For a lot of brides, choosing wedding shoes will come down to what dress they wear on their big day. This often leads to brides-to-be picking plain white court shoes with a small heel, usually covered up by a long dress. To some, the white wedding shoe is the be-all and end-all of wedding footwear.

To make this presumption, however, is to betray the sheer amount of unique and stylish wedding shoes on offer. From quirky affectations such as spikes on the heel to unusual colours, shapes and designs, the humble wedding shoe has come a long way from the traditional plain white court shoe.

Colour is one area in which a bride can really express herself with her shoes, particularly if she goes for something that stands out from a white dress. One stand-out colour for wedding shoes is red, which offers a real contrast to a white dress. Whilst bold coloured shoes will take some attention away from your dress, shoes like the Marilyn by designer Rachel Simpson offer a real opportunity for braver brides to make a real statement.

Wedding shoes come in an array of different materials, and the bride looking for a unique pair of shoes should take the time to consider what sort of material she wants her shoes to be made of. The best idea if you’re going for a bold statement shoe is to avoid leather or satin – both are relatively ‘safe’ and not particularly unique.

Instead, opt for a material like lace, which offers a unique vintage feel whilst maintaining all the class of traditional wedding shoes. If you’re feeling particularly brave, go for black lace – whilst probably sounding like the least marital material available, when styled correctly it can look every bit as gorgeous and bridal as traditional wedding shoe materials. For something even more leftfield, go for an unusual material like mink suede – you’re guaranteed to stand out!

Style is another key factor in choosing a unique wedding shoe. Traditional bridal shoes usually have a low to medium heel with a closed back and a peep toe. For something outside of the box, try and subvert these conventions. If you’re comfortable with it, try a high heel or even a stiletto (remember that you will be on your feet all day though!).

Your unique style choice could be something as simple as having laces (think more satin laces than traditional black laces), or as bold as choosing a shoe style not traditionally associated with bridal wear, such as a brogue. If you want to a ‘strappy’ shoe, consider going for something a bit unusual like a sling back heel or a t-bar.

Quirky little additions can also make a standard wedding shoe unique to you. Consider adding a bow to the front of your shoe -a lot of designer shoes already feature a wealth of gorgeous bow designs, or you could even stitch on your own! A nice finish like gold glitter can also make a traditional looking shoe really unique.

Even if you don’t want to go as wild as to buy red shoes or teeter on massive heels all day, there are ways to make your shoes unique without going crazy. One of the best ways to do this is to go for a shoe clip. Similar to how a brooch can add a another layer of style to a jacket, a shoe clip can turn even the plainest wedding shoe into a gorgeous, unique piece, perfect for dazzling everyone as you walk down the aisle!

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens and Bowl, specialists in wedding shoes from designers such as Rachel Simpson

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens and Bowl (http://www.queensandbowl.com), specialists in wedding shoes from designers such as Rachel Simpson.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Queens and Bowl, specialists in wedding shoes from designers such as Rachel Simpson

Category: Marriage
Keywords: wedding shoes, rachel simpson