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The One Wedding Guest Shoe That's Dance-Off Proof

The padded footbed is your secret weapon

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wdding guest shoes for dancing: receptions dancing scene and gold Margaux shoes
Tom Wilde/Getty Images; Margaux

Maybe you're mad she's getting married to him. Maybe you're hoping to catch the eye of that best man. Or maybe you just want to shake your money maker look pretty in your new dress all night in a pair of no-ache heels. Whatever your motivation, we’ve found the best choice for a wedding guest shoe for dancing: A crisscross mule that has 1) cushy straps and 2) a padded footbed.

Various designers are creating iterations in heights from 3 inches tall (which we recommend for the experienced high heel walkers among us) to under 2 inches (which we like to wear later with shorts and cropped trousers). Thanks to the mule design, this shoe doesn't have ankle straps to chafe and thanks to the padding, it's the next best thing to a mini-massage with every step. In leather, we’re loving neutral tones and metallic finishes, and fabric versions of the shoe are all over the color and pattern map.

Here are our favorite styles, for wearing under the disco ball and beyond.

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Wedding guest shoe for dancing: Gold Margaux mules

This walkable 2.5-inch heel has five millimeters of foam padding and comes in sizes up to 14.

This 2.8-inch heeled sandal is made in Spain and has a cushioned footbed that's reinforced for strength without sacrificing comfort.

Vegan synthetic upper, a stylish squared-off toe and the foam footbed combine to make a springy looking (and feeling) pair of kicks.

4. Marc Fisher Calia Block Heel

Marc Fisher Footwear

The block heel makes for an extra-stable stance and the knot detail is super-sleek.

wedding guest shoes for dancing: tie-dye shoes

The heel measures less than two inches, and the tie-dye fabric is sexy-casual...it's just begging for a salted margarita and an inroduction to the groom's cousin.

We're seeing this pair of shoes for a casual afternoon wedding—the straps are elastic, so they'll really stay put on your feet, and the 1.25-inch platform makes the three-inch platform heel way easier to dance in. And note: cork is a famously forgiving shoe material that absorbs shocks with every step.


dana dickey

Senior Editor

  • Writes about fashion, wellness, relationships and travel
  • Oversees all LA/California content and is the go-to source for where to eat, stay and unwind on the west coast
  • Studied journalism at the University of Florida