the dress along with the illusion cap sleeve and back. However, my favorite part of this dress is the underlining of full sparkle that reminds me of fresh fallen snow.” Every time a bride says yes to this dress, we think of Esther and, of course, her niece who wore it just a couple of months ago in her winter wedding (and she customized it to have long sleeves).

Those are our picks and we’d love to help you find yours! It’s so much fun working with brides and hearing their stories of how they found their life mate. We love what we do and it shows.  Helping you find your dress is incredibly special and joyful. It’s a memory that will last a lifetime and we are proud to continue adding so many beautiful brides to our family!

Schedule your appointment and find your favorite today!