Thursday 10 September 2020

September 12 - Marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier

This Day in History: 12 September 2020

 

12 September 1953

 

67 years ago, today, Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, the future president, married Jacqueline Bouvier in St Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island. Seven years later, the two would become the youngest president and first lady in American history. Jackie wore an ivory silk gown that had been made by Ann Lowe, an African-American designer. Around 750 guests attended the Catholic mass, and an additional 450 people joined the wedding reception held at Hammersmith Farm. The couple danced to the Meyer David Orchestra's version of 'I Married An Angel'. David had also performed at Jackie's parents' wedding and at Kennedy's inaugural ball.

Jackie was born into a prominent family in 1929 and grew up as a horsewoman and reader. In 1951, after graduating from George Washington University, she took a tour of Europe, before she began her first job as the 'inquiring camera girl' for the Washington Times-Herald. Soon afterwards, she met John Kennedy at a dinner party in Georgetown. They began to date for the next two years, during which Jackie feared she would marry a man allergic to horses, something she never thought to consider. In 1953, the two were engaged when Kennedy gave Jackie a diamond-and-emerald ring from Van Cleef and Arpels.

Want to find out more about the marriage of John and Jackie? Click here for more information, or here for more about the life of Jaqueline.

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