Your One-Stop Guide to Finding the Right Wedding Shoe for You

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WHEN PICKING out the best wedding shoes for men, there are two directions to go in. The first is to keep it classic by wearing a simple mens lace up dress shoe, like a plain toe or cap toe oxford. This path works every time because it will work with any suit or tuxedo for any dress code. The other direction you can go is to have some fun by adding a little flavor to your outfit with different dress shoe styles, colors, and materials. This path gets a little tricky because you have to navigate the season, the weather, the particular dress code for the wedding, and matching your own outfit. For example, if you are going to a black tie wedding around the holidays or New Years Eve, you can wear a pair of black velvet slippers instead of the standard patent leather oxfords. Or, if you are going to a beach wedding during the summer with a “smart casual” dress code, wear a pair of leather mules to keep your feet classy but breezy.

Even though wedding dress codes seem to get more complicated every year, you can always nail your footwear choice by following a few simple rules. To start with, the best wedding shoes for men are all within a simple color pallet. By sticking to black, brown, gray, and tan you can never go wrong. The lone exception would be white shoes for more casual summer weddings, like with a leather sneaker or loafers. Next, unless you are wearing actual sneakers, you want to have a proper heeled sole. Comfortable dress shoes with sneaker inspired soles are great for the office or social events but weddings call for the more elevated look of an old fashioned sole. That said, picking a dress shoe with a rubber outsole is a good idea so that you don’t lose your footing on the dance floor.

Last but not least, always err on the side of formal. The old saying “you can always be underdressed but you can never be overdressed,” is especially true for weddings. When in doubt, go with the most formal option that you are considering. Suede loafers or black Chelsea boots will work for most weddings these days but if you are unsure, go with the leather oxford shoes. This also means that you should never force a pair of shoes just because you really like them. Picking out the best wedding shoes for men should always be the last step that puts the finish touch on your outfit.

When picking out the best wedding shoes for men, there are two directions to go in. The first is to keep it classic by wearing a simple men's dress shoe, like a plain toe or cap toe oxford. This path works every time because it complements any wedding suit or tuxedo. The other direction you can go is to have some fun by adding a little flavor to your outfit with different dress shoe styles, colors, and materials. This path gets a little tricky because you have to navigate the season, the weather, the particular dress code for the wedding, and matching your own outfit. For example, if you are going to a black tie wedding around the holidays or New Years Eve, you can wear a pair of black velvet slippers instead of the standard patent leather oxfords. Or, if you are going to a beach wedding dress code, wear a pair of leather mules to keep your feet classy but breezy.

Even though wedding dress codes seem to get more complicated every year, you can always nail your footwear choice by following a few simple rules. To start with, the best wedding shoes for men are all within a simple color pallet. By sticking to black, brown, gray, and tan you can never go wrong. The lone exception would be white shoes for more casual wedding attire, like leather sneaker or loafers. Next, unless you are wearing actual sneakers, you want to have a proper heeled sole. Comfortable dress shoes with sneaker-inspired soles are great for the office or social events, but weddings call for a more elevated look. That said, picking a dress shoe with a rubber outsole is a good idea so that you don’t lose your footing on the dance floor.

Last but not least, always err on the side of formal. The old saying “you can always be underdressed but you can never be overdressed,” is especially true for weddings. When in doubt, go with the most formal option that you are considering. Suede loafers or black Chelsea boots will work for most weddings these days, but if you are unsure, go with the leather oxford shoes. This also means that you should never force a pair of shoes just because you really like them. Picking out the best wedding shoes for men should always be the last step that puts the finishing touch on your outfit.

Modern Classics Cap Toe Oxford

Simply put, a cap toe oxford works every time. From a khaki chino suit with a polo, to a full tuxedo with a bowtie, you can't go wrong with the most essential of men's dress shoes. Cole Haan makes an ideal version for weddings that looks the part while being ultra comfortable. You just have to decide between brown or black based on your suit color.

We especially love this cap toe oxford because of how sleek and simple the cap toe design is. It provides just enough detail to the shoe without getting too bold. The full rubber heel and large outsole pad will not only keep you moving on the dance floor all night, they are cheaper and easier to replace than getting a full resole done.

London Oxford

If you rent a tuxedo, you will usually get a pair of patent leather tuxedo shoes. While these are standard issue for black tie, you probably don't want to spend the money on buying a pair. Patent leather looks great with a tuxedo but not much else. So invest in an all-black plain toe oxford with a classic heel to cover all your black tie footwear needs. The London Oxford from Ecco is a perfect example.

Ecco makes some of the most comfortable dress shoes on the planet, which is why we love the brand for wedding shoes. A cushioned footbed and wider toe box come in handy when you're on your feet all night, as we tend to be at weddings. Just make sure you get a good polish before wearing them with a tuxedo.

Capri

Wedding dress codes seem to be getting more casual these days, which means that sneakers are become acceptable attire more often. Even when sneakers are appropriate, you want to keep them as elevated as possible. For spring and summer weddings, this means an all white sneaker. Koio makes one of our favorite examples out there with the Capri.

If you're wearing sneakers to a wedding, we recommend balancing out the rest of your outfit by skewing a little fancier from the ankles up. White leather sneakers go best with a navy blue suit, in either wool or linen. Finish the look with a knit tie to walk that line between casual and formal.

Leather Lined Oxford

It's hard to believe that this plain toe oxford from Bruno Marc is selling for under $50 right now. By sticking to a simple, tried-and-true design, the New Jersey-based shoe company is able to offer a stylish all-purpose dress shoe at a super affordable price. A two-layered leather upper, wood midsole, and rubber outsole won't pamper your feet like some modern designs but it is the way dress shoes have been made for a century.

Not only do we love this oxford for weddings, it is a perfect all-purpose men's dress shoe. If you're on a budget or just looking to expand your collection with something simple, you find a much better bang for your buck.

Read more: Best Cheap Shoes for Men

Melvin Cap-Toe Leather Oxford Shoes

The English invented the Oxford shoe, and a hearty argument can be made that they still make the best in the world. George Cleverly is one of a handful of heritage cobblers producing top-of-the-line footwear the same way it has been done for generations. If your budget allows for it, the Melvin Cap-Toe is one of the finest dress shoes in the world. The single panel upper, sewn together down the back, with a slit down the middle fore the laces, is the original oxford shoe design.

This is the type of wedding shoe that will turn heads. The quality of these shoes shines through even to those who aren't fashion enthusiasts. You're sure to get a nod or two throughout the night in acknowledgment of your superior footwear game. We know because it has happened every time we've worn them.

The Chance

Fall weddings are the best time to switch up your footwear choice with a good boot. Chelsea boots are certainly the best variety to wear with a suit. Tecovas makes one of our favorites with The Chance. The Austin boot company may be known for cowboy boots, but that expertise has translated into a Chelsea that feels good on your feet all night long. Whether you go with a standard blue wool suit or an autumnal plaid tweed, this is the boot to finish the look.

We love this boot for weddings because of the outsole construction. The smooth leather finish allows you to move effortlessly on the dance floor while a thick rubber pad on the heel both anchors you and absorbs the impact of each step.

Pryer Derby

When it comes winter weddings, you want something a little more substantial on your feet. A leather derby with a chunky rubber outsole can handle any adverse weather conditions. The Pryer Derby from Steve Madden comes in both black and white, so it will accommodate any wedding outfit. With a wider opening for your foot, derby shoes also work better with heavier socks.

Winter suiting tends to be heavier, and you're likely going to wear bulky jackets over your suit. That is why we prefer a derby for winter weddings. The slightly bulkier construction looks better with heavier formalwear. This derby is perfectly capable of trudging through some puddles or a little snow if needed.

Italian Velvet Slip-On

If you're invited to a wedding around the holiday season or New Years Eve, black tie or not, consider it an invitation to go a little over the top. Our favorite way of doing that is with black or burgundy velvet slip-on shoes. Massimo Matteo makes a perfect pair for a very affordable price. If you are wearing a tuxedo, then there is no more festive footwear. With a black or charcoal suit on the other hand, these kicks are actually upping the class.

There aren't many occasions in life where you can pull off velvet slippers so when the time arrives, we jump at the chance. When a holiday wedding invitation arrives, velvet slippers should be the first thing that comes to mind.

Grigio Suede Milano Loafer

Late spring into summer tends to be action-packed with weddings. With the warm weather arriving, the best wedding footwear is absolutely a loafer. While there is nothing wrong with a reliable penny loafer, we love the suede Grigio Milano Loafer from Del Toro for all springtime nuptials. The suede texture is a great way to mix things up while keeping it classy. The Belgian style pointed toe with the leather "X" looks a little sleeker than a penny.

If the invitation calls for black tie, you have our permission to cheat a little and rock these loafers. As long as the rest of your tuxedo is prim and proper, the gray suede is more an accent than a disruption to the dress code.

El Paso Baba Leather Slip On Mule in Veg Tan Leather

Summer weddings are commonly outdoors, and almost always hot. Well manicured gardens and seaside resorts are wonderful, but not always comfortable under a few layers of formalwear. A drastically under appreciated way to beat the heat is by letting your feet breathe with a good mule. Sabah makes the Baba mule in El Paso, TX and the natural tone and pointed toe work very well with warm weather formalwear.

We love summer suiting staples like navy linen, sage chino, and black seersucker. All of the above work brilliantly with the natural leather tone of the El Paso Baba. Especially if you've been kick around in them for a few years and developed a nice patina.

Five More Great Summer Wedding Shoes

Coquette

Nunn Bush offers a very subtle longwing blucher with the Coquette. Some longwings can have a little too much detail going on which doesn't go well with most modern wedding looks. This is a great shoe for a more traditional suit and tie look, maybe even a three-piece suit. Great for all those dress codes that aren't black tie, but close to.

Comfort is another reason we love this shoe for weddings. A memory foam insole with a gel heel pad will keep you light on your feet all night long. Padding around the ankle and in the tongue helps as well.

Montinaro Double Monk Strap

If you're looking to change up your wedding shoe rotation without straying too far from the formal dress code, a double monk strap oxford is never a bad choice. The cap toe Montinaro from Florsheim is a beautiful and super comfortable option. This particular model is exclusive to Zappos and offers Florsheim's reliable construction for an affordable price.

We love monk strap shoes because they provide a sophisticated look while actually being more comfortable than a lace up shoe. The buckles are attached to the shoe with elastic bands so if you keep the top buckle a notch loose, the shoe will move with your foot like a slip-on sneaker.

Larson Weejuns Loafers

Loafers are the unofficial wedding shoes for men these days and Weejuns Loafers from G.H. Bass are as classic as loafers get. The beef roll, the heavy mock stitching, the large tongue, and the squat heel are all fundamental penny loafer features. Given the quality of material and construction, the Maine shoemaker offers just about the best bang for your buck in the slip-on shoe game.

Wearing loafers to most weddings may have been frowned upon a decade ago but that stigma is gone and we couldn't be happier about it. A good pair of penny loafers are the ultimate no brainer wedding shoe decision because they work with everything except black tie.

Cavalier

Chelsea boots are becoming a bigger part of men's formalwear and are now an acceptable alternative to oxford shoes for weddings. An all-black Chelsea like the Cavalier from Thursday Boot Co. looks great with dark wool suiting. As far as boots go, the Chelsea variety is by far the most comfortable for a long night of dancing.

As men's suiting pant cuts get wider and more men are embracing the flared look from the '70s, the silhouette of a Chelsea boot becomes more appealing. We love the versatility element because when you're not wearing them to weddings, they look great with jeans.

Carlyle Plain Toe Oxford

Oxfords are the default wedding shoe choice. So a good way to mix it up is with a different color leather. The Chili color that Allen Edmonds uses for the Carlyle Plain Toe Oxford is what would commonly be called "oxblood." It is more of a very deep red than a brown which means that it works with black and dark gray suiting just as well as blue and tan suiting. In fact, it works with pretty much any color suiting.

Owning a tan summer suit and navy blue year round suit is a common situation to find yourself in. Brown shoes work with both, technically, but most browns blend too much with tan suits. This chili oxford is the perfect color to work with navy and tan.

How to Match Your Shoe Color to Your Suit

If you’re choosing between black and brown shoes, the easiest way to think about it is that black shoes go with everything except blue suits and brown shoes go with everything except black suits. When the dress code is black tie, it is safe to stick with black shoes but you can get creative with a burgundy slip-on or a gray loafer.

Spring and summer weddings get a little more complicated because warm weather suits have more colors and patterns involved. If you are wearing a tan linen or chino suit, go with a dark brown or burgundy shoe. Blue and white seersucker can work with black but tends to look better with brown. Otherwise, stick to the brown vs black shoe rule.

The wildcards are gray suede and oxblood leather shoes, because they go with everything.

How to Pick the Right Shoe for any Wedding Dress Code

The easy answer is to wear a plain toe or cap toe oxford because they work every time. If you want to get more creative, think of every wedding dress code as a three tiered system:

Tier One is black tie, which requires patent leather oxfords, all black leather oxfords, or fancier slip-on.

Tier Two encompasses everything that doesn’t explicitly say black tie or have the word “casual” in the description. Most weddings will fall into this middle tier, which allows for a little wiggle room. The only hard rules are that the shoes have to be made of leather or faux leather, and there must be a traditional dress shoe sole. Oxford and derby shoes are the obvious choices but we love loafers and Chelsea boots for this tier.

The big consideration here is weather. Warm weather weddings allow for loafers, mules, and other leather slip-on shoes. While cold weather provides the opportunity for boots.

Tier Three includes any wedding that declares a “casual” dress code. This means that you can wear sneakers but they should be leather sneakers and all white is always the best option. However, we recommend sticking to loafers, mules, or huaraches for “casual” weddings.

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