“ I was definitely very surprised . "
Olivia Culpo has formally addressed thecriticismsurrounding her traditional wedding gown, which divided the internet.
On June 29, Olivia married San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. When she shared images of her dress online and explained her decision to choose that dress, not everyone was a fan.
In an interview withPeople, Olivia officially addressed the backlash, saying that for her wedding, she “wanted to feel like myself in every sense of the word,” that’s why she decided to be “more pared down.”
“I was definitely very surprised,” Olivia said. “I feel like I personally like to give people the benefit of the doubt. And unfortunately, I feel like the words I said were spun out of context to fit an agenda that I did not have.”
“I loved every part of my wedding because I love my husband and the people we got to celebrate that day with,” Olivia continued. “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.”
Olivia wore a white Dolce & Gabbana v-neck crepe ball gown with long sleeves and buttons down the arms and back at her wedding. The veil was 16 feet long, andVoguenoted that she wore minimal makeup, which was also criticized. (See photoshereandhere.)
“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,” Olivia explained. “I felt very comfortable in it, for what it’s worth. I was on the water, and there was a very nice breeze.”
Olivia wore three dresses on the day of her wedding. According to Olivia, she wanted to tell “a story that reflects each part of the person that I am.”
While Olivia’s dress and initial explanation weren’t well received by some, it appears that she’s ultimately not fazed by the critics, as her next endeavors include helping other brides with their special day.
Read the full interviewhere.
