Hi, loves! Recently, we tackled the question of when to take off your veil at your wedding. After the post, we invited you to submit an Ask Emmaline question and Julie sent us this one! She asks,

“Hi Emmaline! I picked out a pair of heels to wear for the ceremony, but I usually don’t like wearing heels for a long period of time. I’m worried my feet will hurt. How soon can I take them off at the reception? Or am I supposed to wear them all night?”

Hey, Julie! You’re not alone– I’d venture to guess that most brides (and guests!) feel the same as you do. They want to look elegant in heels for the ceremony while being able to show off their dance moves and mingle without aching feet. What’s a bride to do? We’ll tell you…

When to Take Off Heels at Wedding

First and foremost, don’t go barefoot. Brides and guests should abide by this rule because 1) you’re still at a wedding, not your living room, and 2) the dance floor is a dangerous place. For instance, think about all the guests who, after a drink or two, casually bring a cocktail onto the dance floor. They’re not supposed to do it, and most venues will actually go out and tell someone they need to leave the drink on a table, but it still happens. The result is often a broken glass, shards of glass on the floor, ice and liquid everywhere. You don’t want to get hurt or slip, so your best bet is to keep your feet covered.

But you don’t have to be uncomfortable — just pick an alternative that covers your feet, looks chic, and is ultra comfy at the same time! Here are some options:

Ballet Flats

These flats are so beautiful you might skip the heels altogether! These are all by Walkin on Air.

Pretty in floral:

Pretty in coral:

Or a bridal favorite: classic white!

I can’t deny my love for these blue flats with lace. They’re gorgeous! Plus, they double as your “something blue” (we vote it counts as your something blue, even if it’s worn at the reception versus the ceremony):

Travel Ballet Slippers

Ballet slippers like these (by Cinderollies) are built for travel. They even fold to fit in your tote bag or clutch.

Flip Flops

Any pair will do! Make them fancy with pearls (like this pair from here)

… have them personalized with your new name (like these from Beach Wedding Party)…

… or just grab a cheap pair of white flip flops. Old Navy has some seriously great deals at the start of the season.

Flip Flops for Guests

While you’re at it, grab a bunch of flip flops in your wedding colors for your wedding guests. Simply place them in a basket with a size tag wrapped around each pair. You can find tags like these from Primrose and Park:

Guests can take a pair to wear for the night and keep. Make sure there’s a sign displayed with the basket so guests are encouraged to grab them, like this from Mooseberry Paper Co:

And don’t forget these size tags — it makes it easy for guests to find their size. P.S. As a guide: you’ll want to grab a handful of flip flops in size 7, even more of 8 and 9 (they’re a more common size), and a few 10s. You do not need a pair for each guest — not everyone will take a pair.

And… if you are wearing wedding heels, don’t forget to break ’em in! Here’s an awesome post we did awhile back with helpful tips.

Hope it helps to know when to take off heels at your wedding! :) Any questions? Just leave ’em in the comment box below!

xo
Emma

Updated 2019 to reflect the latest answers on when to take off heels at your wedding.