15 Shoes To Wear With Any Wedding Guest Look (2024)

FAQs

What are the best shoes to wear to a wedding? ›

A lower heel, flat, or block heel are ideal for all the walking and standing you will be doing. Choose colors that match the wedding color scheme or go with a more traditional or neutral palette (just stay away from light colors that may look white).

It's not a hard and fast rule, but it's probably best to skip the white shoes when attending a wedding. “When it comes to wedding etiquette, it's wise to steer clear of white, off-white, or very pale colors,” says Klingman, as white is a color traditionally meant for the to-be-weds.

If the hem is sparkly, then go for a statement sparkly shoe. If the dress is a clean satin or crepe fabric, then consider a clean pump or open-toe or a soft lace. If the dress is lace, try out a lace shoe. If you can't find a fabric that matches well with the dress, then your safest bet is to do a clean shoe.

Women should embrace wrap dresses, midi dresses or elegant jumpsuits. For men, if it's a daytime wedding, a light sport jacket, button-down shirt and relaxed chinos fit the bill. In the evening, go for darker colors, as later weddings tend to be more formal.

Ensure Sure Your Backup Footwear Is Formal

"Guests at weddings should wear a pair of shoes that are formal as well as comfortable," says Kaeleigh Testwuide, a wedding expert and the owner of The Diamond Reserve. You don't have to wear sky-high heels that hurt your feet—think comfort and class, she recommends.

A silver sixpence represents luck and prosperity in marriage! A Silver sixpence in her shoe is something traditionally the father will gift to the bride on her wedding day. It is custom for the father to slip the silver sixpence into the bride's heel before she is walked down the aisle.

Sticking to a uniform colour scheme is a great way to look polished, but be careful not to match your outfit's material to your shoes. Instead, choose footwear in the same colour as what you're wearing but in a different material—say, velvet or metallic, to add texture to your outfit.

Make sure your shoes aren't both the same color and material as your outfit. To avoid that “I cut up my drapes to make a dress and shoes” look, be careful to not also match the material of your outfit to your shoes.

Fit-and-flare Wedding Guest Dresses For Women Over 60

Fit-and-flare dresses whether knee-length or longer are chic and flattering. It has a defined waistline and fits closer to the body but is not too tight which makes it uncomfortable. This forgiving silhouette fits every body type.

What is not appropriate to wear as a wedding guest? ›

It doesn't matter if the dress code requests "casual" attire, jeans, T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, and sneakers are never appropriate to wear as a wedding guest. Show respect for the bride and groom by dressing formally. Sabatino suggests that men show up in a jacket and tie, even when the invitation says casual.

I think if it's an afternoon wedding or outdoors, black opaque tights can be totally fine if it's the right dress of course because that's a more dressy casual time frame. Pair it with a closed toe shoe that's black as well to continue that vertical visual line as well so you don't look choppy.

You can opt for a distinct pointed toe or slightly softer point, but avoid ballet flats that will make this look too dressed down. You can go with simple shoe or a pointed-toe flat with a central embellishment in front peeking out from beneath the dress.

Dressy casual is usually the only dress code for which sneakers are appropriate but that's also going to be a dress code that doesn't have you wearing a suit. In other cases, leave the sneakers to the groom (and groomsmen if they're going for a coordinated look) and stick with dress shoes or loafers.

If an invitation states 'black tie,' for example, we wouldn't suggest sneakers. 'Wear anything that makes you feel like celebrating,' though—and trainers are totally fair game. So, if you're attending a more relaxed affair and want to ensure you're ready to dance all night long, a sneaker can be wedding appropriate.

First, it's important to consider the type of wedding you'll be attending when choosing your sandals. If the invitation specifies black tie or formal attire, sandals may not be appropriate. However, if the wedding is more casual or outdoor, then comfortable dressy sandals for a wedding can be a great option.