Tonight is the 2024 Met Gala and while we may never get to step foot inside the biggest night in fashion ourselves, we are getting a peek into the rules at the exclusive event. Every year on the first Monday in May, A-listers make their way inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City wearing glamorous outfits, but what happens inside is notoriously secretive.
“Vogue” editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who’s been in charge of the Met Gala as chair or co-chair since 1995, discourages anyone from sharing what goes on at the annual event to help maintain the air of mystery. But these are some of the surprising rules attendees have to follow.
- They have to be invited - To attend the Met Gala, you need an invitation. And just because you made the list one year doesn’t guarantee you’ll be invited back the next. The A-list guest list is kept under wraps until the night before, but some celebs are regulars, including Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Blake Lively, Gigi Hadid and Rihanna.
- They have to pay for a ticket - Getting the invite is step one, but they also have to buy a ticket and it’s not cheap. “Time” magazine reports that an individual ticket is $75-thousand this year and a table starts at $350-thousand.
- There’s a dress code - This year the 2024 Met Gala dress code is “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 short story of the same name. Celebs and designers get creative with impressive interpretations of the theme, sometimes they’re literal, sometimes more avant-garde.
- Their outfits have to be approved - Long before anyone hits the red carpet, attendees have to get Anna Wintour’s okay for their outfits.
- They’re not allowed to use their phones inside - Vogue has a strict “no phone policy” at the event.
- No social media either - There’s also no posting from the Met Gala.
- No smoking - The Metropolitan Museum has rules of its own, including no smoking or vaping.
- Attendees have to sit in assigned seats - Expert party planner Eaddy Kiernan creates the seating chart and there’s no table hopping allowed.
- They have to be 18 or older - Sorry, kids, the Met Gala is an adults-only event.
Source: People