Congratulations are in order for Lainey Wilson and Devlin “Duck” Hodges, who tied the knot on May 10. The country star stayed true to her roots for the special occasion with custom bridal cowboy boots designed by Michael Petry, creative director of Wilson’s Western boot brand Golden West — and he made a special pair for the groom as well.
Petry showed Wilson four different designs but she was immediately drawn to the one she would wear on her wedding day.
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Petry explained that he kept Wilson’s home state in mind when conceptualizing the wedding boots: “The inspiration was first and foremost Louisiana: home, family and friends. I wanted to create something traditional at first glance, but incredibly intricate and complex upon closer inspection. I also told her, these boots weren’t a museum piece because my only rule for Lainey was to wear them, get loose and have the time of your life. I wanted these boots to create memories and tell stories.”
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Made with white Louisiana alligator, Wilson’s boots were entirely handcrafted, including the custom pattern cutting, hand-carved lasts and heels, and the white finish across the outsole. To add sparkle for her special day, each boot was embellished with 552 Swarovski crystals for a total of 1,104 in total across the set.
Wilson’s boot also ended up having a last-minute alteration.
“We actually wound up changing the last and heel the week before the wedding,” Petry shared. “Her stylist, Alexandra Mandelkorn called me and asked if we could increase the heel from 90mm to 100mm to accommodate her dress at the reception and for dancing. So we decided to remake the last and heels with about 1 week left before the wedding. Ultimately, they are every bit as lovely and uniquely special as Lainey.”
Hodges, meanwhile, was not left out of the custom cowboy boot story. Since Golden West, which launched in 2025, only offers women’s styles at the moment, a whole new men’s last was created for Hodges, Petry explained. Having spent a good amount of time with the groom, Petry has developed an understanding of his style, which led him to a refined almond toe shape to accent his suit.
The Golden West creative director explained, “For the shaft embroidery, I wanted to keep it rooted in history; we created a beautiful triple-stitch design that feels right at home in the Old West, yet entirely contemporary. In working with his stylist, Raina Gir, she gave me the buttons from his wedding suit for color reference. Finding the perfect Louisiana alligator to match them was no easy task, but we found this stunning, rich mahogany brown that just felt right and worked well with his bespoke Mallard green suit.”
Hodges’ style was completed with a full traditional Goodyear welt and a special detail that the bride and groom’s boots share: custom wedding-date pull tabs.
Petry said of Hodges’ custom footwear, “It’s obviously a keepsake, but it’s also a beautiful boot infused with a sense of home that he can wear for special occasions for years to come.”