Becci's Bridal Designs

How to Care for Your Shoes

A little care will keep them beautiful

Every pair of shoes I create is a unique, handmade piece of wearable art. From delicate satin and lace to individually placed crystals, flowers, glitter and decoupage details, your shoes deserve to be handled with care before, during and after your special day.

This guide will help you prepare your shoes, protect them while wearing them and store them safely afterwards. As every design is different, please contact me if you are unsure which advice applies to your pair.

The most important rule: handmade bridal shoes are occasion shoes. Keep them away from rain, wet grass, mud, puddles and rough or uneven surfaces wherever possible.

Before your wedding or event

Check the fit indoors

Try your shoes on as soon as they arrive, on a clean, dry and carpeted floor. Make sure you wear the same type of tights, stockings or socks you intend to wear on the day.

Walk in them for short periods indoors to become familiar with the heel height and fit. Increase the time gradually rather than wearing them for several hours at once. Your feet can swell as the day goes on, so a shoe should feel secure without pinching or causing pain.

Only add insoles, heel grips or cushions after checking that they do not make the shoes too tight or alter how your foot sits in the shoe. Never force your feet into a pair that feels painfully small.

Keep them pristine

Until you are certain you are keeping the shoes, follow the returns conditions supplied with your order. Do not wear them outdoors, remove labels or make any alterations.

Once you have decided to keep them, continue practising only on a clean indoor surface. Pale satin uppers, soles and decorated areas can mark very quickly, even during a short outdoor fitting.

Practise the fastenings

Take a moment to practise buckles, ribbons, ankle straps or slingbacks before the day. Fasten straps securely but not so tightly that they pull against the shoe or cause discomfort.

When putting the shoes on, sit down and handle them by the main body of the shoe. Do not pull them on using flowers, bows, lace, straps or crystal embellishments.

Consider your dress

Detailed shoes and delicate dresses both require care. Before the wedding, check how the hem of your dress falls around any crystals, flowers, lace or other raised embellishments.

When dressing, lift the skirt clear while fastening the shoes. Take particular care with fine tulle and lace, which may catch on almost any textured accessory—not only shoes.

Protecting your shoes on the day

Plan for the surface

Bridal and occasion shoes are designed for beautiful indoor settings and smooth, dry surfaces. Gravel, cobbles, decking, rough paving and uneven flooring can scratch soles, catch delicate fabrics and damage heels.

If photographs or part of the celebration will take place outside:

Check the route and ground conditions beforehand.
Use a clean outdoor runner or firm path where possible.
Consider heel protectors suitable for your heel shape when walking on grass.
Ask someone to carry the shoes between locations, or change into a practical pair for longer outdoor walks.
Never wear handmade shoes in rain, on wet grass or through mud.

Water-resistant does not mean waterproof

My glitter and decoupage shoes are sealed with a durable water-resistant finish. This provides some protection against light accidental contact, but it does not make the shoes waterproof.

Do not deliberately test the finish with water, immerse the shoes or wear them in wet conditions. Moisture can affect satin, printed details, adhesives, trims, insoles and the structure of the shoes.

If your shoes are splashed, gently blot—never rub—the area with a clean, colour-free cloth and allow them to dry naturally at room temperature.

Avoid sprays and beauty products

Apply hairspray, perfume, body shimmer, fake tan and make-up before putting on your shoes. Overspray and transfer can stain pale fabrics, dull crystals or react with sealed and printed surfaces.

Do not apply a generic waterproofing or stain-protection spray unless I have confirmed that it is suitable for the exact fabric and decoration used on your pair. Even products marketed for shoes can alter colour, satin sheen, glitter or adhesive.

Carry a small shoe-care kit

For peace of mind, you may wish to keep the following with a trusted member of the wedding party:

A clean white microfibre cloth
Blister plasters and gel cushions already tested with the shoes
Heel protectors, if suitable for the venue
A spare pair of comfortable shoes for outdoor walking or late-evening dancing
Any spare crystals or decorative pieces supplied for your design

Cleaning your shoes

Start gently

Always use the least amount of cleaning necessary. First allow any damp mud to dry completely, then lift loose surface dirt with a very soft, clean brush. Do not scrub, soak or place the shoes under running water.

Before using moisture on an unfamiliar material, test a tiny hidden area and allow it to dry fully. Use only a clean white or colour-free cloth, as dyes from coloured cloths can transfer.

Satin shoes

Satin can mark and develop water rings if it becomes too wet. For a small surface mark, lightly dab with a barely damp white cloth, working carefully from the outside of the mark towards the centre. Do not rub back and forth, as this may disturb the satin weave or create a shiny patch.

Blot away moisture with a dry cloth and allow the shoes to air-dry naturally. For severe staining, contact a professional cleaner experienced with bridal shoes; complete removal may not always be possible.

Glitter shoes

Glitter shoes are sealed to improve durability, but the surface should still be treated gently. Wipe a small mark with a soft, barely damp cloth without scrubbing. Avoid stiff brushes, solvents, alcohol-based cleaners and abrasive products, which can dull the finish or loosen glitter.

Decoupage designs

Decoupage designs are created by carefully applying layers of digitally printed images using a specialist technique, before adding a protective water-resistant sealant. Small creases or slight variations may be visible when examined closely; these are an unavoidable part of the handmade process and are not faults.

Clean only with a soft, lightly dampened cloth. Do not scrub, pick at an edge, use cleaning chemicals or saturate the printed surface. The sealed finish is water-resistant, not waterproof.

Crystals, rhinestones and pearls

Crystals and rhinestones are individually attached using industrial-strength adhesive and should remain secure with appropriate care. Never clean embellished areas with a brush or pull at a stone to test it.

Use a soft, dry cloth or clean make-up brush to remove dust around the embellishments. Avoid soaking, steam, solvents and strong cleaning agents, as these may affect both the adhesive and the finish of the stones.

If a rhinestone is accidentally knocked off, keep the loose stone if possible and contact me. I can supply replacement rhinestones at no charge. For a simple home repair, use only the tiniest amount of a suitable clear embellishment adhesive, applied to the back of the stone with a pin or toothpick. E6000 or a very small dab of suitable superglue may be used with care, but excess adhesive can mark satin or cloud the stone. Always follow the adhesive manufacturer's safety and ventilation instructions. If you are uncertain, please ask me before attempting the repair.

Lace, flowers, bows and fabric details

Remove dust with a soft, dry brush and reshape gently with clean fingers. Do not pull loose threads, flatten flowers with heavy objects or wet fabric embellishments unless I have advised that it is safe for the particular design.

If a bow or flower becomes lightly crushed, allow it to rest unwrapped at room temperature and carefully ease it back into shape. Do not use an iron, hairdryer or direct steam.

Velvet and vegan suede

Velvet and vegan suede should be kept dry. Gently lift surface dust with a clean, soft brush, moving in one direction. Avoid wet cloths, vigorous rubbing and stain sprays, which may flatten the pile or change the colour.

For a significant mark, contact me or seek a cleaner familiar with delicate synthetic footwear.

Soles and decorative sole designs

Soles naturally show signs of wear once shoes have been worn outdoors. Printed, glittered, decoupaged or vinyl sole artwork is decorative and may scuff or wear where it touches the ground; this is normal wear rather than a manufacturing fault.

Remove loose dirt carefully with a soft, slightly damp cloth, keeping moisture away from the edges and upper. Do not scrape the sole artwork or use alcohol, acetone, solvent cleaners or abrasive sponges.

Drying your shoes safely

If your shoes become damp:

Blot away surface moisture with a clean white cloth.
Loosely fill the toes with clean, colour-free tissue paper to support their shape.
Leave them open to air-dry naturally at room temperature.
Replace the tissue if it becomes damp.

Never use a radiator, hairdryer, tumble dryer or strong direct sunlight. Heat can distort the shoes, affect adhesives and leave permanent marks on satin or sealed surfaces.

Storing your shoes

Clean and dry the shoes completely before putting them away. Loosely fill the toes with clean, colour-free tissue to help preserve their shape, then wrap each shoe separately so that crystals, glitter or decorative elements cannot rub against the other shoe.

Store them in their original shoe box in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, radiators, damp, dust and strong household odours. Avoid long-term storage in airtight plastic bags, garages, lofts or bathrooms, where heat and humidity can fluctuate.

Do not place heavy items on top of the box. If your shoes have large bows, flowers or three-dimensional embellishments, make sure the tissue and box lid do not crush them.

If you would like to display them

Wedding shoes can make a beautiful keepsake. Display them away from direct sunlight and high humidity, ideally inside a covered display case that protects them from dust. Pale fabrics and printed details may fade if exposed to strong daylight for long periods.

After the celebration

Attend to marks as soon as practical rather than storing the shoes while dirty or damp. Check the heels, straps, embellishments and soles, and keep any loose decorative pieces safely.

If your shoes need more than gentle cleaning, or a decorated sole needs restoring, please contact me with clear photographs before attempting a stronger treatment. Depending on the design and the condition of the shoes, repair or restoration may be possible. Return and postage costs may apply.

Quick care checklist

Do

Try the shoes on indoors on clean carpet.
Wear them for short practice sessions before the day.
Handle the shoes by their main body, not by decorations or straps.
Keep them dry and use them on smooth, clean surfaces.
Blot accidental moisture and allow them to air-dry naturally.
Store each shoe separately wrapped in its original box.
Contact me if you need replacement rhinestones or design-specific advice.

Please do not

Wear them in rain, on wet grass, through mud or across rough ground.
Soak, machine-wash or immerse any part of the shoes.
Scrub satin, glitter, decoupage or embellishments.
Use bleach, acetone, alcohol, stain removers or household cleaning sprays.
Apply heat, direct steam or strong sunlight.
Pull the shoes on by bows, flowers, straps, lace or crystals.
Store them while damp or in an airtight plastic bag.

A final note

Your shoes have been handmade especially for you. With considerate wear, gentle cleaning and careful storage, they can remain a treasured reminder of your celebration for years to come.

If an accident happens, please do not panic or attempt an aggressive repair. Send me photographs and I will be happy to advise you on the safest next step for your particular design.

Contact Me for Shoe-Care Advice