Outdoor Weddings

They are two words that strike fear in the hearts of heel-lovers everywhere: outdoor wedding. For me, that means two things: either my heels will sink into the grass and be ruined, or I’ll have to wear flats. Oh, the horror! (Just kidding, flats lovers. That’s just me.) However, not all outdoor wedding sites are created equal, and all require different shoe styles and levels of formality.

For example, fancy flip flops are totally acceptable for a beach wedding—they’re the classic beach shoe! And what’s more wedding-y than pearls?

  The Versaille sandal by Carlos Santana comes in pewter (shown), black, and a really lovely brown—all your neutral bases are covered. They’re easy to slip on and slip off with an elasticized back, but they’re still secure enough that you won’t lose them in the sand. Go up a half size since they run narrow. You can find them at DSW for about $40.

Now if the wedding is on grass, step it up a little and go for a wedge:

  A wedge distributes your weight along the entire sole of the shoe instead of just one little point, so you won’t sink into the ground. The Bonito wedge by Marc Fisher comes in black or tan patent leather, with a four inch raffia-covered wedge and a one-inch platform. You can find these at Macy’s—and hey, they’re on sale! $63 instead of $79.

However, if the wedding is on cobblestones, wear a wedge at your own risk. Flip flops aren’t a good choice either. (Trust me, I’m very familiar with the damage cobblestones can do to shoes... and ankles!) You’re safest with a flat: Love these! (Yes, I just said I love a flat. Perhaps the Apocalypse is coming after all!) Available in black or silver, these Maeko ballet flats by Merona have a treaded sole, cushioned insole, and sparkly rhinestone feature at the toe. You can pick these up at Target for about $23 (though they weren’t at my Target in Plymouth Meeting, so you might need to get them online).

If you just can’t let go of the heels, there is a way: SoleMates.

  They slip right over your heel to broaden the base and help prevent sinking! They won’t do much on sand, but they’ll be a big help on grass and will keep your heels from being gnawed to death by cobblestones. They come in clear, black, silver, and gold, and in three different widths depending on the width of your heel. If you’re in the city, pick them up at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (yes, that’s right), and if you’re not there are tons of stores out in the burbs. You can also order them online.

Better Than a Glass Slipper

So unless you’ve been under a rock for the past month or so, you may have heard a little something about a royal wedding that took place across the pond last Friday. Thousands (or even millions!) of people were waiting on tenterhooks to see Kate Middleton’s dress—who designed it? What would it look like—classic? Or fashion-forward? The dress (by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen) didn’t disappoint, except for one thing: not one photographer got a picture of her shoes?!

Wait no more! The Official Royal Wedding Website described them thus: The wedding shoes have been hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen and are made of ivory duchesse satin with lace hand-embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. There aren’t any official pictures, but the general thought is that they looked similar to this pair, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen:

  This gorgeous pair will set you back $995. However, if you don’t live in a castle and haven’t just married a prince, there are a few cheaper ways to pull off this look.

  The Lightsout Slingback Pump by kelly & katie features lace over fabric, an almond-shaped peep-toe, a floofy accent at the toe, and 4.5” heels with a half-inch hidden platform. Only about $50; courtesy of DSW. 

Pumps not your style but still love the look of lace? Why not do lace in bootie form? How much do you love these? Trio by Glint has lace sides framed in ivory satin with a 3.5” heel, will set you back about $100, and can be found at Nordstrom.

And if you’re like me and wish the royal wedding dress had a little more sparkle to it, I’ll throw you a rhinestone or two:

  Open-Toe Pump 04325 by Menbur has a 3.75 inch heel, three-quarter inch platform, and is made of white silk adorned with white lace and white rhinestones. The little picture doesn’t do it justice; take a look at Amazon. You’re out of luck of you’re not a 6.5 or a 9.5, but if you are (and I am—hooray!) they can be yours for $110.

It might be a little tough to find lace shoes now, but give it a month or two and I’m confident you'll find a lot more as this trend catches on.

Sales this Weekend: 
Bare Feet Shoes: 20% off entire website with the code MOTHER20
Joan Shepp: Free shipping in the month of May
Lord and Taylor: 20% off storewide
Macy’s: Mother’s Day Sale, save 20-30%
Payless: Buy one, get one half off, now through May 16