Your shoes are quite literally the thing that’s going to walk you down the aisle on your wedding day, and finding the perfect pair can be just as exciting and sentimental as planning any aspect of your wedding. Whether you’re going for glam or sticking with simple, your wedding shoes are an opportunity to express your individuality while holding an element of functionality.
And who says you can only pick one pair? There’s nothing wrong with having something for the ceremony, something for the reception, and a few more pairs just because you can…
Your shoes are one of the only things from your wedding day that you can use again and again!
Trust us, Cheval’s shoes are not a one-and-done type of accessory.
Big Day Energy
Cheval is the founder of our favorite shoe brand, She Is Cheval, and she carries endless passion for and expertise in the wedding fashion industry. To her, helping brides find “the one,” isn’t limited to just dresses. “We’re definitely a specialty women’s shoe brand, so we’re not looking to just blend in and have that everyday shoe. When we decided to go into shoes, especially from bridal where I was a former wedding dress designer, I kind of wanted to have that ‘big day’ energy still very present, where you can then apply it to your every day so it feels like a real special moment.”
She Is Cheval shoes take the ‘big day’ energy very seriously, and that is reflected in the unique, dazzling, and show-stopping designs that are released in their collections. “We weren’t afraid to be super specific with the designs, and I feel like that allows you to kind of tap into very niche personalities or niche creative expressions; and being trained the way I was in design, I feel like you can never really take that bridal bug out of me. And so naturally I think a lot of our shoes carry that spirit of your wedding day and wanting to make things extra special.”
“While we’re not exclusively a bridal collection per se, we did want it to feel like this is a shoe you actually could wear on your wedding day, but you could also wear it for a very special moment—or just during your day where you want to feel extra.”
You’ll definitely catch us rocking our own pairs of She Is Cheval, just because we want to feel a little extra.
Putting On That Big Flashy Smile
Cheval’s philosophy about finding the right shoe—or shoes—for your wedding boils down to one thing: how it makes you feel. “Shopping for any element of your wedding day can feel like such a production and like everything has to match. It can become very overwhelming; I always say to gravitate and listen to what you like. First, what are you attracted to? What makes you put that big flashy smile on and feel good about yourself?”
And that big flashy smile goes perfectly with a pair of big flashy shoes. Just because it’s your wedding day doesn’t mean you can’t still lean into your style and sense of fashion. If you want feathers, or glitter, or sneakers—or a mix of all three—go for it! You’re the bride, and that means wearing what you love.
“I think when we make choices about our fashion it does have to be an expression of who we are and who we want to be that day. You don’t have to overthink, ‘Well how am I gonna wear it?’ or, ‘How am I gonna pull it off?’ because we put so much pressure on ourselves and ultimately, if you just get the pair you like, everything else will fall in place.”
And you don’t have to narrow down your options either. If you fall in love with a pair but you’re worried about how high the heel is, think about investing in another pair! Or more… one look at Cheval’s gorgeous collection and you’ll agree that one or two is simply not enough.
Fun Function
But how do you know where to start? There aren’t as many how-to guides on finding wedding shoes as there are with other aspects of wedding planning. Cheval says to start with function.
“Shoes are one of the main accessories obviously—it’s a fashion statement—but there’s function to it. It carries you places.”
“It’s helpful for you to kind of categorize what you actually need shoes for. You can think about okay well I’m having a rehearsal dinner, I’m having a ceremony, I’m having a reception, I’m having a brunch after—that’s four moments where you kind of get to think about a styling opportunity. You have these unique opportunities to feel that creative expression. I love approaching it with a ‘more is more’ mentality and then feeling like you can kind of have these thematic moments.”
Cheval is right! You’re only a bride once, why not take advantage of this opportunity to embrace the fashion of it all?
“I love the opportunity to have different, really designer, chic moments, and so I love to wear a sparkly sneaker at one point; I love to have like a floofy, over-the-top, this is the most ridiculous shoe and I love it; and then I love something that feels a little bit more on theme with what my ceremony dress might be. It’s fun to kind of play with it and just create these little vignettes for yourself.”
Part of Your Sole
After function comes purpose. “I always feel like when I’m picking out shoes I ask, ‘Who do I want to be? Do I want to be taller? Do I want to command a room? Do I want my shoes to make some noise when I walk in the room? Or do I want to feel more laid back?’” BRB, going to count how many pairs of shoes we have that make noise…
“It really does carry a bit of your personality because the way you walk, and the way you present yourself, starts with your shoes. Your shoes are the first thing to walk into a room. While that might not be the first thing people notice about you, I feel like it is something that naturally becomes a part of your spirit and your soul (or sole!) as you’re walking in.
“I think shoes are a real opportunity to say something without actually having to speak.”
Take it from Cheval, your wedding day shoes are more than just another pair of shoes—they can be an extension of you, down to the way you command the room. Combined with the once-in-a-lifetime moments you’ll have on your wedding day (or wedding weekend), each step you take into your future is an opportunity to look and feel like the gorgeous bride you are.
Feel free to use this as an excuse to buy a few more pairs. Don’t forget to add on some slippers for your getting-ready photos and a pair of flip-flops for the honeymoon.
