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Head Over Heels Two special items of bridal attire are often purchased quickly,
and with less consideration for style and comfort than for price
and for necessity: Bridal millinery and bridal shoes. Both play
an important part in your day, although in quite different ways.
Take special care in choosing your headpiece and veil
- they frame your face. Well designed bridal millinery forms the
background for your romantic wedding portraits, so you want it
to look perfect and fit comfortably.
A bridal milliner will design head-wear that not only enhances
your face, and fits your hairstyle, but compliments your gown
in every way. Custom designed millinery is usually no more expensive
than ready-made and does not have to be ordered months in advance.
Choose pearls, sequins, beads, lace bows, or a smart bridal hat.
A milliner is like a hair stylist - he or she creates the style
especially for you!
Now,
Let's Talk About Wedding Shoes
You've
found the dress. And it's perfect. But what about the shoes? They
must be beautiful and they must be comfortable. These are the shoes
you will walk in from single-hood into wedded bliss. They are the
shoes for your first dance as husband and wife.
And although these are shoes no one may ever see, except for a very
brief glimpse, still they must be perfect! Don't despair; here's
some helpful advice.
Comfortable
The perfect wedding shoes will need to be many things, but above
all, they must be comfortable. You'll be walking down the aisle,
posing for photographs, greeting guests, cutting the cake, and
possibly dancing in your bridal shoes. This could all add up to
hours and hours on your feet, so be sure, that you choose shoes that
are comfortable on your feet.
Wedding Shoes to Suit Your Style
While your shoes should be a good match to your dress and the
setting of your wedding, they should also reflect your personal
style. For example, a funky, trendy bride might consider bridal
shoes with chunky heels; while a romantic at heart might love a pair
of lacy white "granny boots" as her bridal shoes. It's your day, so
let everything be in your style!
Fabric Choices for Wedding Shoes
Silk or satin are traditionally the two most popular choices for
wedding shoes, but of course, your wedding dress and personal taste
should have the greatest impact on the shoes you choose. If you're
wearing a non-traditional wedding dress, your shoes do not need to
be traditional either. A fine leather, a sparkling silver lame', or
a Cinderella-like clear slipper are all possible materials for your
wedding shoes.
Whites Will Vary
All whites are not all created equal. When choosing wedding shoes,
be sure to take a swatch of fabric from the wedding dress of your
choice. 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. Before attempting to change your
shoe's color, be sure to consult with shoe store personnel first.
Details
and Embellishments
If, when choosing wedding shoes, you find a pair with embellishments
similar to the ones on your dress, make sure the details 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. Trying on Wedding Shoes
When shopping for wedding (or any) shoes, be sure to shop toward the
end of your day. Our feet swell over the course of a day, and you'll
want to try on shoes when your feet are largest. Also, if you'll be
wearing hose on your wedding day, be sure to wear them when trying
on your bridal shoes.
Heels of Wedding Shoes
The heel height of your wedding shoes is of utmost importance. Your
dress will be fitted to accommodate the height of your bridal shoes,
and if you're not comfortable in really high heels, your wedding may
not be the best time to try them out. One of the most important
things a bride-to-be must realize is that the height of the shoe
must come first and that the shoes are important to the altering of
the dress. Once you've established the height of the heel, you must
have the shoes in order to have your wedding gown fitted properly.
Changing the height will change the hem of the dress.
You should have your shoes by the time your gown is delivered and
ready to be altered. You will need to bring your shoes to every
fitting so that the hemline remains the same.
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If
you want a bit of added height, but aren't used to stilettos,
you can consider platform heels, or lower kitten heels.
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If
you prefer a flat, satin ballet slippers make beautiful bridal
shoes.
Breaking in Your Wedding Shoes
To be sure that on the big day your wedding shoes aren't killing
your feet, you'll need to break them in. A few weeks before your
wedding, try wearing your bridal shoes around the house (not
outside!) for a small amount of time. Over the course of the
next couple of weeks, increase the amount of time you wear them.
Be sure to walk and stand a lot in them, until you're certain
that you can wear them comfortably for at least 4 or 5 hours.
Extra Shoes for Your Wedding
You may decide that for your reception, you'd like to wear a
more comfortable pair of shoes. If this is the case, be sure
that your second pair of shoes has the same heel height as your
actual wedding shoes. This will insure that your dress doesn't
drag the ground while you're dancing or socializing.
Wedding Shoes and Floor Surfaces
The aisle you'll be walking down may be carpeted, or you may
find that the reception hall has slick floors. Either surface
can be difficult to walk or dance on, especially in your wedding
shoes. You might want to consider adding self-adhesive sole pads
to the bottoms of your shoes for added traction; alternatively,
you can use sandpaper to scuff the soles.

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