White dresses and accessories are always reserved for brides. Therefore, wearing white shoes as a wedding guest is not a good idea when you can wear shoes in other colors.
It’s interesting to see how much wedding guest dress codes have changed over the years, allowing you to express your personality and preferences in your attire. Does this mean it’s time to wear white guest shoes? Keep scrolling to learn everything you need about guest shoes, whether you’re attending a formal or semi-formal wedding.
Can You Wear White Shoes to a Wedding?
According to Sarah Klingman, CEO and founder of the Wedding Planning Company Gather, “When it comes to weddings, it is best to steer clear of colors such as white, pale-white, off-white, or milk white.” In addition, she says that “avoiding white accessories, including shoes, is respectful unless the bride allows it.”
Traditionally, white is meant to be for only the newlyweds, so to be safer as a guest, wear alternative shoes of other colors. Nowadays, nude wedding shoes are trending in the fashion industry. Therefore, you can consider wedding shoe colors like nude, blush, or pale gray instead of white or ivory when going to a wedding ceremony. If the wedding is an all-glam type, you can decide to try out the new neutral, metallic silver or gold shoes. They are good shoe options as well.
To every rule, there’s always an option. If the wedding invite includes white among the colors for the day. You can wear wedding shoes in that color, the invite says so. “If your white shoe is not excessively prominent and shimmering, you can wear them to weddings,” says Sarah Klingman.
What You Need to Know Before Wearing White Shoes to a Wedding
As fashion evolves, so do the rules. We’ve put together a guide to wearing white shoes to a wedding to help you make the right choice.
1. White Shoe Are Not for Outdoor Weddings
Wearing white shoes at an outdoor wedding will ruin your look, especially at a garden or beach wedding. You can’t predict the environment at your wedding destination, and the last thing you want is to see your sleek shoes covered in mud.
This also applies to outdoor wedding receptions that are near sand and grass. It is just best to avoid white shoes for occasions like this. Winter and Autumn weddings are not left out of this. Hence, wear wedding guest shoes with bold colors like green, pink, gold, or blue.
2. Clothes and Shoes Cannot Be All White
You don’t want to wear an all-white outfit to a wedding that is not yours. Even though the majority of people do not rarely frown at wedding guests wearing white shoes. Wearing a white wedding dress for someone else’s big day is unacceptable. If you’re contemplating wearing them, wear a completely different dress color.
3. Discuss with the Bride
Discussing the shoe choice with the bride is a good idea. The bride will let you know if she agrees with your choice to wear white shoes or other colors. Even if she agrees, you can’t take it lightly. You can choose a simple style, which is the safest choice so that no one thinks you are an excluded wedding guest.
4. Go for an Alternative to White
If you’re like me and prefer simple, light-colored shoes rather than bright colors, you can go for cool tones similar to white. These include beige, bisque, cream, shell, or taupe, and you’ll look beautiful no matter which color you choose. Also, if you select any of these colors, make sure it can’t be mistaken for white.
5. Consider the Wedding Dress Code
Don’t be too busy purchasing wedding shoes, and forget to check your wedding invite to learn the dress code for the day. Most wedding invitations now have the preferred dress code of the couple. This will give you a guide on what and what not to wear. If the dress code is formal or black-tie, white wedding shoes are still within the context.
Conclusion
Unlike before, when weddings followed a particular pattern, wedding customs rapidly changed. If you insist on wearing white shoes, thoroughly check our guide above to influence your decisions.
