The Great Shoe Dilemma: The Problem(s)

The Great Shoe Dilemma: The Problem(s)

February 16th, 2010 @ 8:48 am by Ms. Stripes
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First off- I hope everyone had a Happy Valentine’s Day! We had big romantic plans to go roller skating (yes, at a roller rink) but some kid’s birthday put the kibosh on that idea and we had to settle for a lovely brunch in the sunshine instead. Seriously peeps—it was 82 in Los Angeles yesterday! Anyway, back to the matter at hand: The great shoe dilemma. After checking out Miss Argyle’s post yesterday morning I began thinking about my shoe dilemma again. Ugh.

So here’s the thing—when I was thinking about proposing to F Stripes and when I did, and when I was slightly drunk and celebrating and peeps were already asking about my dress all I could think/say was, “I don’t really care about the dress, but I’m gonna rock some amazing shoes!” You’ll excuse my brand snobbery, but I spend my days (for work) in Barney’s, Saks, Neiman’s—you know, the places shoe dreams are MADE of. I see a lot of beautiful shoes and while I won’t lie—my taste ain’t cheap, I’m not exactly Louis-made either.

AND then we picked our venue. And for all it’s loveliness, it’s a beautiful shoe’s worst nightmare. Grass. Dirt. Gravel. Yikes!

And so I’ve resigned myself to finding a cute platform or wedge… oh the horror!

See I’m just not a wedge/platform sort of girl- sure there are some cute ones, but I never LOVE ‘em like I do these:

The Great Shoe Dilemma: The Problem(s) : wedding shoes 18 1

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or these:

The Great Shoe Dilemma: The Problem(s) : wedding shoes 2 2

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or these:

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Or even these:

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And the list goes on. Of course a part of me wants to say, “eff-it! It’s my wedding day and if I wanna wear a pair of $900 shoes and trash ‘em then I’m gonna!” But I Just. Can’t. Do. It. (sorry Nike!) It seems so utterly wasteful. And then there’s my existential shoe crisis—I mean are these lovely lady shoes even me? Aren’t I a more modern, chunky, kick-ass sort o’ shoe? I just don’t know anymore…

What are you doing about rough terrain at your wedding AND more importantly, what type of shoe are you?

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42 Responses to “The Great Shoe Dilemma: The Problem(s)”

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Member

asunw (message) 550 posts, Busy bee

Sole-Mates they go on the bottom of the shoes to keep you from sinking, I’ve never used them but I’ve heard great things about them.

2/16/10 @ 9:03 am (reply)

Member

lilyfaith (message) 5,478 posts, Bee Keeper

Ebay! Seriously! I have that same taste, and consignment shops never carry my size. Also, there’s something a little ick about obviously worn shoes. But from stalking Ebay I’ve gotten my hands on two beautiful pairs of Manolos and am currently scouring the Louboutins. You might end up paying more than you want to (my gorgeous D’orsays were $220) but it’s way better than walking into Neiman and forking over $800.

2/16/10 @ 9:16 am (reply)

Member

farmersdaughter (message) 1,675 posts, Bumble bee

Stripes, I have to say…I just love reading your posts!

I’m a cowboy boot, and that’s what I’m going to wear to deal with the rough terrain at my wedding (grass, dirt, and gravel here, too!) Not exactly what you have in mind I know, but it works for this Idaho girl =)

2/16/10 @ 9:23 am (reply)

Bee

Miss Frozen Yogurt (message) 2,685 posts, Sugar bee

i’m rocking the ridiculous expensive shoes even though I have gravel and grass. It was important to me so I said eff it.

2/16/10 @ 9:29 am (reply)

Member

ToBeWifey814 (message) 6 posts, Newbee

Go for it! Buy the $900 shoes that you want. Get the brand you want. It’s your day!! I say go into Saks and find the hottest, most killer shoes that just tug at your heart and make you not want to walk out of the store without them! Or, find those shoes, write down the style number, and go home and find them on ebay like lilyfaith suggested.

What I’m doing for shoes: I am getting a pair for the church that match my dress and are elegant and ivory. And then a fun pair of sandals for the reception. I hate heels so I am changing into a pair of sandals that are me.

Bottom-line: Be yourself.

2/16/10 @ 9:30 am (reply)

Member

October2010Bride (message) 335 posts, Helper bee

We share the same taste in shoes. I wear heels every day for work, and it’s just not worth tearing up my feet to try and scrape by in heels that are not made well. I will fork over the extra 100s for comfort. On my wedding day, I’ll be a Valentino girl. I found the most adorable pair of patent emerald green peep-toes with bows on the front. I snatched them up right away, even though our ceremony will be outdoors in the grass. I say just go for the shoes you love - I have heard good things about those “sole mate” things, though I’m not sure if they will look funny on, especially with a short dress. Good luck!

2/16/10 @ 9:47 am (reply)

Member

pvaulter718 (message) 2,116 posts, Buzzing bee

I ended up finding a copycat style of the beautiful D’orsays that I wanted. Then I didn’t feel so bad about the grass stains on my shoes. I probably would have cried if I had grass stained and stepped in a puddle in $900 shoes!

2/16/10 @ 9:55 am (reply)

Member

what2bee (message) 229 posts, Helper bee

Hey, I just wanted to remind you that all of those shoes are kick ass… they don’t really make sexy doc martens lol

2/16/10 @ 10:05 am (reply)

Member

di5308 (message) 382 posts, Helper bee

Well I’m not a shoe girl to begin with. All my life I’ve been the girl with 10 pairs of sneakers, hiking boots, etc… and maybe 1 pair of dressy shoes that get worn 1-2 times per year.

But our wedding is outdoors, and requires a 1/4-1/2 mile walk on a park trail to get to the ceremony site. Not to mention I have high hopes for some spectacular photos that require climbing down a 4ft wall to get onto a riverbed so FI and I can be photographed next to some gorgeous waterfalls. (who knows how that’ll work with my dress…)

I opted for a flat casual sandal with a rubbery sole for the best traction while I hike about the park. It was tough to find a shoe that fit the bill, but I’m happy with my selection.

However my BMs are shoe girls and love sparkly heels. I felt bad telling them that the 3″ heels they had picked out would probably not work, or at the very least they’d want flats to get around in while we’re walking for photos and such.

I think they’re now going to look for something flat, a wedge or at least a shoe with a larger, lower heel. I never expected to have this much trouble with shoes for the wedding.

2/16/10 @ 10:10 am (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Pudding (message) 1,180 posts, Bumble bee

Sigh. I’ve come to hate shoes (who am I kidding, I still love them). It just seems like no one makes a beautiful shoe with a low heel!

2/16/10 @ 10:19 am (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Sewing (message) 2,701 posts, Sugar bee

I’m a cheap shoe girl, but I do love looking at the expensive ones! hehe..good luck with your dilemma! I’m sure you’ll come up with a happy medium between what you love and what is venue-feasible!

2/16/10 @ 10:25 am (reply)

12.

Member

xoxokristin (message) 541 posts, Busy bee

We are having our wedding in my parent’s backyard, and it’s (crab) grass and dirt all the way. I’ve settled on wedges also although I’ve never worn a pair in my life. I reaaaaaally wanna go with flip flops but I’m trying to keep things classy, you know?

2/16/10 @ 10:27 am (reply)

13.

Member

xoxokristin (message) 541 posts, Busy bee

@farmersdaughter: oh hello. it’s totally cute that you are wearing cowboy boots, remember mrs. cherry pie? i am envious AGAIN of your reception!

2/16/10 @ 10:31 am (reply)

14.

Member

Curlysue (message) 1,703 posts, Bumble bee

I love all of those but I don’t think I could even stand in them let alone walk around a forest for my wedding photos Plus I just can’t spend the money either. I’m in a pickle too and not sure what I’m going to do. I want the look of the ones you posted but with a much smaller heel!!!

2/16/10 @ 10:31 am (reply)

15.

Member

NurseK (message) 162 posts, Blushing bee

Shoes are my nemesis. I have never been able to walk properly in anything with a heel, so my dilemma is finding a show that is cute with low/no heel. The ceremony will be in the grass too. I just don’t think a sprained ankle will be cool on my wedding day :o)

2/16/10 @ 10:39 am (reply)

16.

Bee

Miss Hamster (message) 4,046 posts, Honey bee

Sorry, I was distracted by all the shoe porn in your post! Especially the red Loubies - those are the shoes I had to break up with! (Although we are now on a rebound)

2/16/10 @ 10:44 am (reply)

17.

Member

bunnylovesbear (message) 1,726 posts, Bumble bee

I’m a flip flop kind of girl, and I always swore that I would wear flops to my wedding. However, now that we are planning a winter wedding in New England, I’m thinking that may not be the best plan. So now I’m thinking some cute white uggs, but I’m not sold on that idea either. My SO and I are the same height, so fantastic heels aren’t an option for me!!

2/16/10 @ 10:46 am (reply)

18.

Member

daydreamwanderer (message) 9,017 posts, Bee Keeper

yeah, I was going to suggest sole mates too.
don’t let the gravel and the grass keep you from rocking awesome shoes!!

2/16/10 @ 11:08 am (reply)

19.

Member

Ms. Library (message) 1,250 posts, Bumble bee

I didn’t think I would be, but I am totally in the “I’m wearing what I want, screw the ground” camp. Our wedding is on a covered bridge, so flats probably would have been the best choice, but I am throwing caution to the wind and picked out some fabulous blue flowered heels. Wear what you want! People are always willing to hold you up at you walk down the aisle.

2/16/10 @ 11:23 am (reply)

20.

Member

sapphirebride (message) 1,747 posts, Bumble bee

Our wedding is indoors, so I’m definitely going for sky-high, beautiful satin shoes in one of our wedding colors (royal blue). I can’t wait to wear them again and again after the wedding.

2/16/10 @ 11:25 am (reply)

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