Whether the man in question is the groom, the best man, or simply a wedding guest, men are notoriously bad at knowing which types and colours of shoes are appropriate for which suits. However perfect the suit is, the wrong type of shoe can ruin the overall look. For this reason choosing mens wedding shoes is often the job of the bride, wife, girlfriend or even mother.
Here are some pointers on choosing the right men’s shoe for a formal wedding suit:
Men’s wedding shoes should generally be as narrow as possible with a slightly pointed toe to give the impression of long slender legs. Round toed or boxy shoes won’t really work with a formal outfit. The only exception to this rule is a tuxedo, which is traditionally worn with a round toed shoe.
The most popular style of men’s wedding shoe is a slightly pointed loafer without laces, but if you do choose laced shoes, you should make sure the laces are as thin as possible, and that they are exactly the same colour as the shoes.
Leather is the usual material for formal shoes, and this can be either matt or glossy. For very formal events, particularly in the evening, a velvet slipper may be appropriate.
The colour of the shoe can provide contrast with the wedding suit, but should never be the focal point of the outfit.
Here is a guide to matching men’s wedding shoes with various coloured suits:
- If the suit is black or charcoal only black shoes should be worn. These can be matt or glossy.
- If the suit is light grey with no brown undertones, black shoes are the usual choice. White shoes can also be worn to a daytime wedding.
- If the suit is a brown grey light or dark brown shoes are a good choice, but if in doubt choose black.
- If the suit is white the best option is white shoes. If a coloured shirt is being worn with the white suit, shoes in exactly the same colour as the shirt are acceptable.
- If the suit is cream or tan, light or medium brown shoes are the best option. White shoes could be worn with a tan suit but would look wrong with a cream suit.
If the suit in question is being hired, it may be worth asking if you can hire the shoes to match. Although some men are reluctant to wear hired shoes, it does increase the chances of finding a pair of shoes that work well with the suit, and it will save him splashing out on a pair of shoes that he doesn’t have a matching suit for.
Like the bride, the groom will be wearing his shoes for a very long time on the wedding day and it’s very rare to find a pair that are immediately comfortable without being broken in. Wearing his dress shoes to work for a week, or even just walking around the house in them in the month leading up to the wedding will ensure he is comfortable enough to strut his stuff on the dance floor.
