There’s so much creative freedom when it comes to weddings these days. And we love that. Brides can wear black, don a pantsuit instead of a gown, or decide to forgo uncomfortable high heels altogether.
Now don’t get us wrong, we’re the first ones to say we appreciate a good high heel . . . especially if it elongates the leg, but bravo to the bride who bucks the trend and sports a flat. Whether a demure pair of lacy sneakers, Chuck Taylors, or an elegant sandal—countless brides are kicking off the stilettos and instead opting for footwear that’s fashion-y but also functional on their big day.
With more and more weddings occurring outside of a traditional cathedral, it’s only logical that more and more brides are gravitating towards flats. Brides choose non-heeled footwear for a variety of reasons: comfort is a big one, a height difference between the bride and groom is another, and sometimes the desire to just be daringly different has one tossing aside the Stuart Weitzmans and slipping on a pair of studded sneakers.
Vogue.com bride Hilary Schuville Keefe wore a sophisticated pair of flats for her wedding in Fairfield, Connecticut. As Director of Integrated Sales at Teen Vogue, Hilary has spent the majority of her professional life in spikey stilettos and while her shoe collection is one to envy, Keefe still decided to take a pass on heels for her biggest fashion statement to date. “Chris has always liked when I wear flats versus heels (which is fine with me as I get plenty of time in heels all day long!)—so I always knew I wanted flats for our wedding day,” explains Schuville. When she found the dreamiest pair of crystal-embellished, lace Dolce & Gabbana loafers at Bergdorf Goodman, she tried them on with jeans and bought them on the spot! These beautiful shoes have become special occasion go-tos in her wardrobe rotation and whenever she wears them she has happy memories of her wedding day.
Take a cue from CBS Sports Sideline reporter, Jamie Erdahl, who rocked studded slip-on-Stuart Weitzman Décor Pearl-Embellished Nubuck sneaker for her hometown wedding to Sam Buckman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Erdahl spends the bulk of August-March sprinting in and out of almost every airport in the U.S. on her way to and from NFL football games, so it’s safe to say that this gal loves a reliable flat that can easily get through security. When it came to her wedding day, the same need for comfort reigned supreme. “My work style 110% influenced my wedding day shoe. Every Sunday, 17 Sundays in a row, I walk about 6 miles during an NFL game-day. I KNOW what it’s like to spend an important day in a painful pair of shoes because I’ve made that mistake before; I wasn’t trying to fool anyone into thinking I’m someone who can survive for 10+ hours in heels,” stated Erdahl. We love her for her frankness, Erdahl wore her sweet sneaks for the entire day . . . from service to reception, and they perfectly offsetting her romantic Blue by Enzoani gown.
While Over The Moon bride, Christy Maddox, wore heels for the main event. Her favorite tried-and-true Chuck Taylors were a big part of her pre-wedding wardrobe and were featured prominently in her photos. She got married at Lake Rabun, just outside of where she grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. A fashion industry vet who’s worked at Barneys, Givenchy, and Marni, she was thankful that she had footwear with character—15-years-of-character to be exact—on hand when an all-day downpour unexpectedly decided to make an appearance on her wedding day. Ever the styling expert, she kept her cool when the rain started and threw on her favorite white, high-top, Chucks . . . dappled with mud, they were the perfect juxtaposition to her angelic Ivy & Astor floral dress.
