The Best Shoes to Pair With Your Wedding Suit

Uniting with your bride ever after should be a colourful and memorable celebration of love, both in pictures and in reality. You are probably over the moon and anxious to deck up tastefully in the best shoes and outfit for your nuptials. Picking the best shoes to pair with your wedding suit is no hype; it is part of the icing on the cake. Good shoes make the wearer look exceptionally charming; don't bother to imagine the ‘if not’. 

And by the way, proper shoe selection should not be limited to the groom and bride alone. What of the groomsmen, the guests, and even male relatives like the father and father–in-law? You may fall into any of these categories sooner or later. Surely you can use some helpful tips to spice up your feet. After all, everyone needs to look their best at a wedding - it is a mark of deep respect towards the couple. Even more, you will make a desirable company. 

Again, make no mistake about it - people will notice your shoes. Knowing that a smart pair of shoes will greatly enhance your look, please choose them with care. We have curated this guide to streamline your choice to the very best shoes for your wedding suit. If you look forward to stepping out with confidence on that special day, you are in the right place. Tag along and let's show you the ropes in this article.  

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Key Guidelines to Pick the Best Shoes for Your Wedding Suit

There are important factors you should consider as you scout for premium wedding shoes. Pay attention to:

• The formality of the wedding and venue

• The colour of your wedding suit

• Type of outfit 

• The wedding dress code

• Your role at the event 

• The prevailing season

• Need for quality and comfort
  

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The Formality of the Wedding & Venue

The level of formality of the wedding will definitely influence the choice of venue. ‘Formality’ in this context covers both the type of wedding and the venue. Formal weddings deserve sophisticated looks, and the shoes must fall in line. 

For black-tie weddings for instance, the benchmark is to wear black tuxedos with elegant black leather shoes - preferably cap toe Oxfords or monkstraps. In general, black or brown leather shoes work exceptionally well paired with formal suits. If the wedding is less formal, neat derbies or loafers will make the cut.

The Colour of Your Wedding Suit

The general rule is to pick a similar or darker colour of shoe to that of your wedding suit. If you aim to wear a black or medium-to-dark gray suit, then go for black shoes - Oxfords or brogues are top choices. Navy blue, gray, olive, tan, and brown suits pair better with brown, tan, burgundy, or oxblood shoes. Obeying this simple rule will allow your wedding suit to stand out and get the attention it deserves. Your shoes should not overshadow your outfit. 

Type of Outfit

Your type of outfit should also determine which shoe type will go with it. Formal or semi-formal outfits like suits, mix-and-match blazers and pants, or shirt and tie deserve classic brown or black leather Oxfords, monkstraps, or Chelsea boots. For less structured outfits like linen suits or lighter summer garb without a jacket, semi-brogue Oxfords, derbies, and loafers will turn out great.

The Wedding Dress Code

It is wise to find out and dress in agreement with the prescribed dress code. Wedding invitation cards often state it clearly. Or else treat it as a mark of respect to enquire from the wedding organizers before the D-day. 

Black-tie weddings exclusively honour black leather shoes to accompany black tuxedos; and keep it simple. For other formal weddings, classic leather Oxfords or monkstraps in black or dark brown colour are appropriate - again, keep the look minimal. 

For semi-formal or casual dress codes, you can step down a bit. You have the liberty to match shoes and outfits that will present you in a more relaxed silhouette. Here, lighter coloured and patterned outfits will feel more at home. Great options for matching footwear include loafers, derbies, wingtip and semi-brogue Oxfords in dark brown, tan or cognac. Alternatively, you may go for dark brown suede. 

Tassel loafers look a bit more formal than penny loafers. So they would make an excellent pick for grooms and groomsmen on a summer or beach wedding. You can reserve penny loafers for the most casual of weddings. Meanwhile, sneakers are not ideal, unless the wedding is the very casual type. In that case, keep it minimal as well; a pair of simple white sneakers should be fine.

Your Role at the Event

As the groom, the greatest focus will be on you and your bride. So your wedding shoes should be premium quality and exhibit excellent style. A great choice would be classic and well polished cap-toe or wholecut Oxfords - simple, elegant, and eye-catching. You can swap sharp looking monkstraps for Oxfords without any issue. 

For the groomsmen, it makes sense to discuss with the groom and choose a matching shoe style for a coordinated look. Or otherwise pick a near-enough shoe, but nothing too dissimilar. Other male relatives (like the fathers, brothers, or uncles of the couple) can opt for a pair of dark Oxfords or monkstraps. While male attendees should not try to steal the show - look polished, stick with the dress code, and stay in the background. 

The Prevailing Season

Your choice of wedding shoes should not ignore the prevailing season. They should guarantee your comfort, while blending in with the ambience of the environment. 

Wedding shoes for winter are typically darker coloured and more protective - shades like navy blue, black, or brown are ideal. For better protection, consider dress boots for winter as well. On the flip side, spring and summer weddings allow for lighter coloured shoes; loafers and suede shoes are also great options.

Need for Comfort & Quality

Your walk down the aisle should be filled with lasting memories swathed in comfort. Have it in mind that you will move around for the better part of the day. Your shoes should wear nicely and be your correct size. Again, try out your shoes a couple of times before the D-day and get used to them. To prevent aching feet, do not wait till the event to wear your wedding shoes for the first time.

Something Different: Alternative Wedding Shoes

Aside from the classical shoe colours and styles we already know, we emphasize on these sleek options to accentuate your wedding outfit:

• Oxblood or burgundy shoes: With the exception of tuxedos, you can match oxblood shoes with almost any suit or attire, rather than pick a black shoe.

• Blue shoes: They look so regal, you can seamlessly swap them for the regular black shoes.

• Chelsea boots: Smooth leather Chelsea boots are comfortable, versatile, easy to wear, and minimal. They look elegant paired with a wedding suit. 

• Spectator shoes: If multicoloured shoes with a vintage appeal meets your taste, then try out spectator shoes during summer. To balance the aesthetics, wear them with light coloured suits, like linen or seersucker. 

Essential Rules to Guide Your Choice of Wedding Shoes

Here are some essential rules you should obey to look outstanding in your wedding footwear:

• Match the colour of your leather accessories. Always pick shoes, belt, and watch straps of the same colour. 

• Buy your wedding shoes at least two to three months before the event. 

• To get comfortable in your wedding shoes, ensure you try them out more than once before your wedding day.

• Don't ever wear sandals or flip-flops to a wedding. That will be embarrassing and too laid back, won't it?

• Have a pair of extra shoes ready to change into, especially as you approach the evening. You might get shoes with rubber or other lightweight soles to soothe your feet. 

• You can coordinate your shoe colour with that of your bride (though it's optional)

• If you desire to wear socks, avoid matching the colour with that of your suit. Rather choose a contrasting colour of socks, or at least wear it black.

Conclusion: Choose Noble Shoes for Your Wedding Suits

With the right choice of wedding shoes, you can achieve that sophisticated and unrivaled poise that will draw attention to you. As a groom, your bride should not get all the attention. Every other male attendee and family member should look distinguished as well. 

However, you don't need flamboyant shoes. Stick to high quality leather shoes with minimalist design. For formal weddings, Oxfords, monkstraps, and Chelsea boots in black colour will serve you well. Oxblood and blue shoes are superb alternatives to black shoes. While semi-formal and casual weddings allow more flexibility in shoe colour and design - you can go for brown or black Derbies, brogues, and loafers. 

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Are there specific wedding shoe colours or styles mentioned in the article that delight you? Let's hear from you in the comments below.