A bride-to-be who was fiercely slammed for setting a strict dress code for her engagement party guests has hit back at critics.
After Jenaya Devereaux’s boyfriend Owen popped the question and she started planning a celebration with her friends and family members, she immediately had a ‘clear vision’ of how she wanted the party to look.
To achieve that, the 23-year-old Arizona-native decided to implement a detailed set of guidelines regarding what attendees could and couldn’t wear to their engagement party.
And while she ‘felt confident her guests would embrace it,’ she never expected it would cause massive backlash for her online.
She shared a video about it to TikTok earlier this month, writing: ‘Remember, it’s okay to give your guests a dress code if you have a vision for your day,’ alongside a clip that showed her relatives all dressed in blues, blacks and grays.
It went viral, raking in more than 365,000 views, but sparked immense scrutiny for Devereaux.
Some people branded her as ‘controlling’ while others said they would never attend an event if the host told them how to dress.
Now, Devereaux has addressed the negative comments during a chat with the Daily Mail, and she insisted that she had ‘zero regrets.’
Jenaya Devereaux had a ‘clear vision’ of how she wanted her engagement party to look so she set a strict dress code for guests. She and her fiancé are seen at the party
In the invitation, Devereaux asked guests to wear ‘any shade of blue, gray or black’ and she said everyone happily ‘followed the dress code.’ Guests are seen at her engagement party
‘I truly don’t spend energy focusing on negative feedback. If anything, the attention helped the video reach a wider audience,’ she said.
‘Criticism will always exist, and I’ve learned to let it roll off and stay focused on the positive.’
Devereaux, who works as a wedding photographer, explained that she has seen first hand how what people wear to a party can ‘influence the overall look and feel of the photos.’
‘Certain color palettes and cohesive styling tend to photograph beautifully, and limiting options often makes the process easier for guests. Sometimes less truly is more,’ she explained.
In the invitation to their engagement party guests, she and Owen asked their guests to wear ‘any shade of blue, gray or black’ and even included a ‘color palette card to clearly communicate the vision.’
She said she ‘wasn’t concerned about how their loved ones would react’ as she explained that most of them expected some sort of dress code since she is ‘well known for her love of themes and thoughtful coordination.’
‘They had plenty of time to prepare and have come to expect this level of intention with Owen and me,’ she explained.
‘We didn’t feel we were asking for anything unreasonable, as most people already own something in navy, black or gray.’
For her upcoming three-day wedding in October, which will take place in Hawaii, she has already set a similarly strict dress code for each day of the festivities
For Saturday’s festivities, which includes a sunset boat cruise, guests were told to wear ‘white or tan.’ ‘Owen and Jenaya will be wearing blue and hope to stand out,’ reads the guidelines
According to Devereaux, no one was put off by the request and the response was ‘overwhelmingly positive’ from her friends and family members.
In fact, she said many people told her it made picking an outfit for the event ‘much easier.’
‘No one expressed difficulty finding something to wear. Several guests mentioned it was a fun excuse to buy a new outfit or finally wear something they had been saving,’ she said.
Everyone who attended ultimately ‘followed the dress code,’ leaving Devereaux so happy with how the photos came out.
‘I absolutely love how the photos and videos turned out. Being able to cherish both the experience and the visuals is incredibly meaningful, especially as a photographer,’ she gushed.
She said she decided to share the video online because she felt like ‘brides don’t receive enough encouragement to confidently make choices for their own events.’
‘Many feel pressure to accommodate everyone, which can lead to unnecessary stress,’ she explained.
‘I wanted to show that it is okay to set boundaries and create the day you envision.’
She was certainly shocked by the response it received, particularly, by the negative comments.
For the ceremony on Sunday, men are encouraged to wear ‘black or dark suits or tuxedos’ while women should don ‘colorful attire and grass-friendly shoes’
‘I completely understand that this approach isn’t for everyone, but it worked beautifully for us,’ she stated.
‘What works for one couple may not work for another. My goal as a bride is simply to enjoy each event to the fullest.’
For her upcoming three-day wedding in October, which will take place in Hawaii, she has already set a similarly strict dress code for each day of the festivities.
‘We kindly ask guests to wear casual dresses or Hawaiian attire for Friday’s welcome party,’ reads a note included in the invitation, alongside some examples of how guests should dress.
‘Please avoid white – any other color is perfect. The event is outdoors with no shade, so plan accordingly.’
For Saturday’s festivities, which includes a sunset boat cruise, guests were told to wear ‘white or tan.’
‘Owen and Jenaya will be wearing blue and hope to stand out,’ reads the guidelines.
Lastly, for the ceremony on Sunday, men are encouraged to wear ‘black or dark suits or tuxedos’ while women should don ‘colorful attire and grass-friendly shoes.’
‘Please avoid Hawaiin-themed clothing and white outfits,’ the invitation added.
‘Sometimes people appreciate clear direction, especially when it’s shared kindly and thoughtfully,’ Devereaux concluded.
