Trust Me. Break in Your Wedding Shoes Before You Walk Down The Aisle

Yes, your bridal shoes are as important as the dress. And yes, you should buy what you love ... but use your head. Trust me there is nothing worse than standing, walking or dancing in shoes that are killing your feet. You want to be smiling in your pictures, not grimacing. Whether wearing flats, heels or stilettos, here are some tips to help you break in your shoes:

First, try purchasing shoes later in the day, when your feet are already a little swollen from standing and walking.

Break your shoes in on days when you are not going to be walking a lot. You want to ease into your shoes. If you plan on a lot of walking, take an extra pair with you so you can switch them.

Wear your shoes for a half hour to an hour every day, taking them off as soon they start to hurt. After a few days, you should feel more comfortable in your new shoes.

Treat problem areas. Sandals and high heels sometimes have an edge or seam in them that can be painful if the seam rubs against the foot. A quick fix for this according to Daniel Skair (top selling shoe salesman for Saks Fifth Avenue in San Francisco) is to "Use an emery board to rub down a rough edge; or take a white candle and rub the wax onto the problem spot to soften the leather whether it's inside a boot, heel or sandal." Leather conditioner or saddle soap may also work, but not as effectively. Another quick fix; put a piece of moleskin where the irritant is.

Avoid painful styles such as stilettos or too-tight peep-toes. Breaking your shoes in should mean that they start out comfortable and get more comfortable with time. If you spend a few hours in your shoes and your feet are killing you, it's time to buy a different pair.

To keep from sliding around on shiny soles, use a bit of sandpaper and "rough up" the soles, especially the area under the toes.

Lastly, don't forget to wear your shoes when trying on your gown; you want to make sure your gown is hemmed according to the height of your shoes.