2026 Brides Will Be All Over These Wedding Shoes Trends

Building your dream wedding wardrobe? If you have the dress and jewellery under control, then now’s the time to search for the perfect pair of shoes. But where to start? We’ve tapped into the experts to find out, plus rounded up some of the major wedding shoe trends set to take 2026 by storm.

When Should Brides Start Looking For Shoes?

While there isn’t really a strict rule to when and what order to start building your bridal outfit, it’s recommended that you find your dress and shoes at similar times. ‘As soon as a bride has found a dress, the next step is the shoes,’ say Coco Fong and Valerio Bava, Co-Creative Directors of Malone Souliers. ‘Depending on the look and feel of the dress, a bride may want to choose a different heel height, adornment or colour – so it makes sense to find the shoes later on.’

Wedding experts suggest that brides should start look for their dress around nine to 12 months before their wedding date, to allow for ordering and alterations – this means that the hunt for wedding shoes should sit within this time frame too.

Manolo Blahnik

What To Consider Before Shopping

Below, the Malone Souliers team shares their top tips for wedding shoe shopping:

• Comfort Is Key: It is important to wear a pair of shoes that you feel confident walking down the aisle in and will keep you dancing all night long.
• Make A Day Of It: Use the time to try on as many different styles as possible. Experiment with different heel heights, fabrics and fastenings to ensure you select something you will feel a million dollars in.
• Go Bespoke: With enough notice, there’s also the option of creating a bespoke pair for the big day. We offer a Made-to-Order service, so if you allow enough time (around six to eight weeks), you can design a pair that perfectly matches your dress.

The Biggest Wedding Shoe Trends For 2026

1. The Statement Shoe

Want to be a little more playful with your bridal wardrobe? You’re not the only one. ‘We are noticing brides looking for more fun, experimental and fashion-led options when choosing wedding shoes,’ say Coco and Valerio. They pin the growing popularity of statement wedding shoes on the (literal) rise of hemlines. ‘Many brides are opting for shorter dresses, which means they can choose a standout shoe to make their wedding day look pop.’

2. Dainty Textures

Lace, mesh, velvet, tulle – the options are endless when it comes to textural finishes, and brides are taking notice. ‘We have some beautiful bridal styles finished in interesting textures, which brides are choosing over the traditional satin or leather look,’ note Coco and Valerio. ‘Our Maureen style, for example, is available in a lace or pleated tulle fabric, which perfectly elevates this classic style with a bridal finish.’

3. Something Blue

Tradition for the modern bride also look like a pretty (and very visible) pop of blue. ‘Something that has been increasingly popular is our offering in blue,’ say Coco and Valerio. ‘We have a light blue version of our classic Maureen, which brides often choose as their “something blue”. It is a modern twist on a classic style, and can even be re-worn again and again after the big day.’

4. The Slingback

One style of shoe that is predicted be a big wedding trend come 2026 is the slingback heel. Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik Limited, notes that the slingback is becoming a favourite amongst brides for its wearability (on and after the big day). ‘Our Carolyn, for example, showcases a classic silhouette that offers timeless style and comfort,’ she says. ‘We’ve also noticed brides picking this style in white satin, which can be dyed after the wedding for a beautiful day to evening heel.’

5. Bejewelled Accents

Bouncing off the statement wedding shoe trend, the Manolo Blahnik CEO predicts that jewelled shoes will have a major moment in 2026. ‘We see many brides opt for a jewelled shoe when they chose mid length or shorter dresses to show off these eye-catching styles,’ notes Kristina. ‘They work well with dresses ankle length and above as the accessory can be seen and doesn’t catch on the inside of the dress’

6. Colour Pop

And while blue is emerging as a go-to alternative choice for brides, Kristina says all colours are on the table going forward. ‘We’ve seen a surge in brides options for a pop of colour for their big day,’ she says. ‘The appeal with these styles is that they can easily be worn again, and become part of your everyday or occasion wardrobe.’ Some popular colours for 2026 brides include pastel shades, reds, blues and metallics.

Featured image: Manolo Blahnik