I feel all warm and shoe-y inside

The last time I discussed my W-day shoes, I was in a bit of a pickle.  Mr. Snow Cone voted for flats, but I was skeptical that I'd actually be able to find a day of wedding-worthy shoes of the flat variety.  After oodles and oodles of online shopping hours, I finally came across some serious contenders.  Thanks to Zappos's 365-day free return policy, I decided to pull the trigger and purchase a few pairs to see how they measured up in person. 

Before I show you my purchases, here's a description of what I want out of a W-day shoe: low/nonexistent heel, high comfort level, option for nontraditional color, open toe, some embellishment/bling.  And here's what I came up with:

Option #1: Me Too Stellinas in Violet Satin.

 

Available at Zappos

Based on what I saw online, these shoes had everything I wanted.  The reviews indicated that they ran a bit large, so I decided to take advantage of the return policy and order a 6.5 and 7, as opposed to my normal 7 and 7.5.  I'm so glad I perused those reviews, because the 7 turned out to be a bit gappy, and the 6.5 was appropriately snug but still comfortable. 

(personal photo)

Option #2: The Nina Beamers in ivory satin.  I decided to buy a more "traditional" pair of wedding shoes to see if those evoked a specific "bridal" reaction that a pair of colored shoes didn't. 

Image via ShopStyle / Shoes available at Zappos (only in light mocha satin)

These shoes were cute, but just not it.  They were even wider than the big Stellinas, and they offered little to no support.  They didn't come in any colors that matched our color scheme, and they didn't have an open toe.  Not deal-breakers, but it certainly didn't help their cause.  Also, I couldn't really get over the fact that they look kind of like a bedazzled version of Isotoner slippers.  Not quite the dazzling wedding look I'm after.

(personal photo)

I'm also a big, big fan of the little bit of lift the Stellinas give.  Not as high as a pair of pumps, and much easier to walk in, these little wedges make the shoes feel dressier than your average flat.

(personal photo)

So, here's the summary.  I love Zappos.com.  I love free return shipping and a full year to return the shoes.  I love customer reviews that help you find your right size.  And, last but not least, I love my purple Stellinas that will be gracing my feetsies on my wedding day.

(personal photo - please excuse my sloppy look)

How long did it take you to find the right pair of wedding shoes?  Did you end up joining the colored-shoe trend or taking the more traditional route?