The Met Gala 2025 wowed the world of fashion yet again, not only with its stunning couture and celebrity sightings but also with its notoriously weird and austere rulebook. The invite-only affair, which took place at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, is famous for its mystery and elegance—but some of its guidelines left guests furrowing their (meticulously styled) brows.
Among the most unusual rules: a strict prohibition on garlic and onions on the dinner plate. Though it may seem strange, the reasoning is based on refinement—planners want to avoid bad breath during intimate chats and red-carpet interviews. “It’s all about having fresh interactions,” explained one source. Spicy foods and pungent herbs are also frowned upon for the same reasons.
Another time-honored prohibition that returned: the selfie ban. As much as the Met Gala is a draw for social media fame, visitors can’t take snaps within the museum’s hallowed halls—especially not in the bathrooms. In spite of past years’ bathroom mirror selfies that went viral, the ban remains strictly enforced to maintain privacy and exclusivity. Organizers claim the ban preserves the event’s mystique and dissuades distractions from the fashion-forward atmosphere.
And then there’s the no-smoking rule, instituted years back but yet firmly enforced. Due to complaints from donors and museum staff, smoking in general, including the use of e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited within the grounds. A few celebrities have even gotten into trouble before for violating this policy—being used as cautionary examples by new guests.
All of these quirky stipulations come with a high price tag: this year’s ticket allegedly cost a whopping \\$75,000 per head, with tables costing hundreds of thousands. Yet with A-listers and designers competing for a place, rulebook or not, the world’s greatest stars have still made the Met Gala the night of fashion fantasy and exclusive glamour.
