Glide down the aisle in traditional wedding shoes

When it comes to bridal accessories, wedding shoes are one of the most important. For those looking for vintage styles, there are plenty to choose from since traditional wedding shoes have changed over time depending on the style trends of the day. For instance, in the 1920s styles ranged from sparkling pumps to low heel Mary Janes, in the 1930s strappy styles were the rage, in the 1940s brides sported open-toed, chunky-heeled shoes that matched the dress, and in the 1950s ivory satin shoes were popular. Think of your shoes as the finishing touch to complete your wedding day look. It might even mean adding color. That’s right, wedding shoes don’t have to be white.

How to choose the perfect wedding shoes

Today, you can find vintage wedding shoe styles or go with one of the popular designer shoes available. The traditional rule of thumb is to have your shoes complement your dress, but while style is important, comfort is equally important because the bride is on her feet most of the special day. We’re talking about 15 hours or more. And don’t forget the father/daughter dance! You certainly don’t want your feet killing you for that memorable moment. With this in mind, once you find the perfect shoes, be sure to wear them so they are broken in before your wedding day.

 

Things to think about when choosing heel height

If you decide on a shoe with a high heel, how high is too high? The answer to this question rests with the bride. The real question is how high can you walk in gracefully? You want to glide down the aisle, not look like you’re trying to balance on stilts. And think about the rest of the environment you’ll be walking through. Wedding photos in the garden, cobblestone walkways, walking on a boardwalk with cracks – all these kinds of things should be taken into consideration when choosing your shoes.

One more thing to think about when considering the height of wedding shoes, is how tall it will make you. Some brides try not to appear taller than the groom. If this matters to a couple, it is one more thing that will influence the height of the shoes worn.

If you decide to go with tradition, a rule of etiquette when it comes to wedding shoes, is that the bride does not go barefoot, unless maybe she is on the beach or playing the shoe game at the wedding reception. So it’s a good idea to have a pretty pare of flats for backup in case your feet really start to hurt from wearing heels all day.

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Irish wedding blessings

Wedding blessings are found across many cultures. In the Irish culture, traditionally the father of the bride gives his blessing to the groom and the marital union. However, for the most part, Irish people don’t care for much formality and there isn’t a specific method for giving a blessing. Sometimes blessings are shared privately with the couple together, other times they may be shared with only the bride or just the groom. Other times they are offered publicly, and in some cases, they are used as a wedding toast such as, “May your neighbors respect you, may trouble neglect you, may the angels protect you, and may heaven accept you.”

Irish Wedding Prayer

May God be with you and bless you.

May you see your children's children.

May you be poor in misfortunes

and rich in blessings.

May you know nothing but happiness

from this day forward.

Irish wedding blessing poem

“May the Road Rise Up to Meet You” is a popular Irish wedding blessing poem which some historians attribute to Ireland's Saint Patrick. It’s origins come from the Gaelic phrase "Go n-éiri an bóthar leat," which translates to mean ‘may your journey be successful.’ However, the origins of this popular wedding blessing is really considered unknown and today is often presented in song.

“May the Road Rise Up To Meet You”

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

the rain fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Some couples choose to use a wedding blessing on their wedding invitations. And in the same way many couples write their own vows, writing your own poetic wedding prayers offers a similar opportunity, or have others in the wedding party write out blessings as gifts to the bride and groom. The result is a unique wedding ceremony rich in personal meaning that creates a new level of special memories that will be talked about for years to come and may even become a new tradition which blesses your family in the years ahead.

 

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Wedding veil styles of the 1900s

While some look at the bridal veil as a simple fashion accessory, choosing the right veil takes some consideration. For instance, if you’re choosing a beach venue, you certainly don’t want a long veil dragging behind you to get snagged on the boardwalk when you make your dramatic entrance. Along these lines, you also need to consider the hairstyle you have planned, and you want it to complement your dress.

In the past I’ve written about the history of the bridal veil from ancient times that includes the Greeks thinking the veil protected from evil spirits, and how in Medieval times brides sported the veil as a symbol of purity. Today some brides choose to go without the veil, and modern brides aren’t thinking about evil spirits or even what the veil represents, unless they are trying to find a bridal veil to fit the theme of their wedding.

Today, we’ll look at the history of bridal veil styles from the 1900s. While I mention trends of the day, remember that many brides still chose to go with a more traditional veil rather than follow a craze when it came to their wedding day.

Great Gatsby wedding fashion.

1920s

For those planning a Roaring 20s or Great Gatsby themed wedding, the bridal fashion of the time was most often designed using silk and decorated with flowers and leaves matching the flowers in the bridal bouquet. Cloche veils were very popular. Other common styles included headband veils or veils crafted from lace or silk worn over the head and shoulders.

1930s
In the 30s, brides wore tight fitting dresses and loosely-fitting veils which hung over their heads.

1940s

During the war years, rationing played a role even when it came to weddings. It wasn’t unusual for the same wedding dress and veil to make the rounds − worn by multiple brides. In the post-war years of the 1940s, small, birdcage veils became popular, which is currently a reemerging fashion trend.

1950s

In the 1950s, traditional veils gave way to the tight-fitting skullcap veil.

1960s

Bridal veils took on a more modern flare in the 60s. They tended to be shorter, some shoulder length or perhaps reaching about midway down the back. Instead of lace, they were often fashioned out of netting and fastened to a decorative headpiece secured with a comb.

60s netting fastened to decorative headpiece secured with a comb

1970s

The late 60s and into to 70s wedding veils returned to longer fluid styles with a bohemian air that mimicked the flower-power hippy look of the day.

1980s

For readers who were alive at the time, things were big in the 80s. We had big hair, and big shoulder-pads. Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married and the event was a media sensation with more than 750 million people from around the world tuning in to the first televised royal wedding. Her extravagant silk-and-taffeta gown was full, lavish, and what I’d call cinderellaish. But her veil! It was 40 feet long! I’ll never forget watching her and feeling that fairytales do come true as she entered St. Paul’s cathedral. I don’t know if she was the single catalyst for long veils, but it certainly was the trend in the 80s.

1988

1990s

In the 90s, brides wore big puffy sleeves and dresses decorated with heavy bead work. It was also a time when some brides decided to go without the veil altogether and in its place they wore a headpiece or hat.

The wedding veil tradition started back when veils were a commonplace fashion accessory. Today, wearing veils may be “old fashioned” but many brides feel it a necessary adornment on that special day. From among the trends of the past, if you look, you may you find inspiration to create your own look on your wedding day.

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