Now, I am a HUGE fan of footwear. I mean I could seriously give Imelda Marcos a run for her money in terms of my shoe collection, however since I have been working as a celebrant, I find that wedding footwear is a serious issue that simply must be addressed.
Many of the simply stunning venues I am lucky enough to call my temporary office for the day are perhaps on the beach, set in luscious gardens, or situated in cobblestoned courtyards. Believe you me, these are a footwear minefield. Personally, I plump for either wedges or block heels. Flats are also an option, but when you are slightly vertically challenged like moi, flat shoes are not the best idea, especially if marrying a tall couple.
A Painful Footwear Memory
I remember once seeing an ex-work colleague getting a spike heel caught in the slat flooring of a beach club and breaking said heel right at the beginning of a large event. This would not have been such an issue if said shoes were not incredibly expensive. I felt her pain, I seriously did! My main concern in wearing anything other than wedges or block heels is that I am incredibly clumsy, a regular fairy elephant. If there is a cobblestone to trip over or a lawn to sink into, it will be yours truly who does it. This is not a good look while conducting a wedding ceremony, believe you me. Especially dangerous is conducting a wedding ceremony on a platform over a swimming pool. True story! Despite the incredible heat that day, the setup and my general clumsiness really made me sweat. I had visions of falling backwards into said swimming pool, which, although on such a warm day would have been rather refreshing, it would have spoiled the moment somewhat!
Personal Preference for Flats: I am therefore quite particular about my wedding footwear and am often found in flats before and after the ceremony. This makes rushing around simpler and helps avoid any twisted ankle.
Pre-Warn Your Wedding Guests: It is a good idea to pre-warn your wedding guests accordingly as to the type of terrain they will be expected to traverse. While hiking boots might not be necessary, perhaps flats, wedges, and block heels might seriously be worth considering.
Alternative Solutions: If not, at least those cool little plastic things you can put over your stiletto heel to make it less spikey.
High Heels and the Wedding Day
Now, you will always get some who will rock those sky-high stilettos and carry it off without the slightest hitch, not even a wobble or a stumble. But, you also don't want great aunt Ethel to lose her footing, get her heel stuck in the lawn, and end up arse over teakettle in the nearest flower bed! Although, it might make for some rather interesting wedding pics. Something else to bear in mind: it is a long, long day and a long time to be sporting potentially very uncomfortable footwear. Especially if you are the bride, you do NOT want to spend your day wishing you had chosen something else to wear on your feet and grimacing rather than beaming during your wedding photos. I have a friend who was married recently in over 40-degree weather (typical for Andalucia in August). She and her entire bride tribe were sporting the finest customized Converse trainers, and I remember thinking what an absolutely brilliant idea. Stylish, yet comfortable, and I bet they rocked the night away with no problem whatsoever.
Unique Footwear Choices
My last bride of the 2019 wedding season had a simply stunning pair of cream DM's as her wedding shoes. You could barely see them under the gorgeous dress, but a very smart move, in my opinion.
Now, some may say, "It is my wedding day and I will wear the daintiest, prettiest, spikiest shoes that I have always dreamed of." Of course, it is entirely your prerogative to do so. However, it might be an idea to have a pair of ballerinas stashed away somewhere for later on. I have sometimes seen a box of flip-flops or ballerinas for anyone to help themselves should they find themselves bemoaning their wrongly chosen footwear for a wedding. Personally, I would be so chuffed to find a pair of flip-flops or ballerinas and would certainly reuse them in the future.
Gayle x
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