The Wedding Of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Bouvier, 1953

By | October 1, 2016

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married on the morning of September 12, 1953 in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Rhode Island. The wedding was attended by 800 guests and dignitaries and was followed by a reception at the Hammersmith Farm.

The lovely bride poses for a portrait before her wedding with JFK.
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The young couple prays in front of the altar at St. Mary's church. The ceremony was performed by Archbishop Cushing, a friend of the Kennedy family. Before the mass, a special blessing from Pope Pius XII was read to the couple in private.
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The newlyweds emerging from the church.
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Thousands of people came to wish the newlyweds their best, so it took quite a few guards to establish a path for the couple.
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After the wedding, the couple went out to the oceanfront estate at the Hammersmith Farm. Before Jackie was introduced to the 1,200 guests, she tidied up and prepared to do the customary bouquet toss to her bridesmaids.
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Preparing to toss the bouquet!
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One of the most fun moments on a wedding day is the period between the wedding and reception when the wedding party gathers and takes pictures off to the side of the gathering. There's always a mixture of happiness and relief, and you can see it here as Jackie emerges, helped by all of her new 'brothers'.
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What a classic scene! Everyone watching to make sure Jackie is happy and her dress stays perfect for the pictures. The boys hanging out in the background.
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Here you can see Jackie's dress in all of its glory.
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The full wedding party preparing to take the group photo.
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Group photo.
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After the photos, the couple did their customary walk around the reception to greet the guests.
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The probably-starved couple sit down first to what would be an amazing meal that started with a pineapple soufflé.
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Brothers, sisters, friends - everyone getting ready to announce the cutting of the cake.
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With the dinner over and sun starting to set, the couple joined hands to cut the more four-foot tall cake to set off the rest of the evening of dancing.
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As the Meyer Davis orchestra began to play under a huge canopy on the terrace, the couple joined for their first dance.
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H/T OldPhotoArchive