Alternative Weddings & Wedding Shoes

Traditional wedding shoes are usually white, satin and medium or high heel. That’s the case because most wedding dresses are white, long and of a satin-like material. But what of those brides who want to do things differently?

Just because the majority go with the white dress and white shoes does not mean you have to. Themed weddings are common these days and those themes can vary wildly – you only have to look at shows on TV like Four Weddings and Don’t Tell The Bride to know that!

You might, for example, want a very traditional but very VINTAGE wedding. A long, off-white gown with an even longer train, very old wedding car or even a horse and carriage. What shoes would you choose then?

Fortunately, there is a wide range of vintage wedding shoes available on the market, all created by big name designers like Rachel Simpson and Filippa Scott.

They are very much like the usual wedding shoes but feature beautiful, vintage embellishments that make them really stand out.

These vintage bridal shoes are not typically white, they tend to be ivory, teal, silver or mink though, of course, if white is what you want, white you can get.

They vary in design depending on the era too, with styles from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, Victorian, Edwardian and even Old Hollywood. These are all available in high and medium heel and flat shoes, depending on the designer and era.

For that extra special touch, you can attach shoe clips that look like they are made from pearls and diamonds. They will add a sparkle and catch the eye.

Less traditional brides will not want a heeled, white or ivory coloured, material shoe however. Some brides go for red shoes, black shoes or pink shoes.

Non-traditional wedding shoes have included trainers or sneakers, boots (like Doc Martens) and even, in very rare cases, slippers!

Location also plays a big part in the choice of wedding shoes – a church wedding demands a heeled shoe and a pair of vintage bridal shoes would be even more perfect. A wedding in a courthouse or registry office would be better served with a flatter, more comfortable bridal shoe however.

Getting married abroad in an exotic location? Chances are you’ll be walking across the beach at some point…so go for a flat sandal or flip flop! You do NOT want to be trying to cross the sand in a high heel do you!

At the end of the day, it comes down to the bride herself on the wedding theme she has, the style of dress she wears and the type of bridal shoes she sports. The very traditional will always go for the standard, the vintage shoe will always suit the glamorous or flashy and there will always be a market for sports shoes, boots and yes, even slippers as the wedding shoes.

One thing that is guaranteed is this – the groom has not and will never have a say in these little details that matter so much to the bride!