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A guide to summer wedding shoes

You’ve booked a venue, chosen your cake, made the best wedding playlist, sent out your invites, sorted the theme, and picked your dreamoutfits – but what about your shoes? Whether you’re the bride or groom-to-be, or a beloved wedding guest, DEICHMANN has an excellent range to choose from. But before picking the perfect pair to see you through the big day, there are a few things you should think about before adding to cart.

Choosing your style to say “I do”

It feels almost redundant to talk about style in a post about wedding shoes, but picking your favourite look goes a little deeper than you’d think. After all, nothing breaks the spell of celebrating true love than aching feet, sore legs or chafed ankles. You want it to be a memorable day for all the right reasons, so consider these three things:

Look

Of course the appearance of your shoes matter. You’ve gone through the effort of finding your ultimate wedding dress, suit or smart-wear, you’re hardly going to settle on shoes. You want them to look good; to be the cherry that tops your outfit sundae. Find options with time to spare so you don’t have to rush in choosing your signature style.

Comfort

Where the look of your shoes is half the battle, how comfortable they are makes up the other half. It’s less than ideal to end up hobbling, or even taking your shoes off altogether, before getting home. Whether you’re wearing sandals, flats, or heels, try to get a pair of shoes with decent padding and support, and choose good quality material that breathes well for warm summer days. Most weddings are an all-day affair, so you don’t want your feet getting tired before you do.

Safety

You might not think of it, but the final straw for the ideal wedding shoes is picking a pair that will see you safely through the day. If you’ve chosen a stunning high heel, make sure there’s enough support to stop you rolling an ankle or go for a chunkier heel altogether. Make sure there’s room for your toes, too, as these can easily constrict and be painful for long days on your feet. Another watch out is to check the grip on the sole. You want at least a little bit of traction to avoid slipping, sliding or fully falling over on the dance floor.

Choosing your happily-ever-after heel

If you’re excited to wear heels for your own or a loved one’s wedding, there are a number of different styles to choose from. Whether you’re aiming for a pretty complement to youroutfitor to really make a statement on the day, consider these before choosing ‘the one’.

Wedge heels

Perhaps not everyone’s first choice for a formal do, wedge heels offer a lightweight, simple and comfortable option for celebrating.

Stiletto heels

If higher, thinner heels are your must-have look, you can take your pick of stiletto options. Best chosen for an indoor venue, take care with these. They may give you a boost of confidence, but they’re not the best for all-day wear and may leave your feet a bit sore.

Sandal heels

Few styles are better suited to a summer wedding than sandals. With thin, delicate straps and a smaller heel, just be sure to do a few laps to test how comfortable they are before walking down the aisle or dancing the night away.

Block heels

Comfortable, stable and adaptable to all scenarios, block heels make an excellent choice for summer weddings. A thicker heel means you won’t struggle sinking into soft grass outdoors or suffer from the pointed pressure of a thinner heel – meaning more fun for you.

Platform heels

If you’re looking for extra height as well as comfort, platform heels are an excellent choice for brides and guests. The overall style may vary between colour, straps, and thickness of heel, but all platform shoes have a good, thick sole. Just give it some extra thought if you’re going to a non-traditional venue.

Kitten heels

If you love the idea of a heel but don’t want the height that comes with it, a kitten heel is just the ticket. Delicate and versatile, these pretty shoes let your outfit speak for itself without overshadowing, available in a variety of colours and silhouettes, including strappy, court and mule.

Whatever heels you choose, here’s how you can treat your feet with care before and after a long day on them.

Outdoor or indoor? Preparing for anything

Summer weddings open up the possibilities for dream wedding destinations, whether it’s a traditional church ceremony, a fantastical forest festivity, a cosy country celebration or a swoon-worthy beach gathering.

Regardless of if you’re the bride, groom, or guest, knowing what the day holds ahead of time is essential for picking the right footwear. If you’re mostly or fully indoors, you’ve got the full range of options available – the only thing you’ll need to think about is how comfortable your chosen shoes are and whether they’ll help or hinder you in an impromptu limbo contest.

For mixed or exclusively outdoor weddings, you’ve got a few more things to keep in mind. From grassy ground to sandy shores, shoes need to be comfortable and stable enough to keep you safe and secure. You don’t want to be excavating your heels from muddy ground every time you stop or twisting an ankle on gritty pavements. Stick with flats, wedges, or a thicker, chunkier heel to stay upright and injury-free. And if you think the ground will be soft, you can never be too careful by stashing a pair of wellies in the car.

If you’re not sure what the venue or weather will bring, just hedge all bets and come prepared with a couple of options. With a British summer, you can never be too sure what you’ll get.

Shoes to suit your three piece

One pair of shoes is just like another when it comes to rounding off your suits, right? Wrong. There are dozens of different styles you can choose from, but for guests and grooms here are a few classics to give you a rough idea.

Oxford

Much like the city and the university, the Oxford is a true classic. Named for the style of its lacing, the Oxford is a smart and sleek shoe that sits tightly to the foot once closed.

Derby

With open lacing and an elongated, rounded toe, Derby shoes are better for those with higher insteps. Where Oxfords sit close to the foot, the open-lacing style here gives people a bit more space to play with.

Brogue

A flashier option, brogues add a little bit of fun to every pair of feet. These shoes come in a range of black, brown, and occasionally a more funky colouration, with a number of different embellished pattern types perforated into the leather. Brogues really are all about personal taste.

Flat wedding shoes

If heels aren’t your thing or you just don’t want to worry about getting wobbly during the day, flat shoes are a friendly option for all. From ballet pumps and sandals, to slingbacks and trainers (if acceptable for the dress code), so long as you choose the right material that doesn’t rub and lets your feet breathe, flat shoes are a guarantee to having happy feet from start to finish.

Shoes made for dancing

You’ve made it through the ceremony, the socialising, the drinks, canapes, speeches and dinner – the last thing you want is to fall short for dancing. Your best choice for showing off your best moves is sticking with something comfortable. For heels, chunky or kitten are a sensible choice, giving you a great chance to make it to the taxis without kicking them off in the conga.

By styling your outfit with flats, particularly ballet, loafers, and snazzy sneakers, you’re ready for any song, any dance and any terrain. If you want the best of both worlds, you can also bring a pair to change into if you’ve had enough of your heels.​​​​​​​