4 Tips to saying ‘I Do’ to your shoes
Are you a bride to be, or a fashionista in search of The Perfect Shoe for a special event? This how-to post is just for you, whether you are a planner to the stars or a live-in-the-moment kind of vibe. This helped us on our journey, and we hope it does the same for you!
Find your inspiration – Whether it is browsing through Pinterest, sketching at home, a Disney movie, creating a mood board, inspiration is all around us, waiting to be found! If your wedding shoe is an important part to your wedding day, then this will feel more personal to you, and that makes it a special part of the process. Reflecting your style is an important part of this special day! I would encourage you to dream big and find lots of examples, colors, textures, styles that resonate with you and why. If you envision walking barefoot, then you are one step ahead of us, and you’ve found your vibe! (Mani pedi, anyone?!) It is all about finding what is true to you and your vision for your special day.
Be flexible – Probably the two least favorite words for any bride to be. I get it. Remember, this is one piece of the larger puzzle. Tough love moment: If you don’t find the exact shoe envisioned in your mind, it WILL work out. Just as love will find a way, so will the shoes. If your dream shoe is taking a while to appear, invest in a backup (and check the return terms). Backup plans can take some of the stress off, and bonus, you might end up wearing it to the rehearsal dinner or another event (or even finding it is meant to be The Shoe for your special day). We spent 6 months waiting to find the perfect shoe! NOT that is will take you that long, we hope 6 days! For more on our journey, you can read more here. Right now, this is all about YOU!
Be realistic – As a fellow dreamer, these are words I don’t even like to type! It sounds so…uninspiring! Defeated! Cumbersome! What might resonate more is if we said Plan Ahead. Whether you are wedding planning during a pandemic or not, taking the initiative to find this piece of your wardrobe sooner rather than later can shake off one extra worry or cross off part of your to-do list. If you are searching online, give yourself extra time for returns and grace if you aren’t loving it as much as you thought you would in person. Be realistic about your budget and what you can afford. But don’t compromise on quality (unless you truly never plan to wear them again-and even so, bring bandaids!)
What does planning ahead look like for you? Figure out a timeframe that you feel comfortable with, and honor that. If you are wearing more than one pair for your day, how can you plan for shipping, returns, and your budget along the way? Taking a moment for the Shoe Vision to align with your budget and timeline, and the other factors you have in mind, will go a long way.
Define your Non-Negotiables* – What are the characteristics that you absolutely must have in your shoe? Do they need to be emerald green? Hombre pink? Wedges locally sourced? As comfy as your bedroom slippers? Under $50? Define what that looks like to you, and you can save time and energy on your search-and have more time to enjoy your big day ahead.
If you do find yourself getting frustrated or defeated, remember – the main goal of finding the wedding shoes is to be able to wear something down the aisle when you get married, show your personality, and complement your look.
It is oh so easy to get caught up in the details (believe me, we did!) but if you stay grounded on the main goal <to get married, protect your feet down the aisle, showcase your personality at the wedding> you’ve got this.
We hope you enjoy, delight and savor in these moments as you plan your wedding! It’s the tiny moments that add to the sparkle on your wedding journey.
Did you find your perfect shoe? We’d love to send you some hearts. Tag us on insta!
XO Fashion Stoppe
*Credit goes to our sister for sharing this wisdom with us – we love the technical term! 🙂
Featured Image from Melissa Vossler Photography
