Shoes can be a bride’s best friend, a groom’s last thought or a bridesmaid’s worst enemy. But if you pick the right shoe, they can be that final touch that puts everything together. Here are some tips on how to pick the proper shoe for a wedding.

Dos:

• Heels

• Professional flats

• Dress shoe

• Wedges

Don’ts:

• Sneakers

• Dirty shoes

• Crocs

• Clogs

Nojud Malouf and Tinna Cain, of Younkers in Ames, suggested choosing a shoe that is not only elegant but also works with the dress and venue. They suggested picking a shoe that you will feel comfortable in while dancing.

Flats are the best shoe to wear while dancing because you can feel comfortable and still look good.

“Comfort and relief for your feet is key,” Malouf said. If you aren’t comfortable, you won’t be happy during the wedding.

Usually, brides want all bridesmaids to have the same color shoe, but if they are more liberal they might allow different shades of the color.

The wedding guests should base their shoe on the theme or dress code of the wedding. If it is a formal wedding, a low high heel for the women and a nice dress shoe for the men. For a casual wedding, flats for women and a more casual dress shoe for the men will work just fine.

Kelli Wood, of J.C. Penney’s in Ames, said nowadays brides opt for beauty rather than comfort. Wood is seeing a trend in cowboy boots in the wedding party especially because we live in Iowa.

Wood said she believes it is appropriate to wear flats in a wedding and suggests a silver or gold flat. She is seeing brides get two pair of shoes for the wedding — heels and flats.

Rita Gartin, of Pure Bridal in Ames, said the groom and groomsmen need to coordinate their shoes. The same style tux with a variety of shoes does not look good in pictures. Gartin said she is seeing a huge trend in platform heels, cowboy boots, blue heels and Gatsby inspired shoes.

“About 40 percent of our brides wear cowboy boots,” Gartin said.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to go outside the box whether it be a heel, flat or tissue box — this is your wedding, so make it your own. As long as it is special to you, that is all that matters.