A wedding shoe has to survive conditions no other shoe faces: an unfamiliar surface, a long period standing, a photograph and dancing, usually in that order. That rules out a stiletto for most outdoor weddings, not on comfort grounds but on physics, since a narrow heel sinks into grass and catches in gravel. A block heel spreads the load and stays stable. A wedge does the same and adds height without the pitch, which is easier over hours. A flat sandal is the honest option and, with a slightly higher hem or a long dress, entirely correct. The other factor is the strap: an ankle strap holds the foot in place and prevents the slipping that causes blisters, while a mule or a backless sandal will fight you all evening.

Leather lining and a leather sole are worth paying for in a shoe that will be worn for a long single stretch, because a synthetic lining traps heat and a synthetic sole offers no grip on a polished floor. If the shoe is satin, know that satin marks permanently in water and on grass, and a satin shoe at an outdoor wedding is a single use decision. Check the heel height honestly against what you wear normally, since a wedding is a bad day to introduce your feet to an extra three centimetres. Break the shoes in over at least two evenings at home. And add a rubber sole protector before the day, which costs very little and is the difference between confidence and caution on a wooden dance floor.

The advice we give most often is to buy the second most beautiful shoe on the list, because the most beautiful one is almost always the least wearable and the difference in a photograph is negligible. A block heel in a metallic or a neutral will go on to be worn again, which a dyed satin stiletto will not. We also pack a flat for the second half of the evening without treating it as a failure of planning. If you take one thing away, check the surface you will be standing on before you choose the heel, because the venue decides this more than the dress does.