“Real Housewives” Star Draws Backlash for Pale Gown at Son’s Wedding in Portugal

Dolores Catania, a cast member of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey,” ignited social media debate after sharing photos from her son Frank Catania Jr.’s wedding to Nicole Perricho in Portugal, where she wore a heavily embellished pale blue gown. The photos she posted drew swift condemnation on the BravoRealHousewives subreddit, with users claiming the dress appeared too close to white and violated traditional wedding etiquette by potentially overshadowing the bride.

Reddit commenters expressed disapproval across hundreds of responses, with some accusing Catania of deliberately attempting to upstage the bride. Critics argued that as a television personality, she should have exercised discretion in her wardrobe choice and recognized how the pale color would photograph. Other users defended the dress as light blue or silver, though many countered that any shade approaching white crossed an established line of decorum.

The controversy reflects long-standing wedding guest conventions that discourage attendees from wearing white or near-white attire. Etiquette experts recommend guests consult wedding websites and invitations for dress code guidance and avoid colors that might draw attention away from the newlyweds. The Emily Post Institute notes that while modern brides have flexibility in choosing non-white gowns, guest attire traditionally defers to the bride’s prominence on her wedding day.

The white wedding gown itself is a relatively modern tradition. Before Queen Victoria wore a white satin dress to marry Prince Albert in 1840, Western brides typically wore their finest existing dresses in various colors and patterns. By the late 1800s, white became the expected standard for brides as the middle class expanded and economic progress allowed for specialized wedding attire.