Celebrity weddings are often remembered for their extravagant venues, designer outfits, and lavish gifts. Increasingly, however, some high-profile celebrations have attracted attention for another reason: reports of cigarettes being handed out as complimentary items to guests.
While such gestures may be intended as playful, fashionable, or nostalgic, they raise an uncomfortable question about the messages being sent when tobacco products are presented as part of a glamorous lifestyle.
Where this trend originated from
The origins of this wedding trend can be traced back to fashion mogul Mary-Kate Olsen’s wedding to French banker Olivier Sarkozy in Manhattan in 2015.
According to a report by Page Six, guests were required to surrender their mobile phones before entering the private celebration. The venue itself was reportedly decorated with “bowls and bowls filled with cigarettes“, allowing attendees to smoke throughout the night.
The trend has resurfaced
Although the trend appeared to fade from public attention in the years following Olsen’s wedding, it has experienced a surprising revival among a new generation of celebrities.
In 2024, alternative pop star Charli XCX and The 1975 drummer George Daniel reportedly incorporated the concept into their wedding celebrations. People reported that guests were presented with a curated cigarette platter, accompanied by custom matchboxes bearing the couple’s names—a detail that quickly sparked conversation online.
More recently, the cigarette wedding trend appears to have gained another pair of high-profile supporters in dance-pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner, who reportedly incorporated it into their recently concluded multi-day wedding celebrations.
The detail came to light after entertainment platform UpdateCharts shared a photo from the festivities, revealing a cup filled with cigarettes placed next to the table centrepiece for guests to enjoy.
The celebrity effect
The inclusion of complimentary cigarettes has since reignited debate over the growing popularity of tobacco-themed aesthetics, with questions arising on whether such gestures risk glamorising smoking at a time when public health campaigns continue to discourage tobacco use.
What was once considered an unusual detail at a celebrity wedding now appears to be evolving into a recurring trend—one that has left many wondering whether cigarettes are becoming the latest luxury party favour.
This is where celebrity influence becomes particularly significant. Public figures do not merely entertain; they shape trends, inspire consumer behaviour, and influence cultural attitudes.
Whether intentionally or not, when a celebrity-associated event presents cigarettes as a desirable gift or party accessory, it risks contributing to the perception that smoking remains fashionable or socially aspirational.
Public health campaigns around the world have worked to reduce smoking rates by highlighting the well-documented risks associated with tobacco use.
From cancer and heart disease to respiratory illnesses, the health consequences of smoking are no secret. Yet despite these efforts, cigarettes continue to occupy a curious place in popular culture, where they are sometimes associated with sophistication, rebellion, or luxury.
The concern is not necessarily that wedding guests will immediately take up smoking simply because they were offered free cigarettes.
Rather, it is the cumulative effect of repeatedly seeing tobacco products presented in glamorous, celebratory settings—particularly among younger audiences who are heavily influenced by celebrity culture and social media.
Celebrities occupy a unique position in society where their actions often carry cultural weight far beyond the event itself.
As discussions around wellness and healthy living become increasingly prominent, there is an opportunity for influential figures to help shape trends that are both memorable and meaningful. After all, the best celebrations are not defined by what’s handed out to guests, but by the lasting memories they take home.
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