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JFK Jr. & Carolyn: Secret '96 Wedding Deets
21 Sep
Summary
- The wedding took place on Sept. 21, 1996, on remote Cumberland Island.
- Only 40 guests attended the ultra-private ceremony.
- Carolyn Bessette wore a custom Narciso Rodriguez gown.
Thirty years ago, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette exchanged vows in an ultra-private wedding ceremony on September 21, 1996, on Georgia's Cumberland Island. The couple invited just 40 guests to witness their nuptials at the First African Baptist Church, choosing the remote location to maintain privacy.
Letitia Baldrige described the meticulous planning required for the wedding as needing "the skill of James Bond and the whole CIA." The ceremony itself took place in the dimly lit, candlelit church, with the couple reportedly sharing "real joy and love."
Guests celebrated at the Greyfield Inn, with highlights including a three-tier white wedding cake and a first dance to Prince. Among the 40 attendees were JFK Jr.'s cousin Anthony Radziwill and his sister Caroline Kennedy with her family.
Carolyn Bessette famously wore a custom, pearl-colored silk crepe gown designed by Narciso Rodriguez. The elegant, minimalist dress was described as "revolutionary" and crystallized a significant trend in fashion.
