Jackie's Annual Wedding Plans: Fact Or Fiction?

Jackie Kennedy Onassis, also known as Jackie O, was married twice. Her first wedding was to John F. Kennedy, with whom she had a grand spectacle of a wedding, complete with a blessing from the Pope. Her second wedding was to Greek shipping heir Aristotle Onassis, which took place on his private island of Skorpios, Greece. Jackie's weddings and iconic style have continued to captivate and inspire brides and fashionistas worldwide. While it is unclear if Jackie plans a wedding every year, she has certainly left an enduring legacy in the world of weddings and fashion.

Jackie Kennedy's wedding to JFK

Jacqueline Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were a picture-perfect American couple even before they tied the knot. Jackie, a sought-after debutante turned photographer, and JFK, a freshman senator, made it official on September 12, 1953, in Newport, Rhode Island. Their wedding was the social event of the year, with over 800 guests, including politicians, writers, movie stars, senators, diplomats, and other notables.

Jackie's mother, Janet Auchincloss, and her fiancé's father, Joe Kennedy, had differing visions for the wedding. Jackie and her mother initially envisioned an intimate ceremony, but Joe insisted on a grand spectacle to boost his son's political career. Joe's opinion held more weight, and the wedding became a national news event, propelling the couple into the spotlight and paving their path to the White House.

The bride's gown was designed by Ann Lowe, a highly sought-after African American designer who catered to elite clients. The ivory tissue-silk dress featured a portrait neckline, a bouffant skirt, and wax flowers. It was accented with an heirloom rose point lace veil and pearls, creating one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time. The gown consisted of 50 yards of fabric and was recreated at the last minute after a pipe burst in the designer's studio, destroying the original dress and bridesmaids' dresses.

The bridal party included Jackie's sister Lee, who served as matron of honour, and the groom's sister Jean and sister-in-law Ethel. The groom's brothers, Robert and Edward, were also part of the wedding party, with Robert as the best man. The newlyweds took two hours to shake hands with their 1,200 guests at the reception, held at Hammersmith Farm, before cutting into their four-layer wedding cake.

The Kennedy family's control over the nuptials

The wedding, held on September 12, 1953, at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island, was a grand affair with around 750 guests inside the church, including politicians, writers, and movie stars. The guest list for the reception, held at Hammersmith Farm, the Auchincloss estate, was even larger, with a total of 1,200 guests, causing a human traffic jam around the bride and groom. The media closely followed the event, with Life magazine sending a young photographer, Lisa Larsen, to cover the wedding, capturing the society wedding of the year.

Joseph Kennedy's insistence on a grand spectacle paid off, as the wedding helped create a path to the White House for John and Jackie a few years later. The event was described by one guest as "just like a coronation," reflecting the grandeur and significance of the Kennedy-Bouvier nuptials in American society. The wedding dress, in particular, became iconic, with Jackie's ivory silk taffeta gown featuring a big skirt, rows of ruffles, and embroidered flowers.

The Kennedy family's influence extended beyond the wedding day, as Jackie Kennedy became a fashion icon and set the tone for grace, glamour, and style during her time in the White House. Her wedding to John F. Kennedy solidified the Kennedy family's place in American society and politics, and her status as an iconic bride endures to this day.

Jackie's wedding to Aristotle Onassis

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, also known as Jackie O, married Greek shipping heir Aristotle Onassis on October 20, 1968. The wedding took place on the groom's private island of Skorpios, Greece, in an intimate Greek Orthodox ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

Jackie's children from her previous marriage, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy, participated in the ceremony by holding candles. Jackie's sister, Lee Radziwill, served as the matron of honour. Around 40 close family members and friends attended the event, including Jackie's stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, and her sister-in-law, Ethel Kennedy.

For her wedding day, Jackie wore a knee-length ivory lace dress designed by Valentino. The dress featured a mock turtleneck, long bishop sleeves, and a pleated skirt. She accessorised with a sweet white ribbon in her iconic bouffant hairstyle, setting a new standard for 1960s bridal fashion.

The wedding of Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis was a historic and joyful occasion, marking the union of the former First Lady with her longtime friend and newfound love. The couple's nuptials have been remembered as one of the most trendsetting celebrations of love, with Jackie's fashion choices influencing bridal styles for decades to come.

Jackie's iconic bridal style

Jackie Kennedy Onassis is remembered as one of America's most iconic brides. Her wedding to John F. Kennedy in 1953 was a grand affair, with a guest list of politicians, writers, and movie stars. The wedding became a huge event, with media attention and a crowd of 3,000 onlookers gathering outside St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island, to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

For her bridal ensemble, Jackie wore an ivory silk taffeta gown designed by Ann Lowe, an African American designer celebrated in the upper echelons of society. The dress featured a big skirt, rows of ruffles, and embroidered flowers. It was made from 50 yards of fabric and paired with a veil that belonged to Jackie's maternal grandmother. Although Jackie had hoped for a simpler, sleeker dress, her gown set a trend for bridal fashion, with its impressive skirt and intricate details.

Five years after JFK's tragic death, Jackie shocked the world by announcing her engagement to longtime friend Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping heir. Their wedding took place on his private island of Skorpios, Greece, in an intimate Greek Orthodox ceremony surrounded by family. For this occasion, Jackie wore a knee-length ivory lace dress designed by Valentino. The dress featured a mock turtleneck, long bishop sleeves, and a pleated skirt, accessorized with a sweet white ribbon in her iconic bouffant hairstyle.

Jackie's bridal style has continued to inspire brides-to-be for decades. Her choice of gowns, from the grand ivory silk taffeta gown at her first wedding to the stylish and demure knee-length lace dress at her second, showcases her fashion sense and influence on bridal fashion.

Jackie's wedding planning process

Jackie's family played a significant role in her wedding. She looked to her sisters for support and advice, especially since they had recently gotten married as well. Jackie's stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, escorted her to St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island, for her wedding.

Jackie's wedding dress was designed by Ann Lowe, an African American designer appreciated by high society. Unfortunately, a burst pipe destroyed the original dress and several bridal attendant pieces just ten days before the ceremony. Lowe and her team recreated the dress and bridesmaids' dresses in time for the wedding. Jackie's dress was made of ivory tissue silk with a portrait neckline and a bouffant skirt with wax flowers. She also wore an heirloom rose-point lace veil and pearls, creating one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time.

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