Dolores Catania’s Guest Dress Draws Online Etiquette Debate

Reality-TV personality Dolores Catania, known from *The Real Housewives of New Jersey*, posted photos of herself in a pale-blue, heavily embellished gown at her son Frank Catania Jr.’s wedding to Nicole Perricho in Portugal. The color, described by many online commenters as “too close to white,” ignited a firestorm on the BravoRealHousewives subreddit, where users accused her of upstaging the bride and violating traditional guest etiquette. Some argued the dress appeared silver or green-tinged, while others maintained it was merely light blue, underscoring the subjective nature of the criticism.

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Western bridal attire was not always dominated by white. According to History.com, before the mid-19th century brides typically wore the best dress they owned, often in a variety of colors and patterns. The shift toward white began after Queen Victoria’s 1840 wedding, when the Victoria and Albert Museum notes her white satin gown set a new standard that spread throughout the middle classes by the late 1800s.

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The Emily Post Institute advises that guests who choose a dress outside the white spectrum are not breaking a formal rule, but such choices can draw attention away from the bride and upset older generations. The institute’s guidance emphasizes balancing personal taste with the “big picture” of the day’s purpose. Wedding-planning site The Knot further recommends that guests consult the couple’s website or invitation for color cues, reinforcing the norm that guests should avoid wearing white to prevent upstaging the bride.

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• “Today, if you choose a dress that is not a shade of white, you aren't breaking a rule of etiquette. However, when considering veering from the tradition, recognize that your choice may draw attention away from the purpose of the day or be upsetting to others from older generations.” — Emily Post Institute

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