Molly-Mae Hague has faced a wave of online criticism this week for her unconventional decision to wear an all-black ensemble to Venezuela Fury's high-profile wedding. The influencer, 26, who is expecting her second child with Tommy Fury imminently, made a brief appearance at the Isle of Man ceremony on May 16 alongside her daughter Bambi, three, who served as one of the bridesmaids.
Traditional Wedding Etiquette Questioned
Traditionally, wearing black to a wedding has been strongly discouraged, as the colour is typically associated with mourning at funerals. Social media users were quick to express their disapproval, with one Facebook user commenting, "Black at a wedding?," while another added, "Black is a no no at a wedding sorry."
Despite the backlash, Molly-Mae is far from the first celebrity to stir controversy with her wedding guest attire. Celebrity stylist Lisa Talbot told The Daily Mail: "I think if a dress is predominantly white, even with a pattern, it can still feel risky. If there's any chance it could resemble bridalwear in photographs, I would avoid it. There are so many other beautiful colours to wear as a guest."
She added: "The same applies to very revealing outfits. Weddings are emotional, family occasions, so there's a fine line between looking confident and looking as though you're trying to command attention."
Victoria Beckham's White Dress Controversies
Victoria Beckham has repeatedly broken the no-white rule for wedding guests. In 2019, the former Spice Girls star attended the wedding of footballer Sergio Ramos and TV presenter Pilar Rubio in a white patterned midi dress with quarter-length sleeves. She attempted to downplay the bridal look with hot pink heels. Three years later, she sparked debate again by wearing a white satin gown to the wedding of Vogue editor Edward Enninful and film-maker Alec Maxwell at Longleat House.
Princess Diana's Bridal White at Brother's Wedding
Even royalty has defied convention. Princess Diana wore a bridal white dress and matching ivory heels to her brother Charles Spencer's wedding to Victoria Aitken in September 1989. She paired the outfit with a slightly darker jacket to tone down the bridal effect, attending alongside young Prince William.
Kendall Jenner's Cutout Dress Defended by Bride
When Kendall Jenner attended friend Lauren Perez's wedding in November 2021, her figure-hugging cutout Monot dress was labelled "tacky" by critics who deemed it inappropriate. One social media user wrote: "Cute dress but nothing could be worse for a wedding. All that money and no class." However, the bride defended Kendall on Instagram, stating she looked stunning and that Kendall had asked for permission to wear the dress.
Kylie Jenner's Gold Gown at Bieber Wedding
Kylie Jenner's metallic gold foil gown by J'Aton Couture for Hailey and Justin Bieber's 2019 wedding drew accusations of trying to upstage the bride. Critics commented: "You don't show up to a wedding trying to look better than the bride... just rude." TV host Wendy Williams opined that Kylie did upstage Hailey but advised the bride to "get over it."
Ariana Grande's Black Bra Top and Mini Skirt
As sister-of-the-groom and bridesmaid at Frankie Grande's 2022 wedding, Ariana Grande wore a custom Vera Wang black bra top and mini skirt, sparking mixed reactions. Some fans criticised her for "doing too much," while others defended her, noting that the groom approved.
Hailey Bieber's Black Minidress
Hailey Bieber also risked wearing black to a wedding, opting for a dark knitted minidress from the AZ Factory 'My Body' collection for musician Harv and Felisha King's nuptials in April 2021. She paired it with a Saint Laurent bag and strappy black heels, facing criticism for the choice at a spring wedding.
Ms Talbot noted that black has become "far more acceptable now, particularly for formal city weddings or evening receptions. The key is how it's styled. If it feels elegant and sophisticated rather than sombre or attention-grabbing, it can absolutely work." She concluded: "Ultimately, the best wedding guest style is polished, respectful and appropriate for the setting. You want people remembering how chic you looked, not questioning whether you broke the dress code."
