If you want holiday guests to remove their shoes, tell them before they arrive and give them somewhere to sit. A clear request with room for a practical exception works better than a surprise at the threshold.
Put the request into the invitation
Try: “We leave outdoor shoes at the door. Feel free to bring indoor shoes or slippers.” That tells guests what to pack and gives someone time to raise a concern before the visit.
Skip a lecture about what shoes might carry indoors. If weather is the issue, mention where wet boots and umbrellas can go.
Etiquette advice is not uniform here. Emily Post’s holiday-party guidance leans against asking party guests to remove shoes. That does not settle every household’s custom, but it helps explain why some visitors may not expect the request. Advance notice removes part of that mismatch.
Make the entrance usable
Clear a place for each pair of shoes, with a mat or tray for wet footwear. Provide a stable seat where people can undo laces or change shoes without balancing on one foot. Avoid turning the doorway into a pile that arriving guests must step over.
If you offer slippers, make sure they are clean, fit for use, and optional. Guests may prefer their own indoor footwear. Do not assume that loose slippers or walking in socks will feel secure for everyone.
Handle support needs in private
A guest may need supportive footwear or may have trouble changing shoes. You do not need their diagnosis to make an exception. Ask what arrangement works and let them answer without an audience.
Someone may be able to bring a clean indoor pair; someone else may need to keep the shoes they arrived in. Let the guest guide that part of the plan instead of insisting on a substitute that feels unstable or uncomfortable.
At the door, welcome people first: “It’s good to see you. Coats go here, and we leave shoes on this mat.” If someone raises a concern, step aside to sort it out while the rest of the group comes in.
A guest who forgot indoor shoes does not need to become the subject of the party. Decide what you can accommodate that evening and clarify the plan before the next visit. Broader houseguest expectations are easier to discuss when both people have time to talk.