Flat Shoes Are Everywhere, Including the Alter—20 Pretty Pairs for Extra-Stylish Brides

When you think of bridal shoes, no doubt a pair of sky-high heels bedazzled with crystals or adorned with delicate lace comes to mind. Think Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo or Christian Louboutin—names that have long been synonymous with luxury wedding footwear. Whether platforms or stilettos, for decades most brides have embraced the idea of towering heels as the ultimate choice of shoe to elevate their wedding-day look. However, I’ve recently noticed a shift in bridal footwear preferences, both at weddings I’ve attended and those I’ve seen on Instagram.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially in the era of the bridal ballet flat. Once reserved for rehearsals and recitals, these comfortable yet stylish shoes are now making a statement during the ceremony. You may have noticed (we certainly have) that in recent years brands like Margaux and Sarah Flint have become popular for their collections of elegant flats designed specifically for brides, and the same can now be said for more established designers—most notably Miu Miu and Chanel—whose ballet flats have found a place on many a bride-to-be’s Pinterest board.

What makes flats an ever-increasing popular choice for brides, you ask? For starters, they offer unparalleled comfort, allowing you to dance the night away without the agony and annoyance of sore feet. But beyond that, with thanks to designers such as Sandy Liang, Simone Rocha and Cecilie Bahnsen, who celebrate the ethereal ultra-feminity of womenswear and specifically bridalwear, we’ve seen seasons of babydoll bridal silhouettes. Ballet flats come to the fore as the most obvious footwear pairing with these dresses for brides who want to do something unique and a little more in line with their everyday style.

No wedding look lives more rent-free in my mind than that of ultimate cool girl Margaret Qualley, who chose to wear a pair of white Mary Janes with her Chanel halterneck dress for her ceremony last summer. And lest we forget Keira Knightley’s wedding outfit, for which she opted to pair her couture dress with ballet flats (both also Chanel).

In the non-celebrity realm, my sister made the switch midway through her ceremony, trading in her heels for a pair of delicate Chloé flats. She also provided flats for all her female guests; a gesture that was met with unanimous gratitude. So you have comfort, supreme chicness and approval from some of the most stylish brides (my sister included). If you like the idea but you’re still on the fence, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite bridal flats below.