Wedding Shoe Styles for Men
Trying to get a guy to wear the right outfit to a wedding (whether he's the groom or just in the audience) might seem like a chore, but it's nothing compared to helping him pick out shoes. Knowing a bit about the types of shoes that are appropriate for various weddings can make this task much simpler. At least he'll know a few key terms that will help the store find a good pair that fits the occasion.
Men's Shoes for Formal Weddings
It's hard to beat traditional black Oxford shoes for a formal wedding. Oxford shoes are simple, yet elegant. Assuming that the guy is wearing a black tux (or perhaps a nice suit), you will want to pair it with highly polished black Oxfords. If you're attending a formal event that insists on white tuxes (it's rare, but it happens), then choose white Oxfords.
You can also get away with wearing cap toes (more on those below) at formal gatherings, but some of the more conservative guests might disapprove.
Men's Shoe Styles for Dressy and Casual Weddings
Casual weddings give you more room for personal style. Depending on the couple, you might find men at the wedding wearing anything from suits to jeans.
It's often difficult to differentiate between dressy and casual. When some couples say "casual," they just mean they don't expect you to wear a suit. Others mean that they couldn't care less if you show up in pajamas.
If there is any doubt, err on the side of formal.
Some of the men's shoe styles that you might want to consider for casual weddings include
• Dress boots - dress boats have a slim, hip look that make them look great with stylish suits, dress pants, and, yep, even a nice pair of jeans
• Cap toes - cap toes are essentially Oxford shoes with a colored strip of leather that runs just above the toes
• Loafers - the key difference between loafers and other kinds of men's dress shoes is that loafers never have laces. There is a wide range within this category, though. Some loafers look nearly as nice as cap toes and Oxfords. Others are obviously made for casual events, yachting, or just lounging around the country club/backyard.
Men's Footwear for Destination Weddings
Some destinations make typical dress shoes completely inappropriate. No one expects you to wear Oxfords on a beach or hike through a mile of forest in a pair of loafers. You should still look for nice options even when you need non-traditional footwear.
For beach weddings, consider leather sandals instead of bargain flip-flops. If you need to hike, try to purchase a new pair of boots, or at least clean up your old hiking boots so they look as-new-as possible.
If you're shopping for non-traditional shoes, though, you probably want to head to the store with your guy. Otherwise, who knows what he'll come back with.
Posted by Matt T.
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