If there’s one type of event you want to look your best for, it’s a wedding. There’s a lot of freedom when it comes to dressing down these days, which is great, but you do still need to follow the dress code at a wedding.
And, as you well know, the foundation for any great look is the shoes. That’s even more true when you think about the formal or semi-formal dress codes at weddings. With so many options out there, however, it can be difficult to find a pair of men’s wedding shoes that are exactly what you’re looking for.
Luckily for you, in this article, we’re going to go on a deep dive of the best wedding shoes for men. By the end of this article, I can guarantee that you’ll be set up for your next few weddings.
Let’s get right into it.
Key Takeaways
I went through a staggering number of products in order to put this list together. I lost count eventually, but it was well over 100 by the time that I was satisfied with my research. As a result, I have to say that I’m extremely confident in this list of the five best wedding shoes for men that I’ve put together for you.
Overall, my clear choice for the best wedding shoes for men is the Velasca Giacalustra. Made from incredibly (and mean incredibly) high-quality calf leather from Italy, these Oxford-style dress shoes don’t do too much or too little. They’re also flexible enough that you can wear them in all kinds of other formal situations, such as a business meeting or a dinner at a luxury restaurant.
I’ve also recommended the Generic Men’s Casual Penny Loafers, which are a more casual, everyday penny loafer (though definitely not generic), and the Myrqvist Orust – Dark Brown Calf, which are a super-luxe Derby shoe.
Why it’s great: The Velasca Giacalustra tops our list of the best wedding shoes for men for quite a few different reasons. First off, the modern take on the classic oxford look makes it a versatile shoe that you can use to cap off a formal outfit or make a slightly unconventional or casual-leaning outfit look totally wedding-ready.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t call attention to the quality of materials from which these shoes are made, from the smooth calf leather on the outside to the vegetable tanned leather on the inside.
Who is this for? As I mentioned, these men’s wedding shoes are nothing if not versatile. That also means that just about anyone could wear them and look great while doing so.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: I really love these shoes, so the only criticism that I can really see as justified is the idea that they’re still a bit too conservative—being oxfords and all.
Material: 100% Calf Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 5 –U.S. 14 | Colors Available: 4
Why it’s great: Next up, we have the Myrqvist Orust Dark Brown Calf. These are luxury shoes in every sense of the word, featuring great quality materials, excellent craftsmanship, and thoughtful design. Derby shoes, especially ones with prominent detailing like these, are really interesting because they’ve become pretty casual shoes in the modern wardrobe.
Who is this for? If you’re going to an outdoor wedding at a golf course or somewhere outside in the south, that’s the vibe that these men’s wedding shoes are perfect for.
Flaws but not deal breakers: Speaking personally, I’m not a huge fan of how rounded the toes of these shoes are, but it is in keeping with the style of the shoes.
Material: 100% Calf Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 6.5 – U.S. 12.5 | Colors Available: 2
Why it’s great: I know that there’s a large amount of men reading this article who got invited to a wedding or two but don’t want to break the bank getting themselves ready. There’s nothing at all wrong with that, and as you can tell from the Clarks Men’s Tilden Cap Oxford, you can get a really great pair of men’s wedding shoes on a budget.
These 100% leather oxfords feature a classic design and come in five different colors, making it easy to find the right shoe for the look you want to wear.
Who is this for? These men’s wedding shoes are a great solution for someone who wants a great pair of shoes but isn’t interested in spending a ton of money.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some customers report that they’ve had issues with the leather scratching, but as long as you’re careful, you should be able to avoid that issue.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: Thermoplastic Elastomers | Sizes Available: U.S. 5 – U.S. 14 | Colors Available: 5
Why it’s great: As the name suggests, the Allen Edmonds Men’s Park Avenue is a classic American dress shoe. They’re halfway between a sharp Italian loafer and a rounded derby shoe, which strikes a really great balance. These men’s wedding shoes are available in a huge array of different colors (21!), so you won’t have a problem finding a pair to match your suit.
Who is this for? These are a great solution if you’re in a pinch and really need a pair of shoes for a wedding quickly. You can log in to your Prime account and choose from a huge amount of options.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The stitching on these shoes is really prominent, which I can see being divisive, but I really like it.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 15 | Colors Available: 21
Why it’s great: And to end the list, I’m happy to be writing about a more unconventional penny loafer. The Generic Men’s Casual Penny Loafers will definitely be noticed.
Just to be clear, you need to look at these shoes for only a moment to realize that ‘Generic’ is an ironic name. The ostrich pattern is black, making it formal enough for a wedding, but these are definitely a pair of shoes that you can wear to the hippest bar in town, too. That’s why they’re my everyday recommendation.
Who is this for? I’d recommend these shoes to someone who’s in touch with the latest fashions and doesn’t mind showing off.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Well, these aren’t your grandfather’s dress shoes, that’s for sure, but you might not be looking for a typical pair of shoes.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 12 | Colors Available: 1
Buying Considerations for the Best Wedding Shoes For Men
Dress Code
It’s difficult to choose just one pair of shoes that will work equally well across all the weddings you might be invited to. That’s because different couples will have very different themes and dress codes at the wedding.
It is true that you can get a pair of shoes that can work with a wide variety of outfits, and that is what we’ve suggested for our ‘best everyday’ recommendation (the super cool Generic Men’s Casual Penny Loafers). However, it’s also possible to pick a shoe that will precisely fit a black tie or a semi-formal mood.
Material
Next, you should think about what material you’d like your new men’s wedding shoes to be made from. You’re probably best going with a spiffy pair of leather oxfords if you’re invited to a black tie wedding, but other dress codes leave you a lot more room to play with other materials.
A pair of suede dress shoes can work really great in a semi-formal or smart casual wedding context. I’d say that you should try to wear the material you like wearing if you feel it will fit into the wedding that your friends or family are planning.
Size & Fit
Finally, you certainly want whatever shoes you wear to a wedding to fit well and feel comfortable. It’s not as much of an issue at the wedding ceremony itself since you’re seated for most of that, but the reception, party, and sometimes afterparty can last all night long. You don’t want a pair of cramped shoes cramping your style.
I recognize that it can be tough to find shoes that fit you perfectly when you’re shopping online. However, you can get a pretty good idea of what will fit you well if you take a close look at the sizing guide of any brand you’re thinking about buying from. And, it will really help if you break in a pair of shoes before wearing them to a wedding.
How We Chose
I tried to select a variety of different styles of shoes when I was putting together this list. Diversity in styles was important because, as I wrote above, different weddings call for different types of shoes. Just think about the difference between a beach wedding and a fancy ballroom reception.
However, even though I chose a few different types of shoes for this list, I made sure that they all did well on the following four criteria that we use for each of our lists here on FashionBeans.
Brand Reputation: When you’re making a purchase as important as a pair of shoes for a wedding (or, even more, for your wedding), we’d recommend only brands that have a long track record of excellence.
Price: Although you definitely don’t want to cheap out when you’re buying a snazzy pair of shoes for the next wedding you’re going to, you also don’t want to overpay for a mediocre product. That’s why all the shoes on our list offer enough value to match their price tag.
Customer Reviews: We also pay a lot of attention to what real-life customers have said about any pair of shoes we are considering for a list like this one. It’s really helpful for turning us on to both unexpected problems and benefits.
Transparency: And, finally, it’s crucial that each footwear brand we recommend is open and honest about those crucial details, like where they source their materials from and what the limitations of their return policy is.
Why Trust Us?
Our editorial team consists of people from all sorts of different specialities in men’s fashion. That’s why we’re able to write great articles about both the best tuxedo shirts and the best types of sneakers.
We contain multitudes, as the saying goes, and knowledge about the best wedding shoes for men certainly fits into those multitudes. As a result, you don’t need to look any further for top-shelf advice about any clothing question you have about weddings.
Furthermore, we used our typical process for putting together this review. This involves each editor picking a personal shortlist of their favorite products in a given category. In this case, we all picked our favorite men’s wedding shoes.
Then, we have an all-hands-on-deck meeting to hash out the final cut of the products that make and miss out on the list. It’s sometimes an intense process, but we think it leads to consistently excellent recommendations and advice.
Final Verdict
Overall, I’m really pleased with my choice of the best wedding shoes for men, the Velasca Giacalustra. When I think about the smart and sophisticated aura that you want to bring to a wedding, I see these shoes as a great way to bring that about. Their high-quality craftsmanship and top-notch materials mean that you’ll be able to wear these exceptional shoes to many weddings over many years.
FAQ
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The answer to this question really depends on what other clothes a man is wearing to a wedding, but, in general, it’s best to wear smart and stylish shoes. That can mean a pair of formal leather oxfords or a pair of suede leather loafers, depending on the dress code. But, no matter what the dress code is, you need to make sure that your shoes look top-class.
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When you’re thinking about getting a new pair of shoes for weddings, there are a few different routes you can go down. First of all, you could pick a fairly middle-of-the-road pair of oxfords that will look great in a number of different outfits. However, you can also think about one suit or slacks/sport jacket combo that you want to wear and then get a pair of shoes that will look great with that.
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If I had to pick just one kind of shoe for a wedding, I’d pick a smart pair of oxfords that can go with a wide variety of outfits. This ensures that you can wear them to weddings that have different dress codes, as well as to an important business meeting or other occasions when formal wear is called for. However, I have also bought a couple of different, more casual shoes to wear to weddings, so you can choose from a wide variety.
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