Alright, so when it came to my wedding, I had a pretty clear idea about a lot of things. Shoes were high on that list. I just knew I wanted Mary Jane heels. Not those super spiky things you see everywhere. I needed something I could actually walk in, you know? And something that felt like me.
The Hunt Began
So, I started looking. And let me tell you, it wasn’t a walk in the park. First, I hit the usual big bridal shops. Lots of glitter, lots of lace, but the Mary Janes? They were either too old-fashioned looking for what I wanted, or the heel was just way too high. My goal was comfort with a touch of class, not a balancing act.
I spent hours online too. Scrolling, clicking, zooming in on pictures. It’s tough, because you can’t really tell how a shoe feels from a photo, can you? I must have looked at hundreds. Some looked promising, but then you read the reviews, and people are saying they pinch or the strap breaks. No thanks. Not for my wedding day.
My Little List of Demands
I wasn’t asking for the moon, I thought. Here’s what I was after:
- Comfort, comfort, comfort. This was non-negotiable. I wanted to enjoy my day, not be wincing with every step.
- A decent heel height. Something elegant, maybe a block heel, but definitely not a skyscraper.
- A proper Mary Jane strap. Secure, but not cutting into my foot.
- Material that looked and felt good. Nothing that screamed ‘cheap’.
I actually ordered a couple of pairs online that seemed to tick the boxes. One pair arrived, and they looked lovely in the box. Put them on? Felt like my feet were in a vice. Sent those back real quick. Another pair, the strap was just in a really awkward place. It was frustrating, I tell you.
Finding ‘The Ones’ (Almost)
I was getting a bit disheartened. Started thinking maybe I’d have to compromise big time. Then, on a whim, I popped into a smaller, independent shoe shop in town. The kind of place you walk past a hundred times and never go in. And there, tucked away on a shelf, was a pair of simple, elegant Mary Janes. The heel was perfect, a nice solid block. The leather felt soft.
They weren’t exactly what I had pictured for “wedding” shoes. They were a bit plain. But the fit? Oh, the fit was amazing. Like they were made for my feet. The sales assistant was great too, not pushy at all. She mentioned they could adjust the strap if needed.
A Little Bit of DIY Magic
So, I bought them. I figured, the foundation is perfect, I can add the “bridal” touch myself. I’m not super crafty, but I had an idea. I went to a haberdashery and found some tiny, delicate pearl beads and some subtle sparkly thread. Nothing over the top.
Over a few evenings, I carefully hand-stitched a few of these beads along the edge of the strap. Just a little something to catch the light. It was actually quite relaxing, focusing on this little detail. My partner even gave his opinion on the placement, which was surprisingly helpful!
It wasn’t a huge transformation, but it made them feel special. It made them mine.
The Big Day Verdict
And on the wedding day? Those Mary Janes were an absolute dream. I wore them from the ceremony, through all the photos, all the way to the last dance. No blisters, no aching feet. They were perfect. I got so many compliments on them too, with people surprised I’d added the little embellishments myself.
So, that was my journey to finding my Mary Jane wedding heels. A bit of a search, a bit of a compromise, and a tiny bit of DIY. But in the end, I got exactly what I wanted, and my feet thanked me for it. Sometimes, it really pays to stick to what you envision and put in a little extra effort to make it just right.
