I wear some nice comfortable Steve Maddens (just bought 2 more pairs in case they get discontinued). They're light, comfortable, and pretty stylish. Sometimes I'll switch into black Sketchers during the reception.
Well I gotta say I wouldn't wear them with shorts BUT I have a pair that I wore as uniform shoes (required to be black plain toe) and they're comfortable. If you're going for shorts I'd look around.
from a fashion pov - no, but from a woman who has had plantar fascia myself - get them! omg. I'm a stylish person - so my friends tell me - but I ended up in old lady sandals for a year, morning to night - i had it really bad - and thats what i wore to weddings too. Take the support you need over fashion. Just make sure the rest of you looks good.
NOw for the fashion part......make sure you pant legs are long enough that they fall over your shoe, without dragging. If your pants are too short - like just topping the backs of your shoes, then those shoes will be noticeable. So, a bit longer in your pant leg and you will be good.
I would HIGHLY suggest you look into Cole Haan shoes. Great looking shoes but most importantly, very very comfortable inside. If you have a nordstrom where you are, check them out there. I'd also suggest you wear them and walk around before buying.
I have bought several pairs from Zappos and I look for black shoes designed for use by people on their feet all day. It makes a huge difference when you are going to be on your feet for 10-12 hours. I always end up adding Powerstep Pinnacle arch supports as I learned years ago that my feet tire a lot faster without good arch support and I seldom find this support in shoes.
I also make sure that they are waterproof. Often I am on grass that has been watered the day before or even the morning of the wedding and I may be able to keep the B&G and others off the wet areas and even use a piece of shower curtain to keep the bride's dress dry I am not going to be able to wet areas with my shoes.
As for professional looking, when I have a black shirt and black slacks and black shoes that are not scruffy looking (like walking shoes) then I meet the standards and am going to look OK at the end of the day as well. I am after all one of the hired help so the idea of a suit or tux is ludicrous and would prevent me from getting many shots during the day.
I wear a pair of rockports with custom insoles. Sure the insoles were about $400 but they were one of the best investments I've ever made. They've also outlasted 4 pairs of shoes.
The rockports are gold since you can remove their insole and add your own. Most dress shoes don't let you do that and as such won't fit a custom insole.
Saying that I have a wedding photographer friend who wears a pair of Vans. I was dubious at first but she loves them and nobody seems to even notice what she's wearing.
What I've found is that while working my shoes get scuffed up A LOT. Because of this, I would never buy any very expensive, or very polished shoes for weddings - regardless of how comfortable they were.
I use them with a nice set of thick insoles they are absolutely wonderful. They are as comfortable as most athletic shoes and look good enough to wear with dress clothes. The textured finish accepts polish nicely when they get scuffed up as well.
I shoot in Tom's. Used to think they were the worst, but really comfy, soft (read: no walking noise on church or ballroom floors). Get lots of compliments from clients and guests. And they're just great.
the sole of these sperry's is this awesome, almost bouncy foam. i've shot weddings in big empty warehouses with horrible acoustics, and you can run up cement stairs in these and not make a sound. super comfortable.
They SQUEEK on a humid day when walking in the church.....