On June 29th, Olivia Culpo Wedding Makeup commemorated what many deem the pinnacle of matrimonial bliss, exchanging vows in Rhode Island.

Subsequent to their nuptials, the pair have ardently defended Culpo amidst critiques regarding her bridal attire, makeup choices, and comments made to Vogue about her aesthetic.

The ceremony transpired within a chapel in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Culpo and McCaffrey, who became engaged in April 2023, heralded their union via a shared Instagram post with Vogue, revealing a first glimpse of Culpo’s gown: an opulent, long-sleeved alabaster dress with an expansive A-line skirt, complemented by an elongated veil that doubled as a train.

In her conversation with Vogue, Culpo articulated her vision for the dress, emphasizing that she “didn’t want it to exude sex in any way, shape or form,” aspiring instead for it to be “complementing” rather than “overpowering.”

Her visage was adorned with minimalist makeup, highlighting a sculpted, pristine complexion and peach-hued lips. Vogue noted her eschewing of mascara, lip liner, and eyebrow makeup.

Reflecting on her appearance, Culpo remarked, “I never felt more beautiful than when I was in my ceremony dress and under my veil — I really wanted the simplicity of each component to harmonize perfectly.”

However, some TikTok users have labeled her comments as indicative of “pick me” behavior, a term from Urban Dictionary describing those seeking male validation by portraying themselves as distinct from other women.

Reactions to Olivia Culpo’s bridal gown

One TikToker, @jessweslie, expressed skepticism on July 2nd, remarking, “I’m going to need Vogue to be astronomically for real right now, because we know Olivia Culpo has a lash lift,” and noted that she appeared to have some form of makeup on her lips.

The user critiqued Vogue’s emphasis on these details, stating it created an incongruous impression, given that Culpo evidently employed some techniques to achieve her look without mascara or lip liner.

The backlash regarding Olivia Culpo’s bridal gown continued with another TikToker, Kennedy Bingham, who posted a video exceeding five minutes in length on July 2nd. Bingham criticized not only the “simple, elegant” dress but also the rationale behind Culpo’s choices, which left her with a “bitter aftertaste.”

Bingham’s video, titled “From Miss Universe to Miss Pick Me, Olivia Culpo is earning her crown,” accused Culpo of advancing an ideal for brides that extends beyond personal modesty.

Culpo had conveyed to Vogue her desire for an ensemble that felt “as serious as that commitment,” considering her future spouse’s preferences as well. She elaborated, “When I think about Christian and what he loves and the moments that he thinks that I’m most beautiful, it’s absolutely something like this: timeless, covered, and elegant.”

Bingham contested Culpo’s intention, asserting, “First and foremost, you can get married in your underwear and be taking your marriage vows very seriously,” and criticized the model’s notion of “coverage,” highlighting that Culpo’s everyday attire does not typically reflect modesty.

Moreover, Bingham denounced Culpo’s collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana, a fashion house fraught with controversies, from opposing LGBTQ+ adoptions to releasing a 2018 ad deemed racially insensitive.

In the face of the criticism, McCaffrey, along with other social media users, defended his wife. The San Francisco 49ers running back retorted, “What an evil thing to post online. I hope you can find joy and peace in the world the way my beautiful wife does.”

In response, Bingham rebutted, questioning whether pointing out potential internalized misogyny, what she perceived as McCaffrey’s patriarchal comment, and the problematic history of the designers was indeed “evil.”

Another commenter implored Bingham to use her platform to “uplift women,” asserting that Olivia’s choice of modest attire does not undermine others who opt for different expressions.

Bingham clarified her stance, writing, “This is not an issue of people dressing modestly; I have posted multiple times about other brides who did dress modestly without pushing a narrative that modest is the only way to dress to take your marriage seriously.”