Wednesday, January 13, 2016

How To Survive All Day In Wedding Heels

I remember when my cousin picked out heels for her bridal party. I didn't dare try to change her mind, even though they were way higher than anything I had ever successfully worn. I just had to tell myself, "Suck it up, Buttercup" and learn how to make it down the aisle without falling flat on my face.

I survived. And you can too.

If you're picking glamorous heels for yourself or if your bride picked out tall high heels for you to wear as part of her bridal party, this is for you. I'll get you through this and help you survive all day in wedding heels. It can be done and, for you, it will be done.

How To Survive All Day In Wedding Heels

Before The Wedding

Make sure you buy the right size.
If you can buy your heels in store, that's your best bet. Ordering online is scary because you don't know if the heels you're buying run wide, narrow, large, or small. You can't tell if it will pinch your toe or not. If you can only find your favorite shoe online, write down the name of the designer and find a local store that carries that brand. Even if you can't find the exact heel you have your heart set on, at least you can see how that brand's sizing works. You want to make sure you buy your size. A heel that is too large or too small will be your nemesis on wedding day.

If you do end up being an inbetween size, all is not lost. You can pick up something like Sizers. Those are a little foam insert that goes into the front of your heel to add a quarter size. These won't work on open-toed shoes because they go between your toes and the tip of the heel. For open-toed heels, you want a more traditional insole (small aside: I have these cute, thin, black, sticky insoles that I bought with a pair of heels at a shoe store that no longer exists in a mall I no longer shop in. They're amazing and I still transfer them between two of my favorite heels five years later. It makes the heels just a quarter size smaller so they fit perfectly, I can't find them online, partially because "cute, thin, black, sticky insoles for heels" doesn't bring up any search results).

Buy early and practice.
As soon as you (or your bride) decides on a heel, buy it. You can search for a coupon or you can check Amazon (I've gotten wedding heels at a discount there), but don't stall and wait until the last second to get your shoes. You'll want to buy them early and practice. Walk around the house in them, wear them for date night, wear them to bed. Break them in however you can and you'll be a lot happier.

At The Wedding

Strap up with tape.
Before you get on the dance floor, use first aid tape in any area that may become bruised or blistered. Preventative care will go a long way when you're battling strappy heels.

Pack an alternate pair of shoes.
If you're a wedding guest, you're allowed to sit down every once in a while. As the bride or a bridesmaid, you don't have that luxury. You have to dance every song, work the room talking to every guest, and be on your feet all night. When I'm attending a wedding, I always pack fold up flats because they're convenient and fit in my purse. On my wedding day, though, I packed white flip flops for when we were on the beach and personalized Converse that matched Pete's.

After The Wedding

Soak your feet in an Epsom salt bath.
The next day, you'll want to give your feet a break. If they're hurting, soak them in an Epsom salt bath (fill a bath with warm water, add two cups of Epsom salt and a few drops of lavender essential oil). Soak. After, be sure to exfoliate with a high-quality pumice stone.

Your calves might be a little sore the next day if you're not used to wearing heels. Be sure to do some stretches, elevate your legs a little, and give them a little break. You'll be back to good in time for the next wedding.

BRIDAL BABBLE: How do you survive all day in wedding heels?


  1. Great tips!! I wore flip flops for my wedding but wanted to wear heels so bad!!! I wish now I had broken down and wore heels that day so many pretty wedding heels to pick from!

    1. I knew I wanted heels for the early photos and the ceremony, but I knew they weren't exactly beach footwear so I liked having an excuse to change out of them when we got to the reception.

  2. Great tips. I absolutely HATE heels. I don't know who invented them, but I don't like that person at all. I very rarely wear them. These are great tips for when I do though.

  3. I'm feeling anxious just thinking about shoes again, but this is a good post! I'm really short, and have gotten away from wearing heels now for years. I'm leaning towards kitten heels, and have been googling like crazy for a long time looking and looking, I don't like to get shoes online, but haven't found any that I see in the stores.