Picking an outfit for a wedding often involves a particular focus on dresses, but shoes are just as important for the overall look; what’s more, they ensure comfort during a long day of standing and dancing.
Theme
Many weddings will have a theme, such as focusing on a colour or inspired by an era in history. This will obviously shape your choice of outfit, including shoes. The theme will probably be included on any invitation, but discuss it with the couple if you are unsure.
Comfort
You are likely to be standing and waiting outside the church or other venue, standing for toasts and speeches, and dancing on the dance floor. A wedding day can be long and tiring, so you need shoes that will stand up to the wear and continue to keep you comfortable throughout. This means ensuring they are made of breathable material such as soft leather, that the soles are thick and cushioning, that the straps are not too tight, and that heels are both a reasonable height and square enough for stability. Heels that are too high can be an injury risk. If the weather is going to be hot and dry, consider open-toed shoes.
Style
The other important element of choosing wedding shoes is, of course, the style. This is why you may go with smaller heels, preferably under 5cm, but you may still want some heel to help shape your legs and posture. Think about the colour and the pattern of any straps. You may even add some glittery elements.
You can view collections of potential wedding guest dresses from companies such as ohelloclothing.com/collections/wedding-guest-dresses to ensure you can find shoes that coordinate stylistically.
Extras
You may want to take flat shoes to change into if your heels become too uncomfortable or break, plasters in case of blistering, and half insoles to improve comfort.
Choosing wedding guest shoes, and any other accessories, is about balancing comfort and style so you can look and feel your best throughout the ceremony and the later celebrations.