Outdoor wedding: Boots vs. Shoes?

amandaglashauser · February 2014

Hey all,

My wedding ceremony will be outdoors at a friends farm, and the reception will take place in her indoor riding arena. Although we are putting in a dance floor in the arena, anything not the dance floor will be dirt. So I am faced with a shoe dilemma. I like the look of cowboy boots for a wedding, but my fiancé hates them. Period. What suggestions do you have for a dirt floor wedding that wont leave my bridesmaids and I with dirty, sore feet?

Also, my fiancé said he would compromise, that the girls and I could wear boots, but the guys wear their own shoes. Do you think something like that could work? Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

-Amanda

doeydo · February 2014

Maybe TOMS or some other kind of close toed flats.

Ven&Radio · February 2014

Any shoe that isn't open will be fine.

Maggie0829 · February 2014

I just went to a wedding at a persons farm. The area they had their reception in was tented but the ground was loose dirt, not hard patted down dirt. Which kind of dirt are we talking here? Because if it is the loose dirt that feels like you are walking in sand then I would suggest flooring the entire space because walking in that crap was annoying and dirty and dusty. The dance floor they had was completely covered in it and even if I wore flats my legs and tops of feet would still have been dirty as hell.

amandaglashauser · February 2014

It's loose dirt. =/ I don't think we can afford to floor the entire space.

Maggie0829 · February 2014

amandaglashauser said:

It's loose dirt. =/ I don't think we can afford to floor the entire space.

Then I would make sure that it is noted somewhere on your wedding website (if you have one) or even on an insert card. So that people will know to not wear heels or open toed shoes. I would also start spreading it by word of mouth as well.

QueerFemme · February 2014

Ugh... loose dirt? that sounds horrible, honestly. Not only for you, but for your guests. I'd honestly see if you can find another venue for your reception. Or figure out a way to budget some sort of flooring for the rest of the area.

For shoes, just wear flats. There are thousands of comfortable flat shoes. I know this is personal opinion, but boots are workwear, not formalwear. Don't pair boots with a wedding gown.

JMalettas · February 2014

I think cowboy boots are a neat idea. I think they'd look cute on the BMs, and as long as your dress is floor length, I see no problem with them. I 'would' worry though about your dress being completely covered in dirt, well before the end of the night. My dress was all dirty on the bottom from walking for pictures etc by the end of the night, and other than the outdoor pictures, it was held completely inside. You couldn't notice it unless you lifted the bottom, but I can only imagine what it would have looked like, if we had been at the type of venue you're describing.

As mentioned in the PPs, I would definitely mention to guests, (on your website, or however), that closed-toed shoes are highly recommended due to the venue. That way guests can dress appropriately. I would appreciate knowing I had to wear close-toed shoes, and I would likely dress in something that I'm not going to have to pay a fortune for to get cleaned afterwards. I would see the 'loose dirt' as no biggie if I had the heads up.

*J

chibiyui · February 2014

I also have to suggest you find someway to floor the area. Spending the day in a dress and loose dirt does not sound fun.

I don't care for cowboy boots, and I do not like them with dresses, so I'd suggest cute, closed toe flats. But if you want to wear boots its a victimless crime. Just realize you cannot dictate the footwear your FI wears then, if you think his choice is too informal.

WildMagelet · February 2014

I wouldn't want to spend hours at a reception on loose dirt. =( Our indoor horse arena in college had loose dirt and it got *everywhere.* Definitely see about shifting something in the budget to floor the rest of the space, otherwise I would be searching for a different venue.

JoanE2012 · February 2014

QueerFemme said:

Ugh... loose dirt? that sounds horrible, honestly. Not only for you, but for your guests. I'd honestly see if you can find another venue for your reception. Or figure out a way to budget some sort of flooring for the rest of the area.
For shoes, just wear flats. There are thousands of comfortable flat shoes. I know this is personal opinion, but boots are workwear, not formalwear. Don't pair boots with a wedding gown.

All of this.

MandyMost · February 2014

If you're having a very country, jeans-and-boots type of reception, then I think it's fine to have loose dirt and a dance floor. But you'd definitely have to make it clear that that's the type of reception you're having. And to avoid the wedding dress getting dirty, I'd suggest wearing a short dress, and I personally think it would look adorable with boots.

But if you're having a wedding reception with more typical formality (cocktail dresses and suits, etc.) then you really need to make sure the guests aren't standing on loose dirt.

speedyblazer11 · February 2014

MandyMost said:

If you're having a very country, jeans-and-boots type of reception, then I think it's fine to have loose dirt and a dance floor. But you'd definitely have to make it clear that that's the type of reception you're having. And to avoid the wedding dress getting dirty, I'd suggest wearing a short dress, and I personally think it would look adorable with boots.

But if you're having a wedding reception with more typical formality (cocktail dresses and suits, etc.) then you really need to make sure the guests aren't standing on loose dirt.

all of this.

I also like the idea of boots with your dress, I personally am wearing Converses under my floor length dress. All the men in the wedding party are also wearing them with their suits. We decided to do this because we are also having an outdoor wedding on grass and I didn't want to sink in. We posted this info on our wedding website.

Outdoor wedding: Boots vs. Shoes?

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