CELIO & ZEIN SAAB: THE WEDDING, TRENDS & MORE

Over the weekend, wedding blogs and publications were abuzz with the nuptials of Celio Saab and Zein Qutami — and today, The MOD Blog explores the ripple effects of this glittering celebration: from the wedding dresses (yes, there were two), to X-users' reactions, and the trend we predicted before the ceremony even took place.

About Elie Saab: The Brand

Let’s start with why this wedding matters. Celio Saab is the second son of legendary couturier Elie Saab and Claudine Saab. For those unfamiliar, Elie Saab burst onto the global fashion scene with the unforgettable gown worn by Halle Berry at the 2002 Academy Awards — a sheer-bodiced, taffeta-skirted showstopper that made history. But Saab’s reputation among the elite predates that moment. Long before international fame, the Lebanese designer was already dressing royalty and high society across the Middle East. At just 18, in 1982, Elie Saab launched his first couture atelier in Beirut with a small team of tailors. His gossamer gowns, exquisite embroideries, and innovative techniques quickly earned him a devoted clientele across the region. By 2003, he became the first Arab designer to be accepted into the official Paris Haute Couture calendar — a historic milestone at a time when Middle Eastern designers were rarely recognized on the same level as their Western peers. Through unwavering craftsmanship and strategic global expansion, Elie Saab today (in 2025) is a household name — from Paris to Beirut, Los Angeles to Riyadh — with a presence spanning couture, ready-to-wear, bridal, fragrance, and home décor. | Halle Berry in Elie Saab from Getty Images via Vogue.com

The Wedding & The It-Trend

Celio and Zein’s wedding was undeniably star-studded — but what stood out most to The MOD Team was a trend we flagged earlier this season: gold is the It-colour for FW25/26. Zein’s second wedding gown — a radiant creation by her father-in-law — shimmered in gold, echoing a growing shift toward warmer, unconventional bridal hues. The metallic motif also made subtle appearances across guests' looks. The choice of gold, a colour rich with cultural and historical meaning, signals a renewed approach to tradition — one that harmonizes heritage with modernity. After all, who says the bride has to wear white? |EXPLORE THE GOLD TREND

The Users of X

Fashion history, legacy, and trendspotting aside — we couldn’t help but laugh at a recent flurry of posts on X (formerly known as Twitter, for the millenials). A surprising number of American users were under the impression that Elie Saab was... a woman. Now, for those of us in the Middle East, this kind of confusion isn’t exactly rare — we’ve seen plenty of cultural misreads and eyebrow-raising assumptions over the years. But this one? Utterly amusing. It does pose an interesting question: How does a brand so globally renowned — with decades of red-carpet dominance — still find itself so widely misunderstood? Regardless, the internet did come to a rare consensus: misgendered or not, Elie Saab is a creative force beyond compare.

FW25/26 Haute Couture Highlights

Elie Saab’s FW25/26 Haute Couture collection also offered a range of stunning bridal inspirations, wrapped in a palette of honey golds, champagne, and warm metallics. If you look closely, details from Zein Saab’s bridal looks echo the runway: her pre-wedding gown mirrors a couture look minus the capelet, while her post-wedding reception dress in powder blue features a diamante bow — a direct nod to a golden runway piece. This is the beauty of haute couture: customized, reinterpreted, and made to reflect the client’s world.Explore the Elie Saab Bridal Collection. |EXPLORE THE ELIE SAAB BRIDAL COLLECTION

"This wedding — and the global admiration surrounding it — underscores something we’ve long known: the world is finally paying attention to powerhouse brands led by Middle Eastern creatives."

- MOD

The Looks

TBelow, we’ve curated moments exclusively shared with us by the Elie Saab team — alongside highlights sourced by our editors across social media — showcasing the full splendor of the night. From Zein’s bridal gowns to the fashion moments of guests and family, here’s an intimate look at the wedding of Celio & Zein Saab.

All images have been credited to their respective brands. Gallery credits in sequence: Nancy Ajram in Elie Saab heading to the wedding | Elie Saab Junior via Instagram | Anas Bukhash, Hala Kazim & Harith Bukhash attends the wedding | A golden look from Elie Saab’s FW25/26 Haute Couture show | Manuel Arnaut via Instagram | Celio & Zein post-wedding celebrations | Celion & Zein. Zein showcases the second dress of the evening | Elie Saab & Claudine Saab | A top view of the tablescapes and the tiered wedding cake | THe diamante bridal bouquet and a look from the evening | Explore THE MOD BLOG