My Green "Dream Come Shoe"

You know the wedding is getting close when the blogs get further and further apart...

But the important thing is that I've learned (and accomplished) quite a bit in the last month that I am happy to pass along.... starting with my perfect pair of vegan heels.

As some of you know, my shoe search was a bit of a process.  I honestly didn't know which direction I wanted to take.  One of my bridesmaids warned me about the many shades of ivory shoes out there... and, oh boy, that may be an understatement. Trying to find a matching pair of shoes for the dress (that have eco-friendly elements) induces an urge to kick the computer.

So, I decided to forgo the ivory... and incorporate my "something blue" with a little sparkle too.  I splurged a little, saved myself a boat-load of time/stress/sanity, and designed my own vegan wedding shoes with Milk and Honey.

Ginnifer Goodwin in
Milk and Honey vegan heels

(photo compliments of
www.milkandhoneyshoes.com)

What began as designing a pair of vegan shoes for friend and actress, Ginnifer Goodwin, has now grown into a full-time business for other vegan "sole-seekers." Dori and Ilissa (the founders of Milk and Honey) are sisters with incredible talent.

I was fortunate enough to meet with Dori, who maintains her end of the business here in Los Angeles.  She helped me find the shoe design I had envisioned and also determined my ideal heel-height.  She even shared some of her eco-friendly shoe creations: transforming a 1960's wedding dress and even a bridesmaid dress into fabulous shoes.

"Sparkle" Bridal Shoe
by Milk and Honey
(photo compliments of Milk and Honey)

To see their creations, you can visit the website.  And if you don't see a style that suits your tastes or needs, you can design your own "Dream Come Shoe" as well.

Vegan & Eco Wedding Shoe Shopping!

I can safely say I may have spent more time looking for shoes than I've spent looking for my dress.

If there's one area where the eco scene is lacking, it's in the dressy heels department.  Sure, there are plenty of options for sneakers and sandals, but when it comes to wedding shoes, it's been a bit of a mission-impossible.

One idea for eco wedding shoes: borrow from a fellow bride friend.  It covers the "borrowed" part of the equation and chances are, the shoes are like-new.

Here's another:  buy a pair of shoes from a company that will then give a pair to a child in need.  It's called the "One for one" program by TOMS Shoes.

TOMS Shoes is a company I heard about when I originally moved out to LA.  I went to a small launch party for them, and I'm so excited to see how much their vision has grown.  They now have a line of shoes that are for the wedding party; better yet, they're extremely comfortable, durable, and you'll definitely be wearing them in the future.  Who says you have to wear heels?

Image from www.toms.com

For those of you who answered "ME!" to that question, here are some eco-friendly and vegan options.

And you thought you could never be vegan...
Just look at you now.

Vegan Chic Glamour Shoes

Image compliments of www.veganchic.com

I personally love these shoes...
I wish I could wear 5 inch heels, but having all eyes on me as I walk down the aisle is enough of a challenge for one day.  Anyway, these shoes are vegan and very glamorous (if not for your wedding, for a fun night out).

Eco-Friendly Heels from Payless

Image compliments of www.payless.com

See what happens when more people go green?  It makes eco-friendly products more affordable!  Payless Shoe Stores are now carrying heels made of eco-friendly faux leather, recycled rubber, and lined with organic cotton for $15.99.  Especially if you're planning a fall or winter wedding, these Juniper blue shoes would be the perfect fit.