Matching Shoes and Bags for Mother of the Bride

The mother of the bride is photographed, greeted and kept standing, often with no chance to change shoes. We fit her shoes and handbag as a set that belongs to her dress and coat, not to the bride’s.

Blue, taupe, pink and cream are the tones on this page. A heel she trusts, and a bag she can carry while she talks, will do more for the day than a shoe chosen only because it looked sharp in a picture.

What to look for in matching shoes and handbags for mother of the bride

Match her outfit, not the bride

  • Take the colour from her dress or coat, in a close tone rather than a contrast that pulls the eye
  • Taupe is the peacekeeper when the outfit already has two colours
  • Blue is the tone we see most here, with pink and cream beside it
  • A brighter shoe than the bride’s dress is rarely the brief she was given

Hours on her feet

She will stand for photographs, for the greeting line and for speeches. Look for cushioning, a heel that is stable on grass as well as on stone, and a handbag with a strap if she needs both hands free. Waldlaufer and Gabor are the comfort houses we fit most often for this role. A slender heel can be beautiful and still be the wrong choice for a garden.

Fitting tips from our fitters

  • Bring the dress. A photograph of the outfit, the coat and the hat is worth more than a colour name.
  • Watch the hem. Heel height changes where the hem sits in photographs. We will check it with you.
  • Measure both feet. We fit to the larger foot, every time.
  • Ask about the ground. Church stone, gravel and a lawn are three different soles. Tell us which you face.
  • Prefer a strap. A handbag you can wear, rather than hold all afternoon, is kinder when you are greeting people.
  • Sit and stand. You should feel steady the moment you rise, not only once you are walking.

Waldlaufer

Hispanitas and Ecco sit in this collection too. See the Waldlaufer size and fit guide, and the Gabor size and fit guide if you are comparing the two.

Frequently asked questions

What shoes should the mother of the bride wear?

A shoe in a colour taken from her own outfit, with a stable heel and enough cushioning for a day of standing. Blue, taupe, pink and cream are the tones we are fitting from at the moment. The right pair is the one she can forget about while she talks to people.

Should her handbag match her shoes?

In the same family, more often than not. Matching shoes and handbags for mother of the bride is the usual ask, and it looks calm in photographs. A metal bag can work if the jewellery agrees with it. A second strong colour rarely does.

What heel is kindest when she will be standing?

A low or mid heel with a broad base, not a thin stiletto. She needs to be steady on the ground the venue actually has, including grass if the photographs are outside. Try the pair in the afternoon, when feet are at their largest, and walk further than the length of a changing room.

Can the mother of the bride wear blue shoes?

She can, and blue is the colour we see most often for this role. Keep the blue close to the dress or the coat, and keep the bag in the same family. If the bride is in a pale blue, take the shade a step quieter rather than brighter.

The shop is on Gabriel’s Hill in Maidstone. Bring a photograph of the outfit and we will fit the shoes and the handbag together. Our Occasion Shoes and Wedding Shoes are there if the outfit needs a wider choice.

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