Wedding Shoes for 2021
Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.
Truth be told, I have always loved shoes. Since I was a small child I’ve appreciated and been attracted to beautiful and unique shoes. I remember seeing the red glitter flats at the store and begging my parents for them. My mom would say “what would you wear them with those?” All my four-year-old self could think was; “It will look great with my leopard coat!”
I remember the first time I photographed a pair of my brides’ wedding shoes that were multi-generationally worn. Her mother and sister wore them first, and now it was her turn. I remember styling the shoes and thinking, “wow, this is so special!” I didn’t even realize families passed down wedding shoes. I looked at the brand of shoes, and of course, it was a well-known designer brand. It was such a beautiful thing to behold!
At weddings, it is my job to document the day. Photographing and styling heirloom keepsake images is something that really brings me joy, and I’ll tell you why. I never knew what my mother’s wedding ring, shoes, or anything aside from her dress looked like. I can remember looking at my parent’s wedding album and feeling like things were missing. Things I really wanted to know… like what her shoes looked like. So, every wedding day I carve out time while the bride is still getting her hair and make-up done to document rings, shoes, invitation suites, and anything of sentimental value that my client may want to remember or to show their future children and grandchildren one day. Out of all the things I style for my clients, shoes are hands down my favorite!
Everyone wants different things from their wedding shoe. Some want comfort, a statement piece, some are designer shoe collectors, and others want a good quality brand to pass down as a family heirloom. With that, I am excited to give you the insider scoop of why picking the right wedding shoes matters.
The Statement
Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.
Having a fun pair of shoes that matches your style and personality is a great way to showcase a personal style. Often times brides want to spoil themselves on their wedding day. Think about it like this- getting married is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It’s a way to feel like a queen and wear something special that maybe you wouldn’t otherwise. I am a big believer in “when you feel good you look good.” Having pretty feet makes a girl feel good. You are worth the price tag of a beautiful pair of shoes!
2. Getting Published
Most of my brides have dreamed about their wedding days since they were children. What girl wouldn’t want her wedding published in a magazine or even an online wedding blog? Something that my Ellen Ashton brides have done well through the years is have amazing taste in shoes, and it definitely helps to have a unique, fun, or classic wedding shoe. I just about died when I saw my bride had a matching set of Jimmy Choo heels and flats for the reception. Touches like this really help set your wedding day apart. It allows for a more one-of-a-kind experience rather than a cookie-cutter one. Small details like wedding shoes can very well set your wedding apart.
3. COMFORT
Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.
Styled by: Grit & Gold Event Co.
While some of my brides would rather have style over comfortable, I do have quite a few brides who want both fashion and comfort without going the flats route. Kitten heels are a great way to not compromise on either. These sweet mauve Valentino kitten heels (photo on the left) were quite possibly the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. If comfort is important to you, have no fear! It is possible to have both!
4. VERSATILE
Not too long ago, I walked into the bridal suite and was greeted by one of my sweet brides. She handed me her wedding shoes to photograph and I LOVED them! They weren’t what you would typically think of when you think of wedding shoes, which was partly why I adored them so much. As I was telling her just how amazing her shoes were, she told me she wanted something that she could wear over and over and enjoy for years to come. So there you have it. If you want wedding shoes that you can enjoy for years to come, have at it! There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying a pair of shoes you love and planning to wear them on the weekly.
5. SOMETHING BLUE
I’m not sure, but I have a feeling that the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” might perhaps be the oldest of all the wedding traditions. Don’t quote me on that, but still, having blue shoes as your “something blue” is really fun.
6. HEIRLOOM
Believe it or not, wedding shoes are becoming the new family heirloom. I kinda love this in a lot of ways. Some of my brides choose to invest in bridal shoes that will stand the test of time. They hope that one day their daughters or grandchildren will be able to wear or have these beautiful shoes as a keepsake. I have seen some of my brides purchase classic shoes and others fashion-forward that will one day tell the times of the era. Either way, this is becoming a tradition that I love! Believe it or not, I have kept my own wedding shoes in a safe place for my own daughter to enjoy one day.
Knowing what your reasoning is for the purchase of your wedding shoes will hopefully allow you to see the true meaning behind the purchase. Whatever your reason it is, I have found some really fun options for you in 2021.
CLICK THE IMAGES TO SHOP THE LINK!
