Your wedding shoes and wedding dress may both be perfect, but they still may not be perfect together. Here are some tips for insuring that your wedding shoes are a perfect match for the wedding dress you’ll be wearing on the big day.

The Right Wedding Shoes
Obviously, the type of wedding you’re having will affect your wedding dress, and it should play a role in your wedding shoes as well. An evening wedding and a glamorous gown will open the door for strappy evening sandals, while a city hall or pantsuit wedding would be a fantastic excuse to break out beaded mules as your bridal shoes.

Whites Vary
All whites are not all created equal. When choosing your wedding shoes, be sure to take a swatch of fabric from your wedding dress. Many wedding dresses are offered in “Diamond White,” and if the shoes you must have don’t match, a bridal rinse can help tone them down to work with your gown.

Dress Alterations – The Shoe Factor
When trying on wedding dresses, take along shoes in a height similar to the shoes you’ll be wearing at the wedding. For final alterations, have your actual bridal shoes with you if possible. The hem of your dress will be determined by the shoes you’ll be wearing, so it is essential to pick your heel height before the final fitting. A last minute change to shoes with lower heels could leave your gown too long.

Choosing Fabrics for Your Bridal Shoes
The bottom of your wedding dress can help you determine which fabric to choose for your bridal shoes. Satin shoes work great with shiny fabrics, while crepe shoes would be smashing for dresses with a matte sheen. If your wedding dress is lace, of course, lacy shoes would be a perfect choice.

Styles That Will Complement Your Dress
Fancy shoes for a simple dress; or simple shoes with an elaborate gown. This rule of thumb can help take some of the confusion out of finding the right bridal shoes. By eliminating the need to match embellishments and detailing, the perfect match is more easily attained.

Details and Embellishments
If you do choose both shoes and a dress with embellishments, the details should coordinate. For example, rhinestone or crystals on your shoes will go well with bejeweled or shiny, sequined dresses; while beaded shoes will work nicely with pearled dresses.