How to Choose the Perfect Beach Wedding Shoes

A wedding on a perfect sandy beach with the ocean breeze is something that you’ll cherish and remember for the rest of your life. A beach can be romantic and memorable, but it’s not without its unique challenges. For example, what shoes do you wear to a beach wedding? Keep reading for a quick guide on the best shoes to wear on the beach while still being stylish.

Bride

Despite the stunning backdrop the ocean provides, the actual beach can be difficult to manage in most shoes. You have a perfectly planned wedding, outfit, flowers, and makeup, and you don’t want to ruin them with the wrong shoes.

Shoes that you can comfortably wear and walk in on flat solid ground aren’t always the best choice for the beach. The last thing you want to do is fall down the aisle. You should avoid anything with a sharp or tall heel. Even a small, half-inch heel can get caught in the sand and throw off your balance while walking.

For beach wedding shoes, you’re going to want to go with one that has a flat sole. This means that your best options will include:

• Sandals
• Flats
• Mules
• Slides
• Loafers
• Wedges

The Sand Issue

If you’ve ever spent time at the beach, you know that sand will get everywhere. While it might be comfortable to wear your favorite pair of shoes at home, if they’re not breathable, airy, or light, they won’t be a great option. Sand will get in your shoes, and you’ll be reduced to awkwardly fiddling with them.

One growing trend for brides is to go barefoot or to use barefoot sandals. Barefoot sandals aren’t actually sandals; they’re bridal foot jewelry that gives you the comfort of being barefoot at the beach, while still giving your foot some sparkle and style for the special occasion.

Don’t Forget the Switch

If you plan on going barefoot or wearing flats for the ceremony and then switching to something a bit higher, such as wedges, for your reception, make sure that you tell your seamstress when getting sized for your dress. They will need to leave a few extra inches in the length of your hem to make sure that your dress doesn’t look too short at your reception.

Groom

The same way a woman can’t wear most heels in the sand, men have to be careful about the structure and shape of their shoes. Not all shoes are good on the beach, and you want to make sure that you can stand tall on your big day, rather than squirming around with an itchy pile of sand stuck between your socks and shoe.

Depending on how formal your wedding is, you might consider sticking to formal dress shoes. If the wedding has a relaxed dress code, boat shoes, derbies, sandals, or loafers can all be fair game.

Just like your bride, you’re welcome to go barefoot on the beach. Make sure that you talk to your tailor when getting fitted for your suit to make sure you look sharp. While it can look nice to roll up and cuff your pants yourself, you should decide on where you want your pants to break with and without shoes well before your big day.

Bridal Party

If you’re getting married on the beach, chances are that you’re ditching formal traditions like the bridal party matching in formal attire. It’s a growing trend that the wedding party’s attire is a reflection of the couple’s wedding style, as well as a mix of the personalities of the men and women wearing it.

The bridal party’s shoes for a beach wedding can be just as varied as each member of the party. One great way to make sure there is still a cohesive look to your party is to give everyone a tone or palette to match. Simple color directions like cream or light brown gives everyone the freedom to find shoes that work for them, while still being part of the wedding.

Guests

The perfect shoes for beach wedding guests should aim for function and comfort over style. While it might be okay for the bride and bridal party to have a quick outfit change, guests probably aren’t going to have a chance to change between the ceremony and the reception. Make sure that you can walk comfortably through beach sand, as well as enjoy a night on the dance floor with whatever you choose to wear.

For more ideas, we have created a specific Pinterest board about Beach Wedding Shoes. Follow Adventure Weddings on Pinterest for more inspiration.

The Perfect Destination Wedding

Plan your perfect destination wedding with Adventure Weddings. Our team will help you make memories that will last a lifetime. Contact us so that we can start working with you to make a truly unforgettable celebration for you and your family.