13 special rules that celebs must follow during the Met Gala
The first Monday of May is annually fully dedicated to the Met Gala in the Hollywood agenda. All the celebs that matter (according to Anna Wintour) are on the guest list, so you understand: not everyone just walks in. You can definitely call it exclusive for this reason, and with that exclusivity come a few strict rules that all guests must follow. If you don't, you can forget about your invitation for the following year.
1. You are only welcome if you are invited by Anna Wintour herself. Often, big brands ‘buy’ a table and choose which people will sit in their seats. The same applies here: without Anna Wintour's approval, they cannot enter.
2. Every year there is a dress code that guests must adhere to. This year, the theme is ‘The Garden of Time’, inspired by a short story by J.G. Ballard from 1962.
3. Smoking is not allowed, partly because it goes against the Smoke-Free Air Act policy in New York. However, this does not stop everyone, and sometimes a cigarette is exchanged in the restroom.
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4. Rumor has it that all guests in 2015 were not allowed to use mobile phones for taking photos and using social media during the gala. Why else are so many iconic photos taken in the restroom?
5. During an interview, Sylvana Durrett, Vogue's director of special projects, stated that the event staff keeps an eye on everyone to ensure there is enough interaction among the guests and that they are not on their phones.
6. Each guest is allowed to talk to Anna Wintour for a maximum of twenty seconds when they are at the top of the stairs. So make sure you have your speech ready and keep it short and concise.
7. The table arrangement? That takes months, and you are expected to sit exactly where your name card indicates. Switching is not allowed.
8. Do you want to sit next to your partner? That's too bad. The whole point of the Met Gala is to meet new people and network. They want to prevent people from just chatting with their partner.
9. Originally, the Met Gala is the annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Therefore, there are costumes displayed everywhere during the gala that you absolutely must not touch. If you do, the chance is high that you will never be welcome again.
10. In 2018, an age limit was set: if you are under 18, you cannot enter. According to the organizers, it is simply ‘not a suitable event for minors’. Fair enough.
11. To prevent food from getting stuck in teeth, various herbs such as parsley are not allowed for the chefs to use.
12. They want to avoid strange smells at all costs, so garlic and onion are not used in dishes served to the guests.
13. And to keep everything as chic and classy as possible, no snacks are served that need to be eaten by hand, such as bruschettas.
