What shoes should you wear to your beach wedding? Hawaii style
What are the best types of shoes for a beach wedding?
We highly suggest going barefoot to any beach wedding. Yes, we said - no shoes! Hawaii sand can be deep and sometimes rocky. Wearing any type of shoes, even flats could be uncomfortable and difficult when walking through deep sand. If you must wear shoes, definitely choose a pair with a flat bottom.
BEACH Wedding Shoe Options:
wedding shoes - High Heels
difficulty Level - 10
Chance of tripping- High
Walking in heels in the sand, is hard. Can some women do it? Yes - of course it can! I’ve seen it in person and it is remarkable. It’s a special skill, not all of us girls have. I know I definitely could not do it. But, if you are up for the challenge, go for it 👊😉. Just make sure it isn’t a long walk down the aisle. Holding your heels up and walking on your toes (not letting your heels sink into the sand) will help.
I wouldn’t suggest heels though, unless you have had a serious amount of practice walking in sand in high heels. The last thing you want is to get stuck half way down the aisle as everyone is watching.
If you do decide on heels, you want to be aware that some beaches here in Hawaii do have longer sandy walks than others. Some beaches have deeper sand - which is harder to walk in.
It is possible that your walk down the aisle could involve walking 100 feet in sand. Beaches on the North Shore of O’ahu tend to have longer beaches and a longer walk in.
PRO TIP. Take off YOUR heels right before YOU walk down the aisle. Put your heels back on after the ceremony for photos.
wedding shoes - FLATS
difficulty level - 4
Chance of tripping - low
A pretty pair of flats are fantastic and my personal favorite recommendation for brides who feel the need to wear footwear. For a sand in your toes, beach wedding, flats are comfortable, they work well in sand and can be really pretty. I’ve seen fancy flip flops with diamonds 💎 a simple design with little bit of extra-something that will help you to really feel like a bride on the day of your wedding.
wedding shoes - wedges
difficulty level - 8
Chance of tripping - medium high
Let’s just be honest here, any pair of wedges with decent hight is going to be difficult to walk in when walking in the sand. This is because as you are walking, your shoes will sink. The more steps you take, the more sand will gather under your feet as you’re walking. This makes for an uncomfortable walk and increases the chances of tripping.
I know how important it is for some women to feel taller, but letting go of this need for 30 minutes to ensure a safe and stress free wedding ceremony may be worth considering. If you have a beautiful pair of wedges you think are perfect for your dress, you can always wear them after the ceremony for photos and at your wedding dinner.
wedding shoes - NONE
difficulty level - easy!
Chance of tripping - very low
My favorite option here is to go barefoot. Yes I said it - don’t wear shoes! Not only is this the easiest option, it is also the most affordable. Simple beach weddings were not designed for fancy shoes. Fancy dress, sure, go for it! Fancy hair - hell, yes!!! Fancy makeup - do it! But fancy shoes - this is something you can definitely skip.
Boho-beach weddings, and more casual styled weddings look amazing barefoot. Modern styled weddings with Vera Wang dresses look amazing barefoot too! Beach weddings were designed for simplicity and ease. Trust me when I say there are no shoes required!
what about the grooms?
Grooms and groomsmen will wear flip flops 80% of the time, but shoes and socks, work just as well. Why? Because they’re tied up and they’re wearing socks. It’s pretty hard for sand to get in under their feet and that is the part that makes it hard to walk.
PRO TIP. If guys are going to wear shoes, bring a pair of flip flops just incase. Photos could involve getting in the water and if you don’t have extra footwear, you could end up getting your shoes wet. Dinner in wet shoes is never fun, and having to put on socks after your feed have been wet and sandy isn’t too nice either.
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THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER:
Leaving your shoes at the start of the aisle and walking down barefoot. Use shoes later for photos as needed.
Heels can get stuck in the sand, get some practice in before the big day if you are going to go for the full-heel in the sand ceremony.
Guys can wear shoes, flip flops, sandals or go barefoot, it’s up to you - BUT - try and match your bride, if she’s going fancy, you better be going fancy too!
Bridal party should match in footwear, all shoes or all no-shoes. Having one without shoes when everyone else is wearing shoes will look terrible in photos.
Know your beach site. Know if it’s a long or short walk down the aisle, practice the walk so that you’re comfortable with it.
Even though our suggestion is to go without shoes. In my experience, most destination beach weddings seem to go 50/50 on shoes vs. no-shoes 👠. It’s really a personal preference on what makes you feel most beautiful and what you feel most comfortable wearing.
Wedding shoes on the beach are one of the last decisions you’ll have to make before you walk down that sandy aisle. Make sure you are comfortable and feel amazing, this is different for everyone and while one bride might be a queen with heels another bride may want to toss them off and go barefoot. Make sure you FEEL amazing, and your day will be amazing ❤️
Happy Planning ✌️
Nicole
Nicole Salmoiraghi is the author and owner of Best Day Ever Hawaii Events + Weddings, where she helps brides + grooms bring their dream weddings to life. She is an expert planner and has over 10 years of planning experience. Follow her on Instagram, on Facebook and on Pinterest for more wedding inspiration, and Hawaii wedding insider tips.