Be Cinderella on your wedding day! - The Brides Guide to Shoes

Carmen, Shoes by Rachel Simpson

So there is the standing for hours, the walking down the aisle and back, the standing in the ceremony & for photographs, the stroll round to meet and greet guests, the dancing, on your wedding day your feet will really take a the strain on your wedding day.  

Foot pain from shoes and high heels is like hell on earth, feet swell the shoes get tight, they rub, pinch and give blisters.  Who wants to step out for their first dance limping?  or worse having spent good money on that perfect pair -  to find yourself barefoot on your big day! 

Mimi, Shoes by Rachel Simpson

I speak from experience ladies, losing the shoes  mid day, may be tempting but it means; a harder job for the dry cleaner as your dress now 3 inches longer drags like a mop round the floor, collecting confetti, food and spilt champagne or beer (YUK!);  You also end up with the filthiest blackest feet you have ever seen, which also means you better get praying, that no-one drops their glass, blood on your wedding gown or a trip to A&E is not how you want your day to end. Even if you only have black feet it's not very romantic for you first night; Who wants to start married life seeing your new wife moaning & rubbing filthy feet! Even if you only meant to release them from their prison for a minute, as you do try to slip those shoe's back on your feet seem to have swelled so much that they just won't fit and oh my the pain has suddenly intensified- it's like you've gone from Cinderella at the ball to being the ugly sister in seconds!  

So how do you avoid this scenario?

Lola - By Rachel Simpson Shoes

Here are my top tips:

1. When choosing you shoes, do so after you have been walking and shopping and wearing heeled shoes all day, your feet will then be in a 'realistic' state when you try shoes on.  If you slip them on and think - Wow, they are so comfortable then that's the Cinderella slipper feeling!

2. Invest in some gel cushions to fit under the balls of your feet, if your shoes don't have their own padding. It will really provide that much needed comfort when you need it most.

3. Wear those shoes in well before the big day! I know we'd rather keep them sacred in the box, but trust me you will regret it if you are not used to them! - See the Video's by the Bridal coach for some great tips, the link can be found below.

Isabella Shoes by Rachel Simpson

4. Choose a heel height that is realistic for you and your spouse.  If your partner is shorter than you or similar in height, opt for flats or kitten heels as, big height differences will be obvious in photographs. If the heel is close to that you normally wear, they will be more comfortable.

 

5. Whatever you choose, you need to be able to walk and dance in them, so get lots of practice. about the house or wherever. Buy another pair similar in height and wear them every where.  You need to feel confident as you glide down the aisle, keep you head up and  walk from heel to toe confidently in your dress.  Don't forget if your dress is long, you also have that to deal with so at least if you are great in you shoes, it won't unbalance you.

6.  Buy the best shoes you can afford.  The designer shoes often have extra comfort features such as padded soles, leather inners and will be much better for your feet.  I particularly love the shoes by Rachel Simpson who has such beautiful designs as seen in the pictures.  

7.  Shoes with straps or fastening will provide extra support and stop them flip flopping and causing blisters.

8. Some fabrics for shoes give more than others and some won't stretch and mould to your feet well, get measured and get the right size and the right fabric finish for you.

9. Match your style, just because white is traditional it doesn't mean you have to go with the flow, your shoes are likely to be coverd up so why not add your own personality to them.  I love bright coloured shoes and we love to add shoe clips to decorate them easily.

10. Love your shoes, whilst they must be functional and practical, with no love then there is no joy! Choose a pair you will really love, that will make you feel beautiful, stride out confidently and smile whenever you think about them.

Tweeter's Shoe Tips: I posted a shout out on Twitter for some tips from the stiletto pro's 

@allwrappedup "ALCOHOL"  - how could I have forgot this tip - I do know that it does suppress the pain, but don't really advise it for your wedding day!

Tip to stretch shoes: @ClaireDobinson "Fill freezer bags with water, put in the shoes and then put in freezer over night - perfect!" - it adds a good half size apparently

Please ADD YOUR SHOE TIPS  and COMMENTS below

Links you must check out:

Great VIDEO tips & advice from the BRIDAL COACH these are a must Watch

Shoes pictured from the beautiful collection by Rachel Simpson 

Shoe Clips by Bespoken For For a Little bit of added personality

Weddings at Handpicked Hotels

I love the 17 country house hotels in the Hand Picked Hotels collection. They are ideal venues for weddings.

With more and more couples choosing to marry in a hotel I had to share this collection of 17 stunning hotels with you.


Hand Picked Hotels specialise in finding the right wedding package to meet the individual needs of brides and grooms. "It is often the case that a bride and groom falls in love with one of our quaint country house hotels" however the dates they would like are taken or the budget just does not stretch for peak wedding season. Hand Picked Hotels will look at the best alternative dates and packages to make wedding dreams come true.

Traditionally peak wedding season is in the summer however Hand Picked Hotels have become specialist in seasonal weddings be it Spring, Autumn or Winter. Winter weddings are particularly popular and many brides marry in December when the hotels are elaborately decorated for the Christmas season and the public areas are warmed by roaring fires.

While Westminster Abbey is the chosen venue of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Hand Picked Hotels’ Rhinefield House in the New Forest has its own link with Westminster albeit not the Abbey but the Houses of Parliament as the Grand Hall has many features of Westminster Hall and is a stunning backdrop for that very special day.

With Prince William and Kate Middleton settled in north Wales, those looking to marry in this scenic area may want to consider the small and idyllic Seiont Manor near Snowdonia which has been awarded 3 red stars by the Automobile Association in recognition of its outstanding hospitality.

Happy Feet

On your wedding day your feet will take a lot of the strain, you've got to stand for hours on end, walk, and dance and well that's a major pain for most people, but on your wedding day what can you do to stay comfortable?

Here are some top tips:

1. when choosing your wedding shoes, try them on after you have been walking or shopping so your feet are feeling the strain, if the shoes hurt now, what will they be like on the big day?

2. Opt for a heel height that you are used to wearing and walking in.

3. Wedding shoes can be as stylish as you like, opt for colour and accessories if you like (see our shoe clip collection)

4. Buy some gel inserts to cushion the ball of your foot.

5. Wear your bridal shoes in well before the big day.  Check out the bridal coach videos for great tips on how to do this  how to choose the perfect high heel






visit the bridal coach's website

Kiss & Tell

When it comes to buying your wedding accessories, whether you have already purchased them or not we all have a tale to tell.

I see so many brides who haven't a clue where to start, yet know how important their choices are and then there are those brides who are so sure, they know exactly what they are after down to the tiniest seed bead.

I am looking for a few lovely brides to be or new wives to kiss and tell, about how they chose or intend to choose their jewellery.

What's more every lovely bride to take the quick survey gets entered into a competition to win a pair of lovely earrings made by my own fair hand.

To enter, complete the survey now.

Avoid Wedding Colour Disaster

The use of colour in your wedding scheme really can enhance your look and style. When it comes to choosing colours don’t feel that you have to just stick to one shade or one colour. Colours work best with colours.

You probably already have a colour scheme in mind for your wedding. Be prepared to be flexible with it, as unless you intend to wear the colour yourself, you must consult with everyone who you want to put in that colour.

For your bridesmaids you must bear in mind that not all colours suit every skin tone. Choose your colour scheme with your bridesmaids in mind, ask them what colours they like and what colours suit them. I know this only too well, I am pale skinned and when I was a bridesmaid trying on dresses, my sister picked out a lovely lilac she had thought about. On the Maid of Honour it looked lovely, but on me.. well I looked ill, the colour washed my skin tone and drained me!

Skin tones are either warm or cool. Cool skin tones have blue undertones and look great in pastels, dusky pinks, reds, certain shades of blue, hot pinks and aqua greens. With cool skin tones avoid earthy shades as these will look bad. Warm skin tones have pink undertones and suit spices, caramels, beiges, oranges, greens and peaches, but don’t suit bright shades so well. A rule of thumb is to normally go three shades lighter or darker than the skin tone to avoid draining the colour from them.

My top tip for choosing your colour scheme is pop to your local DIY shop and get some paint charts. These are great as they have so many shades and tones. Show them to your bridesmaids and hold the colours up to their skin to see if they react to them. This is an easy and cheap way and can be done easily over coffee rather than getting undressed and trying clothes on. Think also about the season of your wedding as certain colour schemes work best in certain seasons.


Once you have some shades you can cut them out of your paint chart and take them to the wedding shop to try and match up with their swatches. You may not get the exact shade but you should find something close.
The great thing about using paint charts is they often match colours up for you, so you are shown what colours work well together and this can really help style your whole wedding look. When working with colour you can do three things:
1. Use lighter or darker shades of one colour to add depth and class.
2. You can co-ordinate colours to complement each other.
3. You can use contrasting colours, to add vibrancy and effect.

If you look at a colour wheel you will see that complementing colours sit next to each other where as contrasting colours are opposite each other. Too much of any one colour will make the overall look bland and tasteless, so don’t get stuck on just one colour.
If you really lack confidence in co-ordinating your colour scheme, opt for white and accessorise with colour. You will find that you can create a stylish look simply and effectively.

For more advice on wedding colours download themy book available free from www.bespokenfor.co.uk/html/bride_advice.php

Steal Kates Wedding Style

wedding by giulia B-day 23.09 featuring stone rings

Kate Spade peep toe wedding shoes, $298
TopShop stone ring, $20
White gold ring, 405 GBP
Cinderella Wedding Carriage Candle, $3.29
Olivia Riegel Celebration Flute Pair - 8 oz.: Kitchen & Dining, $116
White as Snow Floral Bouquet: Flowers: Kitchen & Dining, $30
Royal Wedding-Inspired Tiaras :: You & Your Wedding, 168 GBP
Monsoon | accsfascinators | Bridal Paisley Diamante Feather Clip, 17 GBP