Nikki Haley's Inappropriate Dress At Her Daughter's Wedding Will Always Haunt Her

Former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has worn her share of inappropriate outfits, but one of her most controversial looks was at a memorable family event. Nikki appeared to make one of the most notorious cardinal mistakes when it comes to wedding etiquette, and social media users were quick to call out the politician for her questionable fashion choice. Prior to her presidential run in 2024, Nikki celebrated her daughter's wedding, which took place in April 2023. Nikki's daughter, Rena Haley, married her college love, Joshua Jackson. Rena wore a low-cut sparkling mermaid gown. But instead of the bride being the center of attention, it was her mother's dress choice that garnered the most eyes.

As seen in an Instagram post shared for Rena's birthday, Nikki wore a long, elegant off-white gown with an off-the-shoulder silhouette. The fabric was rather detailed with a draped skirt on the left side and gilded accents. But some thought the dress was too extravagant for a mother of the bride and sported a level of opulence that should be reserved for the bride herself. Rule number one when dressing for a wedding: Don't wear white! Even with the gold accents, the color of Haley's dress appeared too similar to that of a bridal gown. Mother and daughter both wore dresses with a sizable train as well, making the two of them look more like sisters and drawing attention away from the bride. Nikki responded to criticism by calling out skeptics of her dress on X and insisting in a post that her dress was gold.

Selecting a dress that's too similar to the bride's gown is an unforgivable offense and is the prime example of what not to wear to a wedding, which is why Nikki Haley sparked debate with her gown. Any outfit that takes attention away from the bride is overstepping and comes off as a major social faux pas, especially when it comes to the bride's mom. This is also true for loud jewelry or accessories that are too distracting, so keep embellishments to a minimum and rely on two accessories at most.

As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid wearing any shade of white as the color should be designated to the bride only. In Nikki's case, it's possible that she did discuss her look with her daughter, since she appeared to also coordinate material with her late mother, and the whole thing may be been done with Rena Haley's approval. But if you don't have approval for a color that blurs the lines, the mother of the bride can start by looking to the bridal party for inspiration. Consider what color the bridesmaids dresses will be and see if there is a similar (but not identical) tone.

The mother of the bride should strive for an elegant, classy outfit that is not too flashy. It should highlight her own individual beauty and style while showing a subtle contrast from the blushing bride. She should be dressed in an outfit that feels suitable for a formal event while also looking age appropriate. Floor-length dresses are often preferred, unless the wedding is more casual. And be sure to avoid footwear mistakes if you're the mother of the bride, such as wearing uncomfortable shoes or heels that are too tall.