Dolores Catania, a longtime cast member of “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” shared several photos of herself in a dramatically embellished pale‑blue gown at her son Frank Catania Jr.’s wedding to Nicole Perricho in Portugal. The images quickly ignited a heated discussion on the BravoRealHousewives subreddit and other social‑media platforms.
Online reaction focuses on etiquette
Reddit users debated whether the dress was too close to white for a wedding guest. One commenter wrote, “She wanted to upstage the bride…” while another argued that, as a television personality, Catania should have chosen a more subdued outfit to let the bride have the day. Several participants noted that the dress appeared more light‑blue than white, but still expressed concern that the color could photograph as white and draw attention away from the bride.
Comments ranged from criticism of the color choice to speculation about the motive behind the look. One user said, “As an experienced TV personality, she should know how things photograph. She wanted the limelight, end of story.” Others simply called the choice “not a good look” or suggested the gown looked “a little silver.”
Historical context of white wedding gowns
While the debate centered on modern etiquette, the discussion also touched on the history of bridal fashion. According to History.com, before the mid‑19th century many Western brides wore the best dress they owned, often a dress previously used for other occasions. The tradition of white gowns became popular after Queen Victoria chose a white satin dress for her 1840 marriage to Prince Albert, a choice that was widely publicized and emulated.
By the late 1800s, economic growth and the rise of the middle class helped cement white as the expected bridal color in Western cultures. Today, the Emily Post Institute notes that while guests are not strictly prohibited from wearing colors other than white, choosing a shade that closely resembles white can draw attention away from the bride and may upset older generations.
Current wedding‑guest guidelines
Wedding‑planning resources such as The Knot advise guests to review the couple’s wedding website for any specified color palette and to follow any dress‑code instructions noted on the invitation. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman has suggested that mothers of the bride may wear gold, provided the dress does not appear as if the wearer is the one getting married and the bride approves.
The online backlash against Catania’s gown underscores how deeply many people value traditional wedding etiquette, especially when it comes to respecting the bride’s day. Whether the dress was truly white or a pale blue, the conversation reflects a broader cultural expectation that guests avoid upstaging the couple on their special occasion.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
