Put Your Best Foot Forward


(Image via Scotimages)
Let’s talk for a moment about feet, shall we?

The simple fact is that on your wedding day, you’re likely to spend a lot of time on your tootsies. Standing around in your wedding finery trying not to let anything get wrinkled, walking up the aisle, the receiving line or table hopping to greet guests, dancing, and so on and so forth… chances are at some point your feet are going to get mighty tired.

And while I can hear plenty of brides to be chorusing ‘no problem, I’ll have flip flops!’ I happen to think there are a plethora of better ideas for foot happiness that would not make the Manolo weep into his favorite pair of peeptoes. Hey, it’s your wedding and I can’t stop you, but I can offer alternatives to consider.

Pick a heel height you’re used to and comfortable wearing for long periods of time. Note that this will not be the same height for everyone. Some women can wear five inch heels all day and not be troubled with pain or agony. Others (such as yours truly) get a nosebleed from an inch and a half. Really think about what heel makes you comfortable for long periods of both dancing and standing around. And while you’re at it, think about other style options that make your feet the most comfortable. Do you need extra arch or ankle support? Find shoes that will give you just that.

If you’re worried about a significant height difference between you and your intended, don’t be. Look, you know how big the difference between your heights is. So does he. So do all of your friends and both families. I barely come up to Mr. Twistie’s shoulder, and on our wedding day I wore flat shoes (dancing shoes, in point of fact, so they had really thin soles, to boot, as it were) and he wore a tall top hat. The photos look great, because we had a good photographer and because we were entirely ourselves. Let your photographer worry about getting good angles on you as a couple. That’s why you’re paying a professional.

Consider wearing a pair of shoes you already own. Yes, I know a wedding is a great excuse to go out and buy a new pair of expensive shoes, and if that’s your decision then I say have at it and enjoy. But don’t simply rule out the idea that the perfect pair of shoes is already in your closet. After all, the shoes don’t have to be a perfect color match to your gown, and the shoes you already have are already broken in for maximum comfort.
(Image via Love the Schultzes)

If you do buy new shoes, get them enough in advance that you can break them in properly. The last thing you want is to discover on your wedding day that your new shoes are giving you a nasty blister or rubbing your foot raw somewhere. So make sure to wear those new lovelies around the house until you have them as comfortable as… well… old shoes.

Make sure you have places to sit at your reception, not to mention opportunities to use them! Enough chairs will make a huge difference, so make sure they’re handy. And don’t over schedule the day. Give yourself some breathing room to simply enjoy your own party. That way if your feet start feeling tired or sore, you can do something about it. If necessary, deputize someone to make you sit down every couple hours during the day.

Take good care of your feet in the days leading up to the big one. Pamper them with a nice pedicure or massage… if you’re not too ticklish! Frankly, I can’t have either one done to me. But whatever you can do to make your feet happy, whether it’s having that massage or simply putting them up for a while, go ahead and do it.

Your feet are not fashion accessories. They are an important part of your body. Make them as happy as you can on your wedding day. After all, you want them happy for your honeymoon as well!

5 Responses to “Put Your Best Foot Forward”

  1. Katie says:

    It sounds like I wore the same shoes you did! My husband and I are the same height, if he stands up straight, but at 5’10” I don’t feel the need to be any taller anyway. My shoes were ballet flats, made by a dance shoe company. They were beautifully comfortable and very flat, and I wore them in by wearing them to our dancing lessons (though admittedly that meant they got stepped on a few times before the big day)

  2. Twistie says:

    Mine were actually Scottish dancing ghillies, but yes, they’re very similar to ballet shoes, and my feet were comfy all day long!

  3. SarahDances says:

    One option to consider (although you two have kind of beat me to the punch) is to consider buying ballroom dance shoes. They’re meant to be comfy and dance-friendly, and some of the Latin styles especially are really cute!

  4. Jo says:

    I took the slightly-more expensive option of having a couple of pairs. Knee length boots for the ceremoney and meal, then changed into strappy higher sandals for the evening. The change of pressure points meant my feet felt refreshed I stayed standing for a lot longer than otherwise would have been managed!

  5. I think that changing between pairs would suit me best, because I can’t imagine my wedding day without at least one pair of gorgeous, at least 4 inch, heels! I find it easier to float around and dance in heels, otherwise I’d worry my posture wasn’t as good. But I can see I’ll definitely cave for comfy shoes at some point!