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Dressing for wedding season is always a challenge. At least, it is for me. I engage in every other life activity frequently enough to nail my wardrobe for each. Branching my aesthetic into the world of the professional might’ve been hard when I was a freshman in college, but now that I’ve been working for years, my 9-to-5 wardrobe feels dress code-appropriate without betraying my sense of style. The same goes for my night-out wardrobe, and my date night wardrobe, and even the lounge clothes I wear around my apartment on the weekend. But weddings only crop up here and there, and I still haven’t totally figured them out. One clothing sub-genre that has offered me some solace, though? Wedding-friendly statement heels.
Wardrobe limitations for wedding guests are very, very real. Your hemline can’t be too short, your neckline can’t be too low and your straps can’t be too skimpy. Propriety is a must—and understated style (lest you overshadow the bride) is, too. You also can’t wear white. Or whatever color the bridesmaids are wearing. You need a textile comfortable enough to wear for hours on end—and hopefully one that’s not weather-inappropriate, either. This lists of musts and mustn’ts is so damn long, it’s a wonder any of us manage to show up to weddings in anything at all. It’s not at all surprising, then, that once we’ve found a wedding guest dress that works, we cling to it. Our wedding guest dress rotations are incredibly practical and pared-down—at least, mine is. And while efficiency is a beautiful thing, monotony isn’t.
Traditional wedding dress codes so thoroughly limit our abilities to self-express that getting dressed can feel more like a chore than anything else. But where we have some real control over our aesthetics? Our accessories. Statement jewelry isn’t anti-wedding—and statement shoes aren’t, either. Your dress might not be vibrant, but your heels certainly can be. An all-over printed gown might seem gauche, but a printed block heel won’t. Sparkles, bows and ruffles may seem over-the-top when rendered in clothing form, but when compressed to shoe-strap size, they feel entirely reasonable.
What I’m telling you is this: You might end up wearing the same one or two dresses to every wedding you attend from here on out. But you don’t have to wear them the same way. Opportunities for creativity and innovation and fun are abundant in the accessories sphere—and there’s a veritable plethora of wedding-friendly statement shoes on offer right now, just waiting to help you make the most of wedding season in style.

Tangerine is an endlessly underrated statement color, and these mules simply want to rectify that. (Plus, they look pretty damn comfortable—and that’s not to be discounted.)

For the person who prefers a statement that skews business in the front/party in the back.

Do your most maximalist friend a favor, and buy her these now.

Pops of print are the new pops of color.

You might not feel comfortable donning a bejeweled dress, but a bejeweled stiletto is another thing entirely.

Sporting heeled booties is a bold move, no matter what color they are.

A slightly more understated way to do the statement shoe thing.

So structurally stunning you might catch yourself staring at your feet all ceremony long.

Beads.

Because statement-making doesn’t have to mean “loud.”

Fit for the fan of structure and color.

Sure to play well with your favorite floral go-tos.

Sure to dress up even the most banal of monochromatic ensembles.

Another business in the front, party in the back option—but one that’s a little more party all over.

These are some of the coolest slingbacks I’ve ever seen—and they’re sure to help you nail the edgy-without-overshadowing-the-bride thing.

Delicate enough to add texture without distracting.

Structural heels are undoubtedly the easiest way to add a little edge to your look.

These are seriously fun—and begging to dress up your go-to dress.

Pair these with a bright, monochromatic shift, and let the magic happen.

Becaue color is far from the only way to stand out.

As cute as they are comfortable—and they look incredibly comfortable.

Clogs are great wedding statement shoe options because their inherent chunkiness is as edgy as it is comfy.

Gain inches and add a little color to your look at the same damn time.

Make a statement by wearing shoes you can hardly see at all.

Strappy, comfy, saturated—what’s not to love?

OK, these are getting into over-the-top territory. But you could definitely make a case for the muted palette.

A night-out shoe happy to double as your wedding go-to.

Don’t discount the power of a fun, strappy detail.

A statement shoe that’ll definitely feel at home, no matter how fancy the occasion.

Understated, but veritably cool.

I mean, it’s a metallic millennial pink heel—with a lace-up ankle strap. Dainty, but definitely eye-catching.

A heel that’s an even bigger fan of patterns than you are.

More fun heels, please.

A muted palette will keep these shoes from captivating too much attention.

Go full maximalist and pair these with your go-to floral dress.

Snakeskin might seem like a bold move during wedding season. And it definitely is. But the mint makes it more palatable, no?

Turn heads in one of summer’s favorite trends.

Sleek enough to integrate into your office wardrobe, once you’re done with the whole wedding season thing.

These will provide a lovely juxtaposition when paired with your most delicate floral maxi.

Sleek, fun and easy to dance in all night long.

Beach-side wedding? No problem.

I can’t imagine a better context for these floral pumps than wedding season.

Feathers are a delightfully underrated detail that definitely deserves a spot in your wedding shoe arsenal.

Sure to elevate your look in more ways than one.

Not quite a heel, but enough of a low-key statement-maker to earn a spot in this roundup.

Pops of red are fun, but have you tried wearing a strappy, emerald-green beauty?

A slingback that’s structurally fun in every way possible.

Rainbow, without feeling wedding season-inappropriate.

Your feet want in on summer’s bandana trend, too.

Wedges don’t have to be monochromatic.

A punchy palette goes a long, long way.

Shine bright like a diamond—but not, like, too bright.

Aughts-referential without feeling too on-the-nose ironic.

Proof that neutrals can definitely make a statement.

Because four metallics are better than one.

A bow detail can take a shoe from cute to absolutely adorable.

No one said white footwear were off the menu, right?

A lot happening with these shoes, and I’m here for all of it.

Just the pop of neon you needed.

When in doubt, throw on a couple pom-poms.

Clear heel, sleek straps—can’t lose.

If polka dots aren’t enough, throw on a braided strap, too.

A shoe that takes full advantage of summer’s ruffle obsession.

Pack three times the punch with one simple shoe.

Sure to play well with anything in your closet.

Not your average braided wedges—not your average braided wedges at all.

Throw these on with a floral dress, and rest assured knowing you’ve made enough of a statement for today.
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By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.