While at first it may not seem like it, your choice of wedding shoes is almost as important as the gown itself. Remember, you'll be walking down the aisle in those shoes, standing at the altar, posing for photographs, greeting your guests, cutting the cake, and possibly dancing. After you add up all the hours, it's easy to see that comfort will be your number one priority when choosing shoes for this special day. But many other things must be considered as well. That's why Solestruck has provided this guide to help you choose a pair of wedding shoes to make your special day as perfect as possible.

The ideal wedding shoes must be many things, but first and foremost they should be comfortable. Just because your grandmother wore pumps doesn't mean you have to! With all the shoe styles available, today's women are wearing everything from flip flops to cowboy boots when they say "I do." So choose a structure that fits your feet and your personal style best, just be sure to break them in! A couple of weeks before your wedding, start wearing your shoes for an hour or two at a time inside the house, then work up to three to five hours total. Also consider shoe pads if necessary to prevent slipping or chafing.

Is your wedding locale a beautifully landscaped garden or sunset beach? Spiky stilettos wouldn't be the best choice as your heels will easily sink into grass or sand. Look for chunkier styles

or a pair of bridal flats. Also consider the lighting at your venue, especially if you're choosing dyeable shoes for yourself or your bridesmaids. Dyed items may take on a different hue indoors than outdoors, check with your dyer about this possibility. Finally, check out the floor surfaces. Your church may be carpeted, but your reception hall may have a hardwood dance floor. You might need to add sole pads to the bottoms of your wedding shoes for extra traction, or use sandpaper to scuff the soles, to avoid any embarrassing wedding wipeouts.

When bringing your wedding shoes and gown together, you should think "finishing touch" rather than "perfect match". The general rule of thumb when it comes to embellishments is that a heavily detailed hem requires a simpler shoe, while a plain hemline allows a more elaborate shoe. The same "mix and match" theory can also apply to colors. While classic white is still the most common, other choices are available. Pairing ivory shoes with your white gown is one elegant alternative, while metallic shoes, perhaps matching your jewelry, offer yet another option.

When it comes to your big day, your wedding shoes come second only to the gown. From the first step down the aisle on your father's arm to the last spin around the dance floor with your new husband, those shoes will get a lot of wear, so choose carefully!