Shoes are no longer an afterthought for brides, and gone are the days of plain, white satin shoes. Instead, shoes have become another way to make a statement on the wedding day. Lace shoes, shoes covered in rhinestones, shoes dyed to match the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses, silk shoes with a Swarovski crystal shoe clip—all are peeping out from under wedding gowns these days.
“Brides are really having fun with their shoes,” says Cornell-Ferris, who notes that winter red, purple and royal blue are all showing up on the feet of well-shod brides.
Some brides use their shoes for their “something blue.” They purchase shoes that match the color of their gown, but with soles partially or entirely of blue. Brides are even adding rhinestones to the arch of the sole of their shoes, using the stones to spell out a message such as the date of the wedding, “Bride” or “I Do,” notes Cordingley.
Of course, when shoes are that special, brides want to remember them with a fun photo. “They might put their feet up on the arm of the couch for the photos, or kick up one leg to show the bottom where the rhinestones are glued on the arch,” she adds. “Photos of the soles of shoes are really big on social media.”
