How to Walk in a Wedding Dress

Co-authored by Karen Brown

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References

There’s no worse feeling that choosing what you think is the perfect dress and then realizing you can’t walk in it comfortably. Focusing on your posture and pace while you walk up the aisle can help you look graceful and relaxed. Choosing a dress and shoes that are similar to what you normally wear will make walking a lot easier, and performing a few tests in your dress will ensure you’re ready for the big day.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Walking down the Aisle

1
Hold your bouquet at your waist. This gives your guests a better view of your gown. It also feels a little more natural than trying to hold your bouquet up near your chest.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- When you’re holding your bouquet, make a diamond shape with your arms and the bouquet. Your shoulders should be down, with your arms bent out slightly at the elbow.
2
Ask your escort to lock arms with you. Once you’re holding your bouquet and have your arms in a comfortable position, ask the person (or people) escorting you down the aisle to link arms with you. This keeps you comfortable, rather than trying to adjust to where your escort’s arm is.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Keep your shoulders back. If you walk with your back straight and shoulders back, your dress will look great. Good posture will also make it look like you’re excited about getting married, rather than dreading it, as a hunched back might suggest.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Walk with a natural pace. You don’t need to walk in that traditional, step forward-step together pace. Walk as close as you can to how you naturally walk. If your processional song has a medium tempo, you can adjust your walk to it, but don’t match a very slow song.^{[4]
X
Research source}
5
Let your dress hit your leg on each step. As you move your foot forward, your dress will fall back. Let your dress hit your leg before you put your foot down. This ensures you’ll never step on your dress or trip.^{[5]
X
Research source}
6
Ask your seamstress to hem your dress. If you're a little clumsy and worried about tripping on your dress, you can ask your seamstress to hem it a bit higher. Once your seamstress determines where the hem should go, ask her to raise it an additional 1/4 inch (1/2 cm).
7
Walk toe-to-heel. If you're not used to wearing heels, you might be tempted to put your toe down first and then your heel. This is a really easy way to trip! Instead, plant your heel first and then let your toe fall.
8
Smile. Don’t forget to smile! You can also wave or acknowledge your guests as you come down the aisle. It’s your wedding – enjoy it!

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Choosing Your Dress and Shoes

1
Wear a dress that’s similar to your normal style. As you’re walking down the aisle, you don’t want to worry about a strapless dress falling down, or have to deal with straps digging into your arms. Choose something that’s similar to your normal style. This way, you know you’ll be comfortable in the dress.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- For example, if you don’t often wear strapless dresses or tops, don’t choose a strapless dress.
2
Test the sleeves on your dress. If your dress has sleeves, make sure you can move comfortably in it. You might love the way it looks in the store, when you’re not moving much, but you don't want to get to your reception to discover you can’t dance! Lift your arms above your head, out to the side, and in front of you to make sure your sleeves are comfortable.^{[7]
X
Research source}
3
Look for dresses that bustle. If your dress has a train, make sure you can bustle it. This will make it easier to walk around your reception to talk to your guests and to bust a move on the dance floor. If your dress does have a bustle, ask the salesperson as the bridal shop to show you how to do it, and then ask a friend to help you the day of your wedding. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
4
Choose shoes that are comfortable. You want a pair of shoes that your feet feel comfortable in for the whole day. Look for shoes that don't pinch your feet on the sides and don't crush your toes. Stick with shoes in a style that you usually wear.^{[9]
X
Research source}
5
Find shoes that are a good height for you. You might have really high arches, which means that high heels feel great on your feet. Or you might have flat feet, which means your feet will be screaming in sky-high heels. Pick shoes that match your dress but are comfortable. You’ll be much more graceful walking up the aisle if your feet don’t hurt.^{[10]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Sure You’re Comfortable

1
Reconsider a heavily beaded gown. Wedding dresses weigh 5 to 10 pounds on average, and adding beading can add another t to 10 pounds. If you’re worried about making it down the aisle in one piece, avoid heavily beaded gowns.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Lighter materials like cotton or organza will create a beautiful dress with less weight, and you can always look for dresses with a little bit of beading.
2
Practice walking in your dress and shoes. If you already have your shoes, bring them with you to try on your dress. Give each dress a bit of a walk to make sure you can move comfortably. If you feel restricted in any way, you might want to rethink your dress, since this can make walking in it look and feel awkward.^{[12]
X
Research source}
3
Sit in your dress. Before you buy your dress, take a seat while wearing it. When you’re walking down the aisle, the dress will feel one way, but if you have to sit at any point, you want to make sure you’re not in pain.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- Dresses with boning, tight bodices, or tight skirts tend to be uncomfortable to sit in, so if you have a dress with any of those things, make sure you practice.
4
Choose fabric appropriate to the season. You want to make sure that your dress matches the season, not only for style, but for your own comfort! If you're getting married in the summer, consider light fabrics like silk or organza. For colder seasons, consider a warmer fabric like brocade.^{[14]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you walk in a long dress without stepping on it?

Karen Brown
Wedding & Event Planner
Karen Brown is the Founder and Creative Director of Karen Brown New York, a full service event planning company. Karen has planned hundreds of successful weddings, corporate parties, award ceremonies, product launches, galas, and fundraisers over the past decade throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Karen Brown

Wedding & Event Planner

Expert Answer

Hemming your dress in the front is a great solution that can make it much easier to walk in.