Ladies, I’m sure we are all agreed that shoes play a huge part in any outfit, so choosing wedding shoes is a big deal!
When preparing for a night out on the town, you might happily team your dress with your favourite go-to heels, but the majority of women will go out and purchase a special pair of shoes for their big day.
After all, what is the point of wearing a crisp new dress, spending money on having your hair styled, nails and makeup done, and your body spray-tanned if you are then going to slip on a set of worn-in shoes to finish off the look?
Setting a budget for wedding shoes
It can be really hard to know what to spend on shoes for your big day. When you are already spending so much on venue hire, food and booze, how much is appropriate when it comes to accessories like footwear?
Firstly, shoes aren’t always just an accessory, and sometimes they need to be given more attention than things like jewellery. For instance, if you are planning on wearing a calf or knee-length dress, then your shoes will very much be on show.
Secondly, it all depends on what will make you feel good on the day and how much you are comfortable spending in order to be delighted with your look.
Bridebook’s UK Wedding Report for 2017 indicated that brides spend on average £1,329 on clothing and accessories for the day, which includes the wedding gown, a veil (if desired), lingerie, shoes and jewellery.
Some say that you should spend no more than 15% of the cost of your dress on wedding shoes, which would indicate that the average bride might spend around £200 on her foot attire. Bearing in mind that this is quite a healthy shoe budget, most would only spend this much on footwear if their dress wasn’t floor length and therefore covering them up.
Choosing a wedding shoe style
The style of shoe you choose to wear (open toe, closed toe, sling back, stiletto, wedge, sandal, etc) can depend on a number of factors:
- Season and weather
- Venue type (indoor/outdoor)
- Wedding dress style
- How stable you are in heels of varying heights
- How long you plan to wear them for
If you are only going to wear your shoes for the ceremony and during photos before changing into some comfy flats, then you may not feel it necessary to spend a huge amount. However, if you love a stiletto heel and really want bold footwear that will make a statement, and that you could possible wear again on a special occasion, then you might be quite relaxed about going for the top-end option.
Wedding Shoe Retailers In Essex
Be sure to check out our list of recommended suppliers for bridalwear, featured below, who can offer a range of wedding accessories including shoes for her and him
- Bridal Reloved Maldon: www.bridalreloved.co.uk/bridal-reloved-maldon/
- Amara Bridal: www.amarabridal.co.uk
- Nell’amore Bridal Wear: www.nellamore-bridalwear.co.uk
In addition to these wonderful boutiques, you might like to consider Dress Code Nine in Colchester and Fleur de Lys in Saffron Walden, as well as the many shoe suppliers in and around Braintree. The most common brands worn by brides include Dune, Kurt Geiger, L K Bennett, Jimmy Choo, and Christian Louboutin, some of which are available at department stores or online retailers.
If you can spare the time to visit a large shopping centre like Westfields in Stratford, or Lakeside in West Thurrock, then it is definitely worth doing so to enable you to try on as many pairs and varieties of shoes as possible and decide what styles and brands you like best.
Meanwhile, there are places like TK Maxx in Freeport, Braintree, Debenhams at the Eastgate Centre in Basildon, and John Lewis in Bond Street, Chelmsford, where you may find the perfect designer shoe by chance!