Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Giraffe
more by Mrs. Giraffe (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Giraffe
Mrs. Giraffe's Picture
Mrs. Giraffe, Chicago Age and Occupation: 23, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Music Student Teacher Engagement Date: October 23, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church & Idlewild Country Club About Me: Coming from the suburbs of the Windy City, you'll often find me with my foot in my mouth while laughing for no reason or telling bad knock knock jokes. I've been crafty for as long as I can remember, and will DIY something twice over before I have someone do it for me. I'm a semi-awkward, typeface obsessed, design junkie and have been know to break out my dance moves for no reason as well as try my best to be ridiculous at all times. My love of pop culture, wordplay, and graph paper almost rivals my love of Mr. Giraffe (who is just the bee's knees). After a 2.5 year engagement, we're planning a modern-in-disguise traditional wedding, and cannot wait!
About Mrs. Giraffe

It is so easy to get wrapped up in wedding craziness. All these books, blogs, and TLC shows convince you that you need things (that you don’t really need), and to be something (that might not actually be you at all).

I’ll admit it, I’ve been sucked up in this a few times. You can’t help it really; I read all these posts here on Weddingbee about two shoed brides and fancy shoed brides and all kinds of shoes! The bees who are writing the posts are always so excited, and those feelings come through the posts. And, well? I wanted that feeling. I wanted to be a bride who had shoe excitement. I really did.

So what did I do? I spent (or possibly wasted) hours of lunch breaks looking at shoes online, from sites like Zappos and Endless.

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Screen

Such. Pretty. Shoes!! Calvin Klein via Zappos

The thing is, folks, I spent hours look at fancy heels—supposed wedding shoes—and I just got angry.


Angry and grumpy and upset. I fell for how pretty and nice the shoes looked, but none of them looked like shoes I could wear, and none of them looked comfortable.

Confession time: I’ve only ever own two pairs of high heels in my entire life. One pair I bought for my high school senior year Turnabout, which I wore just for photos and then promptly took off.

The other pair  I purchased for our engagement shoot.

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes 612 Bea  By the amazing Sara & Ryan of Miller + Miller Photography

Ahem, yes. Notice that photo? Yup, those shoes were more of a prop than anything. I clearly didn’t even wear them.

Yes, they’re adorable, and yes I spent a whole week trying to walk in them. Can’t teach old dogs new trick? Probably! I had such a hard time trying to walk normal and not wobble, and after a few minutes my feet hurt, and, really, I just decided that heels are not for me.

I don’t like shopping for shoes, I don’t have fancy shoes, and even though I own three pairs of rubber rain boots and one super cute pair of black boots from Macy’s, I wear the exact same Reebok gym shoes everyday to work, and wear one of my 5 pairs of Crocs on the weekends. Really.

I like the shoes I have, and I don’t like buying new ones, and I don’t like wearing fancy shoes.

What kind of bride is that?!

So, I moved on; I stopped looking at shoes online because it just frustrated me. If I don’t like shoe shopping normally, why was I making it harder on myself? Why would I force myself to do something I don’t like? Exactly my point.

A few weeks ago, Mama Giraffe and I were going out to lunch, and stopped into the DSW next door. She held up some fancy shoes that were on clearance. I tried them on, they fit, so I bought them for $14.00. Simple as that.

No, they’re not sexy, but I can walk in them and I didn’t spend a lot of money for something I didn’t care about. I’m a-okay with that.

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn049

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn048

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn04801  Not bad, right?

But, I do love gym shoes, and I do love to boogie down, and surely can’t dance in my inch-two in heels, can I? So, seeing as I only spent $14 the first time, I was able to drop $45 on a pair from DSW for the reception. And yes yes yes, I LOVE them.

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn04901

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn04902

Now I’m excited!! Oh, and maybe how about some new shoe clips from ban.do? I think that’s also a giant Y-E-S!

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn04802

But...I Don't Even Like Shoes :  wedding chicago shoes Dscn04903  They definitely look better on the sides of the shoes, so that’s how I’ll be wearing ’em!

There you have it, hive. The story of one Giraffe who didn’t feel bride-y enough because she got angry whenever she looked at fancy shoes? Well, that was quite a happy ending!

Two shoed bride? Reception worthy gym shoes? Let’s hear it!

Tags: chicago, shoes |
advertisement below
Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Giraffe
more by Mrs. Giraffe (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Giraffe

18 Responses to “But…I Don’t Even Like Shoes”

1.
Guest Icon
Guest
coasterkim

I hear ya sister! I love the way pretty shoes look, but I cannot wear uncomfortable shoes and just refuse to do it for the sake of “style”. I will find a cute pair of low heels or flats that I can wear without pain and that’s that! Nothing wrong with that in my book.

 
2.
haelmai
Member
haelmai (message)  232 posts, Helper bee

I totally think your $14 shoes are sexy!!! :-) And I am so like you about shoes I can’t even tell you. I love wearing my sandals and flip flops, and while I LOVE looking at everyone’s super awesome bridal shoes, I just want to be comfy. So if I can find some super comfy AND sexy shoes, then I might have to snatch them up!

 
3.
Guest Icon
Guest
JW

Or if you clearly don’t really like shoes you can go my route - barefoot. I ADORE shoes, own many pairs and yet always prefer to go barefoot so that’s what I’m doing. Barefoot for the cermony and flip flops for the reception.

 
4.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Pony (message)  4,171 posts, Honey bee

1. Those shoes are sexy and you will make them sexier.
2. You will wear those receptions shoes all the time after the wedding b/c they are awesome.
3. Love those shoes clips!
4. I love the happy ending to this story.

 
5.
Member Icon
Member
brandylynnp (message)  1,045 posts, Bumble bee

Love your happy ending. I have been so down about the shoe shopping, and this story gives me hope!! I just ordered a pair from Zappos, so fingers crossed I get my happy moment soon! :)

 
6.
MissCasey
Member
MissCasey (message)  214 posts, Helper bee

I’m going to be a two-shoe bride as well… a pair of heels for the feet shots/bridal portraits, then it’s flop flops (or other sandals) after that. I’m not even wearing the heels for the wedding!

I wear heels all the time at work, but I’m a flip-flops girl at heart! I figure that I’ll have pictures shoes, and ME shoes! :o)

 
7.
Miss Seal
Bee
Miss Seal (message)  1,179 posts, Bumble bee

SHOE CLIPS!? AWESOME! I love BOTH of your shoes and absolutely heart those hearts :) I’m thinking I’ll be a two-shoed bride as well.

 
8.
Member Icon
Member
organicgal (message)  259 posts, Helper bee

I totally feel you on this, Miss G!!

I did the same thing, hours and hours looking at pretty shoes, all of which I either would not be able to walk in, or would be mad at myself for wearing about 5 min after I put them on.

There was a shoe that I had been swooing over with a think 2″ heel, and another flat with a 1″ little wedge. I really did want some heels, but am not sure if I can wear ‘em all night. These are both shoes I will re-wear, and I am so happy now! Both from DSW, rock on!!

Glad you found something that made you happy!! :)

 
9.
Miss Cinnamon Bun
Bee
Miss Cinnamon Bun (message)  1,100 posts, Bumble bee

LOVE your dancin’ shoes!! I want to steal those shoe clips! Maybe I need dancing shoes too…

 
10.
Member Icon
Member
marieta (message)  339 posts, Helper bee

I hear you. I’m scared to death of wearing heels at my wedding, given what happened to me when I wore heels (dance shoe heels, not even super-high or wobbly heels) to a wedding last year. I woke up in the middle of the night in actual writhing pain… in my knees, not my feet. I had to ice my knees and they hurt for days.

I still don’t know what I’m going to do. I like your shoes, but I don’t think I could walk in them with that skinny heel! (And, well, it would sink into the grass, which is another consideration.) Your reception shoes are much more up my alley, and are along the lines of what I think I’ll wear for the whole shebang.

 
11.
Miss Tartlet
Bee
Miss Tartlet (message)  3,207 posts, Sugar bee

Those shoe clips are ADORABLE!

 
12.
RedRoses2
Member
RedRoses2 (message)  72 posts, Worker bee

I had never heard of ’shoe clips’ before this! I might get some of those and just put them on everything… :-D

I have some cute heels but ALWAYS end up wearing flats to work. They are just so much more comfortable, and I hate how my feet hurt by the time I get home. So, I hear you - it’s much more important to feel happy in your own skin than to “wear heels!”

 
13.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Trail Mix (message)  6,328 posts, Bee Keeper

Those flats are so adorable with the hearts!!

 
14.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Pain au Chocolat (message)  1,698 posts, Bumble bee

Uhm, this is SO you! I swear good things happen when you don’t rush/force decisions. Case in point: your awesome heart shoe clips! Yay for bucking tradition.

 
15.
Guest Icon
Guest
occhiblu

I have those shoes! (The heels you bought, I mean.) I bought them (for way more than $14; I’m envious!) when I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding, and found they were super-comfortable. I bought a similar pair from the same manufacturer for my wedding shoes.

I was slightly bummed about not wearing super-high wedding heels, because I do think they’re sexy, but (1) I’m tall and would have needed to order extra fabric on my gown if I wanted to wear high heels and (2) I got a very approving email from my wedding planner when I sent her a photo of the shoes; she said that she hates seeing her brides hurt their feet in uncomfortable shoes.

 
16.
Member Icon
Member
cyneswith (message)  1,003 posts, Bumble bee

I’m so not a shoe person… I’m apparently wearing flip flops for my wedding (my dress is too short to wear anything else). True, they are cute ones with the band being a narrow white leather cord that’s braided where the three meet. But I’m wearing flip flops… And I LIKE heels.

By the way, love your ceremony shoes. Those are pretty much exactly what I would have wanted to wear…

 
17.
Member Icon
Member
Lighter (message)  68 posts, Worker bee

hahaha! Love the post!

I’ll be wearing NB tennis shoes for the photo shoot and for the mass.

maybe I’ll change shoes in the reception to black flats I love and are sooo comfy!

so there you have it, another shoe-less bride =) (nobody notices the shoes anyway, right?… right?!) plus! my dress is long enough so you can’t really see the shoes. sigh.

 
18.
Bee Icon
Bee
Ms. Ferris Wheel (message)  345 posts, Helper bee

I love me some heels, but I wear flats almost every day. I also plan to wear flats throughout our wedding day, so you’re in good company. :-) And just for the record, those heeled shoes are definitely sexy but your sneakers with hearts are WAY more fun!

 

Leave a Reply


You can also just...

Newer blog post
more in Blog
Older blog post
Newer blog post by Mrs. Giraffe
more by Mrs. Giraffe (oldest)
Older blog post by Mrs. Giraffe

Visit our sister sites eHarmony
Online Dating
eHarmony Advice
Dating Advice
Project Wedding
Wedding Songs
JustMommies
Pregnancy Calendar

Copyright 2004-2012, Weddingbee.com
 

Find your vendors on Weddingbee

Real reviews from brides in your area!

Favors by Weddingbee

  • Favors by season

Shop Now »

Mrs. Giraffe
Mrs. Giraffe

Mrs. Giraffe, Chicago Age and Occupation: 23, Graphic Designer Fiance's Age and Occupation: 24, Music Student Teacher Engagement Date: October 23, 2008 Wedding Date: May 2011 Venue: Trinity Lutheran Church & Idlewild Country Club About Me: Coming from the suburbs of the Windy City, you'll often find me with my foot in my mouth while laughing for no reason or telling bad knock knock jokes. I've been crafty for as long as I can remember, and will DIY something twice over before I have someone do it for me. I'm a semi-awkward, typeface obsessed, design junkie and have been know to break out my dance moves for no reason as well as try my best to be ridiculous at all times. My love of pop culture, wordplay, and graph paper almost rivals my love of Mr. Giraffe (who is just the bee's knees). After a 2.5 year engagement, we're planning a modern-in-disguise traditional wedding, and cannot wait!

Boards
Classifieds

Blog Calendar
February 2012
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
2930311234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
26272829

Weddingbee Bios
Wiki
More