On your wedding day, you’re the star of the show. You’ve got your dress, veil and flowers, but have you thought hard about the shoes that’ll support you throughout the day? Whether you’ve been searching endlessly or honestly just forgot, we’ve got you covered.
According to expert wedding stylist and consultant Julie Sabatino, it’s difficult to pick out a shoe for the wedding — especially in time to wear them to your dress fitting. The key is to get your bridal shoe three to four months before the wedding. “What you need for a wedding shoe is different than a normal shoe,” she explains. “On your wedding day, you’ll be cursing yourself because you’re standing for so long. You need to find a shoe that checks the box of being pretty and can actually wear without crying.”
But what about bridal shoe trends? “If you think about the idea of timelessness, I think wedding pictures are the perfect opportunity to keep in mind you will hopefully look at those pictures a long, long time,” says stylist and creative director Jessica Diehl. “It’s not really the moment to follow trends.”
Sabatino advises brides-to-be to order a bunch of shoe options and return the pairs you won’t be wearing — noting that shoes are so personal so you really need to try them on. She recommends you pick a lower heel than you’d normally wear just to be safe. “You should seriously wear them around the house with a sweat sock on to stretch them a bit to see if they’re comfortable,” she says, explaining that your feet may swell a little especially if you wed in the summer or warmer climates. Once you pick a shoe, you’re going to want to stick with it because Sabatino says it’s risky to swap out the heel if your dress has already been fitted to a different shoe.
With this guidance in mind, we’ve rounded up some of Sabatino’s favorite bridal shoes along with some stunning top-rated options we couldn’t help but include. Cheers to feeling beautiful, confident and comfortable on your wedding day!
Formal bridal shoes
Stuart Weitzman Amelina Ankle Strap Sandal ($395; nordstrom.com
Despite the glitter all over, these Stuart Weitzman sandals are seriously elegant. They feature an asymmetrical toe, slender ankle and toe straps as well as a near 4-inch heel to create basically the shoe of your dreams, especially if you’re looking for something not too showy.
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Seychelles Neve Heels ($139; bhldn.com
The Seychelles Neve Heels are the perfect shoe for the bride who wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day. Between the low slingback heel, pointy toe and satin bow detailing, these feel very timeless and classic.
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Manolo Blahnik Hangisi Crystal Buckle Pump ($1,065; nordstrom.com
Sabatino shares that the Manolo Blahnik Hangisi pumps are a tried-and-true favorite. “I use this for mothers and brides. You can almost always find a version of this shoe that matches your dress,” she says, mostly because the shoe is available in several different heel heights and colors.
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Sophia Webster Rosalind Embellished-Heel Glitter Leather Sandals ($346, originally $495; saksfifthavenue.com
Our jaws dropped when we discovered these Sophia Webster heels. Imagine how chic your wedding photographs will look with this crystal beaded heel making an appearance. Sabatino recommends these to a bride who is looking for a more modern, artistic shoe.
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Schutz Brieela Heel ($128; revolve.com
This Schutz Brieela Heel is seriously red carpet-worthy — suitable for the black-tie wedding of your dreams. We love the combination of peep-toe stiletto pump with the studded see-through vinyl fit.
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Michael Kors Royce Quilted Leather Platform Sandal ($140; michaelkors.com
Sabatino thinks platforms are great bridal shoe options because they “give you height without the uncomfortable pitch angle of the shoe.” The quilted crossover straps on these by Michael Kors set them apart from other shoes on the market.
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Jimmy Choo Nova Patent Leather Peep-Toe Slingback Pumps ($675; neimanmarcus.com
Diehl recommends those who are starting their bridal shoe hunt to start with the classics — one of which is Jimmy Choo. In fact, these are a favorite of Sabatino’s too, even if they aren’t the most exciting. “These give you height, a platform and are comfortable to wear for a lot of women,” she explains.
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Nina Ankle Strap Sandal ($78.95; nordstrom.com
The Nina Ankle Strap Sandals are the quintessential dancing shoe. “I was astonished at how comfortable these were! I kept them on all night,” says one reviewer of these heels that are available in five bride-friendly colors.
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Karl Lagerfeld Cieone Sandal ($99; nordstrom.com
A pair of simple yet sexy pumps for only $100? Sign us up. We also love that we could easily pair these shoes for outings on your honeymoon and beyond.
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Badgley Mischka Quintana Crystal Embellished Pointed Toe Pump ($245; nordstrom.com
Some weddings call for a truly ornate pump that could easily steal the show. The crystal details, mesh and soft satin will turn heads for sure.
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Prada Leather Kitten-Heel Slingback Pumps ($995; saksfifthavenue.com
Another recommendation of Sabatino’s are these Prada Leather Kitten-Heel Slingback Pumps. If you’re looking for a classy, comfy, splurge-worthy shoe, get your hands on these ASAP.
Flat bridal shoes
Badgley Mischka Gigi Crystal Pointed Toe Flat ($185; nordstrom.com
You can’t go wrong with a pointed toe flat, especially when they’re adorned with crystals and mesh detailing. You can surely dance the night away in these.
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Stuart Weitzman Goldie Sandal ($250; stuartweitzman.com
A top pick from Sabatino, these simplistic slide sandals will take you from vacation to wedding in no time. If you’re doing a beach wedding, these should be at the top of your list.
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Nicholas Kirkwood Monstera 10mm Flat Mules ($487, originally $696; farfetch.com
Mules are exciting because they have a faint feeling of business in the front, party in the back. These by Nicholas Kirkwood feature a beautiful Monstera leaf detail for that extra-special touch.
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Stuart Weitzman Goldie Embellished Leather Sneakers ($350; saksfifthavenue.com
“I’ve seen lots of bridal sneakers. People love it for the afterparty and switch into a short dress with it,” says Sabatino. The added faux pearl detailing on these by Stuart Weitzman gives your typical white sneaks an elevated touch.
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Jewel Badgley Mischka Tessy Embellished Sandal ($79; nordstrom.com
Want a bridal sandal that won’t cost an arm and a leg? Get your hands on these sandals that are embellished with crystal flowers for a subtle sparkle.
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Cult Gaia Ray Flat ($328; cultgaia.com
Cult Gaia’s Ray Flat literally brings the party wherever you are, simply because of the fun feather puff — it’s no wonder they’re recommended by Sabatino. These are super versatile too because you can detach the puff whenever you want.
Block heel bridal shoes
Alexandre Birman Clarita 90mm Leather Ankle-Tie Sandals ($595; bergdorfgoodman.com
Sabatino often recommends the Alexandre Birman Clarita sandals to clients who want a block heel or are unsure what to get. These are available in multiple heel heights so you can pick which one works best for you.
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Paradox London Pink Manhattan Embellished Sandal ($94.95; nordstrom.com
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. Let these stunning sandals check one item off your list. How could you turn down a well-designed block heel that even features a crystal-encrusted broach?
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Loeffler Randall Camellia Heels ($395; bhldn.com
We’re sure we’ll be dreaming about the Loeffler Randall Camellia Heels forever — or at least until we wed. Available in four beautiful colors, pick your favorite to stand at the alter in.
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Sam Edelman Yaro Ankle Strap Sandal (starting at $119.95; nordstrom.com
We imagine that if you opened up the dictionary to the term “block heel,” a picture of these Sam Edelmans would pop up. On your wedding day and beyond, you’re sure to wear these again.
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Vicenza Rooney Heels ($130; bhldn.com
“Just enough height, but not too much where I won’t be able to wear them all night. They are super comfy,” writes one reviewer of the Vicenza Rooney Heels. The soft suede block heel gives a modern touch to a vintage-style shoe.
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Naturalizer Vanessa Sandal ($98.95; nordstrom.com
Naturalizer is practically synonymous with comfort at this point. If aching feet are your biggest wedding day concern, go for a shoe from this beloved brand like these Vanessa sandals that reviewers rave about.
Wedge bridal shoes
Badgley Mischka Reagan Embellished Wedge ($185; nordstrom.com
Absolutely no one wants to be uncomfortable on their wedding day. Consider a metallic fabric-covered wedge like these from the Badgley Mischka Collection for comfort, style and sparkle.
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Paradox London Pink Kamara Embellished Wedge Sandal ($89.95; nordstrom.com
Let these wedge sandals be your something blue. We love the contrast of the pearls and crystals along the top against the deep blue satin fabric of the shoe for a pop of color against your wedding look.
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Stuart Weitzman Aleena Metallic Leather Wedge Mules ($375; saksfifthavenue.com
Can’t decide between getting married in a wedge or a mule? Wear these metallic shoes to give you the best of both worlds on your special day.