ET LØFTE EVENTS

BARGAIN AND BLING: BRIDAL BOOTIES

There are three types of gals when it comes to shoes: those who love shoes (you know who you are, the girl with piles upon piles of shoes in your closet -- some of which you haven't worn more than twice), those who like trendy shoes but will only buy them if there's a sale or if necessary and those who don't give a damn about what's on their feet (you know who you are, the girl with the heels that you bought four years ago with the scruffed up tips).

Regardless of which type of shoe-gal you are, deciding on what to wear on your feet at your wedding is always a conumdrum. Do you match the formality of your dress to your shoes? To you go with comfort? Do you purchase "bridal shoes" or do you buy simple white sandles?

Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing what to dress your feet in:

1. Your guests will see the tips of your shoes. Keep in mind that no matter how long your wedding gown, 90% of the time the tips of your shoes will peek out from under the hem while walking. So whether you decide to go bling or bargain, ensure that at the very least, the tips of your shoes are clean and not scruffed or that your toenails look good.

2. Comfort must take presidence over style. We all know that you want to look fashionable, but wearing those five inch stiletto heels with the diamond strap for 12 hours can kill a girl.

If you're all about the bling, buy the fancy shoes to wear for the ceremony and photos only and keep a pair of white flip-flops/ballarina flats/keds/flat sandles for the reception. Your feet will thank you later. You can always change back into them for your first dance or the garter toss. For those who are all about the comfort, white ballarina flats, white formal sandles sans heel or kitten heels work well. They're formal enough that should someone actually see your feet under that mass of fabric your footsies will still look good, but provide the ultimate comfort for the entire day.

3. Slingbacks can be the shoes from hell. Yes the slingback look is sleek and fabulous, but they can be the absolute worst type of shoe to wear on your wedding day. If I had a dime for every bride with slingback heels whose strap bothered them on their wedding day I'd be a very rich woman.

If you must choose slingback heels to wear on your wedding day make sure they are the ones with the straps that buckle together. The buckle ensures that the strap stays in place. Without that nifty little contraption you have no security and are faced with the repeated problem of the strap sliding down your heel. This happens especially in the warmer months when your feet tend to prespire slightly.

4. Your shoes don't have to be white. If our everyday fashion trends dictate that your shoes don't have to match your outfit, why should the "matchy-matchy" rule apply on your wedding day? You can still have fun with your shoes without having to go with the pure white look. Go for silver or if your dress has blush beading why not choose fuschia or pink strappy sandles? Or for the more subdued gal -- a blush coloured peep-toe shoe? If you're dress encompasses a green sash, why not incorporate a funky pair of green pumps? Or if you're head to toe in white, purple bling-y sandles create some drama among all the virgin white.

This is an especially great option for those gals with a shoe fetish. If you love wearing the latest trends in shoe colours and styles, why in the world would you hide a piece of your personality and wear plain white?

5. You will likely only wear these shoes once. Let's be realistic for a moment. How many of us wear white dresses on more than two occasions, if at all? Given that stat, the chances are that you will wear your "bridal shoes" that same amount of times. When looking for bridal shoes keep in mind how many times you will wear them after the wedding day and then decide if the price is justified. If you know that you will only wear them once or twice, opt for a less expensive shoe that you can wear again with a cute summer dress. I have seen so many brides shell up to $200 for a pair of "bridal shoes" only to have those shoes canoodle with their wedding gown in a box for the rest of their lives.

Whether you're bling or bargain, here are some of Et Lofte's favourite looks for this season: