WINTER WEDDING SHOES

The Shoe Dilemma: Choosing The Perfect Winter Wedding Shoes For You and Your Bridesmaid

  One of the toughest things about having a winter wedding is trying to find appropriate shoes for you and your bridesmaids that will keep your feet warm and dry without looking terrible. Everyone loves beautiful and delicate summer sandals and platforms, but they are really not appropriate for a winter wedding.

For a winter wedding brides are better off choosing classic styles like traditional pumps or ballet flats. It can be tough to find stylish yet winter appropriate footwear for brides and bridesmaids, but it’s not impossible. You don’t need to sacrifice style for warmth, but you might need to think outside the box and be willing to compromise on the style of the shoe in order to find shoes that look great and are appropriate for winter weather or possibly even rough terrain if you are having an outdoor winter wedding.

Shoes for the Bride

When thinking about what shoes to wear with your wedding dress you need to think about what the weather will be like and where you will need to be walking. No matter which shoes you choose to wear in the church or wedding hall and the reception hall, you should have another pair of sturdier shoes to wear during transportation because you may need to walk on slippery, snowy, or wet ground and you may be climbing in and out of a limo, sleigh, carriage, or other awkward situation in a very large dress. Investing in a pair of color coordinated flat heeled boots that are warm and have a good walking sole to wear when you are outside is a very good idea.

Boots aren’t just for cowboys

Picking the right shoe will depend a lot on the type of dress you choose and the theme of the wedding. If you have chosen a vintage wedding or are wearing a vintage style dress, then choose a button up or zip up pair of ankle high Victorian shoes or boots. These will go perfectly with the dress and will be warm enough to protect your feet from any cold or damp weather. Ankle high white or ivory lace boots with a side zipper would also work with a romantic dress made from layers of gauzy material or a dress that is heavily embroidered. Some companies also have a basic stack heeled satin ankle boot with a hidden zipper that can go with any dress style and can be dyed, so if you are wearing a red dress or a blue dress the boot can be dyed to match your dress.

Many brides turn up their noses at the idea of wearing boots with their wedding dress but boots can be stylish. A pretty jeweled or beaded satin or lace bridal boot can look beautiful and be warm enough to wear for a winter wedding. If you are going to have an outdoor wedding, look for a flat heeled satin boot, and have a clever seamstress stitch some white fur or fake fur around the top of the boot to give you a little added warmth.

Classic pumps are classic for a reason

If you want a solid shoe that will go with any dress style, the obvious choice is a classic pump. Choose a heel height that you can walk and stand in comfortably, and dress up the shoe with some beading or embroidery if you have beading and embroidery on your dress. Classic pumps never go out of style and look great with just about any style of dress. A classic closed toe pump will give your feet some protection from the elements and will be a little dressier than a flat shoe. If you want to wear a pump and your wedding is outside, look for a stack heeled pump that will give you a little more balance when walking on uneven or slippery ground.

Flats work with everything

If comfort is important to you, then you can’t go wrong with a classic ballet flat in white or cream colored satin. Dress up the shoes with some beading to add some flair. Many brides don’t think that flats are dressy enough to be a wedding shoe but that’s just a myth. There are some lovely jeweled flats that add a lot of dimension to some wedding dresses, especially fantasy style wedding dresses that have a medieval flair to them or very soft, romantic wedding dresses that are made up of layers of tulle, lace, and other soft, flowing fabrics. A plain satin ballet flat can also look great with a traditional white strapless satin gown. And you’ll love the comfort of a good pair of flats if you will be on your feet for most of your wedding day! If your wedding is outdoors you should pick a flat shoe that has some walking tread on the sole so that you don’t slip and fall in your wedding gown on icy or snowy ground.

Shoes for the bridesmaids

When choosing shoes for your bridesmaids it’s important to take into account the style of the bridesmaids' dresses. If the bridesmaids’ dresses are classic satin evening gowns or cocktail dresses, then a traditional pump that is dyed to match is a classy, sophisticated shoe that will look stylish and provide some necessary foot protection for the maids. Discuss with your bridesmaids what heel heights they are comfortable with wearing.

It might be a good idea to let each maid pick out a pair of shoes that she likes as long as they are all the same basic style, such as all being pumps, and then have them all dyed together. Involve your bridesmaids in the discussion about what shoes should be worn with the dresses and try to take their feelings into consideration because after all, they will need to wear the shoes for the day and evening of the wedding. Ultimately it’s your decision, but it’s always a nice gesture to ask their opinions.