Traditional wedding shoes are usually white, satin, and have a medium or high heel. That is the case because most wedding dresses are white, long, and made of a satin-like material. But what about those girlfriends who want to do things differently?

Just because most go in the white dress and white shoes doesn’t mean you have to. Themed weddings are common these days and those themes can vary wildly; You just have to watch TV shows like Four Weddings and Don’t Tell the Bride to find out!

You may, for example, want a very traditional but very VINTAGE wedding. A long off-white dress with an even longer train, a very old wedding car, or even a horse and carriage. What shoes would you choose then?

Fortunately, there is a wide range of vintage wedding shoes available on the market, all created by renowned designers such as Rachel Simpson and Filippa Scott.

They look a lot like regular wedding shoes, but feature beautiful vintage embellishments that really make them stand out. These vintage bridal shoes are not typically white, they tend to be ivory, teal, silver, or mink, although of course if you want white, you can get it.

They also vary in design depending on the era, with styles from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, Victorian, Edwardian, and even old Hollywood. All of these are available in flat and mid and high heels, depending on the designer and the era.

For that extra special touch, you can attach shoe clips that appear to be made from pearls and diamonds. They will add a sparkle and attract attention.

However, less traditional brides will not want a shoe made of heeled material, white or ivory in color. Some brides opt for red shoes, black shoes, or pink shoes. Non-traditional wedding shoes have included sneakers or trainers, boots (such as Doc Martens), and even, in very rare cases, slippers!

Location also plays a role in choosing wedding shoes – a church wedding calls for a high-heeled shoe, and a pair of vintage bridal shoes would be even more perfect. However, a court or registry office wedding would be better served with a flatter, more comfortable bridal shoe.

Getting married abroad in an exotic location? You will likely walk on the beach at some point … so choose a flat sandal or flip flops! You do NOT want to be trying to cross the sand with a high heel, right!

At the end of the day, it all depends on the bride herself on the theme of the wedding she has, the style of dress she wears, and the type of bridal shoes she wears. The very traditional will always go for the standard, the vintage shoe will always suit the glamorous or flashy and there will always be a market for sports shoes, boots and yes, even slippers like wedding shoes.

One thing that’s guaranteed is this: the groom has never had and will never have a say in these little details that the bride cares so much about!