Designer Bridal Sandals

Are sandals a good choice for a wedding?

Sandals are the best heeled shoe for an Australian wedding held between October and March. An open upper lets heat escape and removes the two most common causes of blisters, a closed toe box pressing on swelling feet and a stiff heel counter rubbing at the back. Feet genuinely do swell across a twelve hour day, and a sandal with adjustable straps accommodates that where a fixed court shoe cannot. For a beach, garden or vineyard ceremony, a sandal is also easier to walk in than a closed shoe on soft ground.

Bridal sandal styles: Badgley Mischka's Reagan and Reagan II crystal embellished ankle strap sandals are the most classic shape in the range, in soft white and champagne. Bella Belle's Demi pearl tulle stiletto sandal and Addison pearl bow platform are the most romantic. For all-day wear, Bella Belle's Marion crystal anklet block heel and the platform styles from both brands are the most comfortable choices, because a platform raises the forefoot alongside the heel and reduces the effective pitch on the ball of the foot.

Ankle straps and platforms: an ankle strap is the single most useful feature in a wedding sandal. It stops the foot sliding forward, keeps the shoe on through dancing, and lets you adjust the fit as the day goes on. A platform sandal such as Badgley Mischka's Yuki bow ankle strap or Rylan satin platform slingback gives real height while feeling closer to a much lower heel underfoot, which is why platforms are consistently the most-worn style at the end of the night.

Wedding guest and formal occasion sandals: this range is not bride-only. A designer sandal in soft white, ivory, champagne or silver is one of the most useful formal shoes you can own, and works as readily for a wedding guest, a bridesmaid or the mother of the bride as it does for a bride. If you are shopping as a guest, the same advice applies: choose an ankle strap for security, and a platform or block heel if the venue is outdoors.

Sandals for beach and garden ceremonies: on sand, a flat sandal from our flat wedding shoes edit is the only genuinely practical choice. On grass or gravel, a block heel or platform sandal spreads weight across a wider base and is far less likely to sink than a stiletto. If your ceremony is on grass and you have your heart set on a stiletto sandal, heel stoppers are an inexpensive fix worth packing.

Sizing and shipping: strappy sandal styles run slightly narrow across all brands, so size up by half if you are between sizes, and allow room to loosen the straps late in the day. The White Collection ships to all states and territories in Australia with free shipping on orders over $100, and Afterpay is available at checkout. Book a fitting at our Sydney showroom in Haberfield, open Thursday to Monday, or reach out via the contact page for a recommendation.