Olivia Culpo was “very surprised” about the internet’s backlash to her modest Dolce & Gabbana long-sleeved wedding gown.
The former Miss Universe, 32, wed San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, 28, last month during a stunning ceremony in Rhode Island, wearing three different bridal looks for the star-studded event.
At the time, Culpo told Vogue that she “didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape or form” while walking down the aisle during their church ceremony.
However, her comments quickly took the internet by storm, with users posting full dissertations dissecting her quote and wedding day look.
In one viral video, a TikTok user said that Culpo’s comments left a “bitter taste” in her mouth and that the former pageant queen was “pushing this idea of what all brides should look like.”
Nearly a month later, Culpo finally addressed the backlash during an interview with People, claiming her words were taken “out of context.”
“I wanted to feel like myself in every sense of the word,” she explained. “And I think that that’s where my decision to be more pared down came in.”
“I feel like I personally like to give people the benefit of the doubt,” she continued. “And unfortunately, I feel like the words I said were spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have.”
Culpo chose a more conservative dress over something flashy or trendy because she didn’t want to look back and regret the design choice.
“I loved every part of my wedding because I love my husband and the people we got to celebrate that day with,” she said. “The choices that I made are because I wanted to feel like they’re choices I could be proud of in 50 years. And that’s it.”
Not only did Culpo go for simplicity when it came to her gown but she also wore minimal makeup, another aspect that was picked apart by users online.
“Stylistically I had a vision. Stylistically, I felt like I was making a decision that was going to stand the test of time, and that’s it,” she doubled down.
Other users questioned the influencer’s decision to wear such a large gown for a summer wedding on the coast. However, Culpo assured concerned fans that her ceremony gown was “surprisingly not too heavy.”
“I felt very comfortable in it, for what it’s worth,” she added. “I was on the water and there was a very nice breeze.”
Along with the crepe ball gown, Culpo also wore an off-the-shoulder chiffon dress for the reception and a bustier-style silk bodysuit with a cage skirt for the afterparty.
The model told People that her bridal wardrobe created “a story that reflects each part of the person that I am.”
“The first one felt so special to me — the simplicity of everything made it feel timeless and classic and traditional,” she shared. “The second dress I felt was ethereal and romantic, and the last dress was fun and playful. I liked the way that the three balanced each other.”
Despite facing backlash over her design choices, Cupo still encourages other brides to “stay true to [themselves].”
“Stick to the vision you have in your head and don’t worry about anything else,” she urged. “No matter what you wear, no matter what your decisions are from your makeup to your hair, to the gown, you will look absolutely beautiful because it’s a beautiful day.”
Culpo and McCaffrey began dating in 2019 and got engaged in 2023.