Mandarina’s Top Wedding Shoe Picks For Summer Weddings

Summer weddings are wonderful things. Long days, pretty dresses, flowers everywhere, a glass of something cold and fizzy, and a very real need for shoes that look fabulous without ruining your feet before the speeches.

Because here is the truth: wedding shoes have a job to do. They need to look elegant in photographs, work with your outfit, survive a lawn, a terrace, a dance floor and possibly a gravel path, and still feel comfortable when the canapés have vanished and the band is on its second encore.

At Mandarina, we believe wedding shoes should be beautiful, useful and not remotely boring. Whether you are the bride, a bridesmaid, mother of the bride, mother of the groom, or a very well-dressed guest, these are our top summer wedding shoe picks.

The Classic Pale Blue Court Shoe

Perfect for: brides, guests, mothers of the bride, formal summer weddings, race days and smart occasions

A pale blue court shoe is one of those rare things: soft, elegant, useful and quietly special. Our Classic Pale Blue Court Shoes are made from premium real suede in a beautifully pretty sky blue, with a cushioned leather lining and a manageable 6cm heel.

They are elegant enough for a wedding, but not so delicate that they only work once. Wear them with evening dresses, cocktail dresses, floaty summer dresses or tailored occasionwear. The blue looks especially lovely with ivory, navy, silver, soft florals, pastel pink, lavender, sage green and pale lemon.

They are also a brilliant “something blue” option for brides who want a proper shoe rather than a barely-there sandal. Pretty, polished and useful long after the wedding day has been packed away in tissue paper.

Practical tip: the heel gives lift without being too high, and the scooped upper is more forgiving than a very sharp court. A good choice if you want elegance without full-on foot punishment.

The Celadon Slingback

Perfect for: garden weddings, summer guests, colourful dresses, soft tailoring and smart day events

The Celadon kitten suede slingbacks are exactly the kind of summer wedding shoe that makes an outfit feel fresh. Handmade in Spain from soft kid suede, they come in a delicate celadon green that sits beautifully with florals, linens, whites, creams, blues, pinks and soft neutrals.

These are wonderful with a colourful maxi dress, wide-legged trousers, summer linens or a simple midi dress. The colour is unusual enough to feel special, but soft enough to mix and match. Not too loud. Not too safe. Very Mandarina.

The 4cm kitten heel is ideal for a long day, while the adjustable slingback keeps the shoe feeling secure. They are elegant without being fussy, which makes them a brilliant choice for weddings, Henley, Ascot, graduations and all the other smart summer occasions that suddenly appear in the diary.

Practical tip: suede can be far more wearable than people think, especially in a treated finish. The lower kitten heel also makes these a strong choice for venues with lawns, terraces or uneven paths.

Here are some of our top tips for cleaning suede shoes. 

The Metallic Strappy Sandal

Perfect for: evening receptions, summer parties, bridesmaids, wedding guests and anyone who wants one shoe to go with everything

Every wardrobe needs one pair of metallic sandals. They are the shoes you reach for when nothing else quite works.

Our metallic scrappy sandals are in a light silvery gold shade, which makes them doubly useful. They will work with warm tones, cool tones, brights, pastels, black, navy, ivory, jewel colours and almost every wedding guest dress you own.

The mid-height block heel is smart but sensible, and the secure ankle strap means they feel more stable than a delicate barely-there sandal. The wide front band is also flattering and comfortable, avoiding that awkward “toe cleavage” situation that some sandals insist on creating.

These are the shoes for the “I need something elegant but not too bridal, dressy but not terrifying, metallic but not cheap-looking” moment. We have all been there.

Practical tip: metallics are your friend if you are packing for a wedding weekend. One pair can take you from ceremony to evening party and then out again the next day with a summer dress.

The Grey Star Kitten Heel

Perfect for: guests who like something different, pastel outfits, darker dresses, graduations, Ascot, Henley and wedding weekends

A soft grey shoe is a very clever thing. It works with pastels, navy, black, pink, blue, lilac, ivory and stronger colours too. Add a subtle star pattern and suddenly you have an occasion shoe that feels smart, useful and a little bit fabulous.

The Grey Star Print Kitten Heels are a lovely option if you want wedding shoes with personality, but still need them to behave. The dove grey shade is easy to style, the low 4cm heel is comfortable, and the slingback shape keeps things elegant.

They are especially good with soft pinks, pale blues, silver-grey dresses, navy occasionwear and floral prints. The star pattern gives interest without shouting, which is exactly the sort of detail Mandarina loves.

Practical tip: kitten heels are a very good wedding decision. They give the leg a little lift, look pretty in photographs and are far kinder when you are standing around with a glass in one hand and a tiny canapé in the other.

Read more about how kitten heels make a comfortable bridal shoe choice.

The Forget Me Not Pumps

Perfect for: bridesmaids, brides, relaxed weddings, garden parties, flat-shoe lovers and dancing feet

Not everyone wants a heel for a wedding, and frankly, quite right too. A beautiful flat can be just as elegant, especially for summer.

Our Forget Me Not Pumps are pretty baby blue linen ballerina pumps with a matching bow trim, soft leather lining and a comfortable 1cm solid heel. They are delicate, feminine and easy to wear, with a flattering oval toe that covers the tops of the toes while still feeling light and summery.

These are a gorgeous option for bridesmaids, relaxed brides, wedding guests who know they will be on their feet all day, or anyone who wants a beautiful back-up shoe for dancing later. They also work beautifully with white jeans, faded denim, printed cottons and soft summer dresses after the wedding.

Style them with a floaty blue, ivory or floral dress for a romantic look, or use them as a soft contrast with tailored trousers or a simple linen suit.

Practical tip: flat wedding shoes are not a compromise if they are pretty enough. These are also excellent for outdoor weddings where stilettos and lawns are natural enemies.

How To Choose Summer Wedding Shoes

The best wedding and occasion shoes are not always the highest, sparkliest or most dramatic. They are the ones you can actually wear.

Think about the venue first. A country house, garden marquee or lawn drinks reception calls for a more sensible heel than a city hotel. Block heels, kitten heels, wedges and flats are often easier than stilettos.

Then think about the length of the day. Weddings are not short. You may be standing for the ceremony, walking between locations, posing for photographs, sitting through dinner and dancing later. A manageable heel height is not boring; it is wise.

Colour matters too. Pale blue, celadon green, soft grey and metallics are all more versatile than they first appear. They can lift a simple outfit, soften a formal one, or add a little interest without taking over.

And finally, choose shoes you will wear again. Wedding shoes should not be one-day wonders. The best ones come out again for summer parties, dinners, holidays, race days, theatre trips and all those occasions when trainers simply will not do.

Mandarina’s Wedding Shoe Rules

• Comfort is not optional.
• Colour is almost always a good idea.
• Metallics go with more than you think.
• A kitten heel can be just as elegant as a high heel.
• Pale blue is not just for brides.
• Flats can absolutely be wedding shoes.

If your shoes make you smile before you even put them on, you are probably on the right track.

Shop Mandarina’s Summer Wedding Shoes

Whether you are looking for pale blue court shoes, soft suede slingbacks, metallic block heel sandals, pretty kitten heels or elegant flat pumps, Mandarina has wedding shoes for women who want comfort, colour and individuality.

Shoes for ceremonies. Shoes for garden parties. Shoes for dancing. Shoes for “I bought them for the wedding but now I wear them with everything”.

Be Mandarina. Buy Mandarina.