I’m not sure who first decided to pair a wedding dress with white Converse, but honestly – they deserve a round of applause. Since then, I’ve seen more and more couples each season ditch the heels in favour of trainers, sneakers, or just delightfully unexpected wedding shoes. And I absolutely love it.
Because when a bride puts on a pair of trainers, it’s never just about comfort. It’s a quiet declaration: this is our day – not a Pinterest performance. It says, “This is me. These are my shoes. This is how I move.” And as a photographer, that kind of honesty is where the real magic begins.
What It Means to Be a Bride in Trainers
Trainers are more than just practical. They’re part of the story. Sometimes they’re white and delicately embroidered – perfect for a laid-back countryside wedding. Other times they’re glittery, pink, or completely unmatched – because “we’ve never done things the same way, so why start now?”
No matter the style, every pair says the same thing: I’m showing up as myself. And no, I don’t need a pair of towering stilettos to feel amazing.
I’ve heard it so many times from my couples:
“I just want to enjoy the day. Not wobble through it.”
And that’s what turns a wedding from a scripted event into a joyful, living celebration. People breathe. They relax. Laughter fills the air long before the vows begin.
And it’s not just shoes that tell those stories. Sometimes, it’s a flying veil, a very helpful groom, and a moment that looks candid — but has a brilliant little secret behind it.
Whether it’s minimalist sneakers or fully custom wedding trainers for the bride, the point is the same: choose what lets you be fully, unapologetically present. There’s something undeniably joyful about being a bride in trainers – someone who chooses personality and comfort over protocol. Some opt for hand-painted canvas shoes, others go with clean, minimal white wedding sneakers that quietly match the dress while keeping their feet blissfully happy.
Bridal Trainers: A Documentary Photographer’s Dream
As a documentary wedding photographer, little details like this are gold. Trainers = freedom. And freedom is what opens the door to capturing genuine emotion.
When a bride isn’t worrying about the mud, adjusting a strap, or holding her breath just to balance – she laughs, she dances, she hugs her guests like she’s at the world’s best garden party. And me? I just keep close and document what really happens. That’s the essence of candid wedding photography.
And let’s be honest – a relaxed bride in a comfortable wedding outfit is every photographer’s dream. She’s not holding back. She’s fully there. And it shows in every single frame – the kind of moments I aim to preserve through authentic wedding storytelling.
Wedding Trainers, in Numbers and Colours
I’ve photographed trainers in all kinds of styles and shades. There were hand-stitched tennis shoes gifted by a grandmother. Customised Vans with favourite quotes scribbled on. Sparkly LED sneakers that flashed to the beat of the music and quickly became a favourite among the kids on the dance floor.
I’ve seen blush-pink trainers perfectly matched to a coloured veil, and sporty Nike Airs peeking out from under layers of soft tulle. Some couples go all in with personal touches – initials, wedding dates, even doodles from their kids. Every pair had a story, and it was my job to catch that story in the frame. No two pairs are alike – but each one tells the story of a bride in trainers who chose joy over tradition. Some even go all in on fashion-forward choices like glittery bridal trainers or customised pairs with lace and ribbons to echo the wedding dress.
This isn’t about trends – it’s about telling the truth. And sometimes, that truth comes in the form of an alternative bridal outfit that makes the bride feel like herself.
And What About the Rest of the Wedding Party?
It’s not just the brides. Whole wedding crews are stepping into comfort. Bridesmaids in embroidered sneakers who dance until sunrise. Grooms in clean white trainers – because “wearing a suit is already enough of a compromise.” Sometimes even guests kick off their formal shoes mid-party and switch to their favourite runners.
Trainers can become part of the look – as intentional and meaningful as the colour palette or floral scheme. And the result? A wedding where people feel free to be themselves. Which, for a documentary photographer, means there’s a story waiting in every direction.
Red Heels on the Red Carpet
Sometimes, it’s the guests who steal the spotlight.
At one wedding, a guest arrived in glittering red high heels. And I mean high. Higher than anything else in the room. And they owned it. Later in the evening, they swapped them out for something more comfortable – but for that moment, they had their very own red carpet moment. And yes, I captured it. Because these are the kinds of things that make a wedding feel alive – a reminder that, sometimes, the boldest style choices come from the guests, not unlike those at this non-traditional wedding in Glastonbury.
What Do Shoes Have to Do With a Smile?
Not the kind of smile you give when you spot a bride in trainers (though that’s a solid contender). I mean the kind of smile that stays – the one that’s not forced or faked because something’s digging into your toes.
Because the wrong shoes? They can turn even the happiest face into a wince. And even if someone’s still smiling through the pain, you know their mind is somewhere else entirely – counting the seconds until they can take them off.
Shoes matter. They ground you. Literally.
And while this might sound like a detour from weddings, stay with me – because I’ve got a story to tell.
Trekking, Trainers, and a Wedding in the Himalayas
I can’t imagine a proper trek without the right footwear. Uncomfortable shoes don’t just ruin your feet – they pull your focus. They make you stop enjoying the view. Instead of soaking in the mountains, you’re counting the steps. And that changes everything.
Now picture this: a wedding in the Himalayas.
Why not? The world belongs to the bold. And what an adventure that would be! I’ve written more about that kind of journey in The Himalayas Trekking: Not Just for Mountaineers.
You wouldn’t be the first, of course – people have said their vows at Everest Base Camp, on glaciers, and beneath prayer flags waving in the alpine wind. But what you see, feel, and carry from that moment would be completely your own.
A mountain wedding isn’t just a ceremony – it’s an experience. One that stays with you long after the echoes of the vows fade.
There’s just one catch: forget the heels. Even your trainers might not make the cut. Your wedding dress will be walking alongside boots… just like mine.
