Few Americans inspire more admiration than Jacqueline Kennedy. She was one of the most elegant women this country has ever known and her influence on fashion has never diminished. Her 1953 wedding to handsome Senator John F. Kennedy was the event of the season, and the name Jackie Kennedy tops every list of legendary brides.
Miss Jacqueline Bouvier met then-Congressman John Kennedy in 1952 through a mutual friend. They began a relationship, and by the following summer, Jackie wore a stunning Van Cleef & Arpel diamond and emerald engagement ring. The wedding was planned for September 12, 1953 at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, RI, followed by a reception at Hammersmith Farm, where Miss Bouvier had vacationed with her family.
Most brides have to put up with some input from their family during the wedding planning process; When Jackie was making her arrangements, she had to deal with both her mother and her very demanding father-in-law. It was extremely important to Joseph Kennedy that his son’s wedding be used for political gain, which would explain why more than 1,000 guests were invited to the event. You can be sure all those people weren’t close friends with the bride from her Miss Porter’s or Vassar days.
Interestingly, although Jacqueline Kennedy is revered as a fashion icon, she couldn’t have the wedding dress she chose. Mademoiselle Bouvier was a Francophile and preferred simple and elegant dresses. For her wedding, she wanted a wedding dress that was similar to the sophisticated styles for which she became known. However, Joe Kennedy did not trust her taste (go figure!), And insisted on a very traditional wedding dress. Jackie’s mother selected New York dressmaker Ann Lowe, who created custom garments for families like the Rockefellers and DuPonts.
There is no question of the couturier’s skill, however, the finished wedding dress certainly did not reflect Jacqueline Bouvier’s taste. However, it was a beautiful gown and very much in keeping with the look of 1950s wedding dresses. Jackie’s ivory gown featured 50 yards of silk taffeta, which was modeled on a portrait neckline with a very puffy skirt. wide. The dress was heavily decorated with rows of pleats, ruffled circles, and wax flowers. It was a very pretty wedding dress, but very busy.
The accessories were more to Jackie’s liking. She wore her grandmother’s exquisite pointed lace veil covered by a small lace cap decorated with orange flowers. Miss Bouvier’s pearl bridal jewelry included a classic strand of family pearls and a unique bracelet. The stunning bangle-style bracelet was a JFK wedding gift and featured alternating diamonds and pearls. The stunning bracelet was a true pearl bridal jewel at its finest. Additionally, Jackie wore a diamond leaf brooch, which was gifted to her by her future in-laws.
Jackie Kennedy’s wedding day ensemble was completed with a pair of wrist-length gloves (de rigueur for a 1950s bride) and a pink and white bouquet with spray orchids and gardenias. Another very typical thing about the Kennedy wedding in the 1950s was the menu. Weddings in those days didn’t have gas stations offering exotic rates from around the world. After the bride and groom cut their five-tier wedding cake, guests were served a lunch of fruit bowl, cream chicken, and rose-shaped ice cream. That’s a part of Kennedy’s wedding that even Jackie’s most ardent fans probably won’t reproduce at their own reception!
After the wedding, the newlyweds spent a night at the Waldorf-Astoria before leaving for a two-week honeymoon in Acapulco. That concluded the nuptials of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy and began the glamorous era of Camelot that was to enchant millions during the JFK presidency. The enduring legend of the charismatic young couple remains a symbol of style and grace throughout the world.