26 Candid Photographs From the Wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married on the morning of September 12, 1953, in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The more than eight hundred guests included many notable individuals.

The bride, given in marriage by her stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, wore a dress of ivory tissue silk, with a portrait neckline, fitted bodice, and a bouffant skirt embellished with bands of more than fifty yards of flounces. Her rosepoint lace veil, worn first by her grandmother Lee, was draped from a tiara of lace and orange blossoms. Jacqueline wore a choker of pearls and a diamond bracelet that was a gift from the groom. The bride’s bouquet was of pink and white spray orchids and gardenias.

The bride's attendants, dressed in pink taffeta, included: her sister, Lee; Mrs. Michael T. Canfield as matron of honor; her stepsister Nina G. Auchincloss as maid of honor; and ten bridesmaids, among them the groom’s sister Jean and sister-in-law Ethel, and the bride’s former boarding school roommate, Nancy Tuckerman. Half sister Janet Auchincloss was flower girl and half brother James Auchincloss served as a page. Senator Kennedy’s best man was his brother Robert and among the ushers were brother Edward, brother-in-law Sargent Shriver, cousin Joe Gargan, brother-in-law Michael Canfield, friends Lem Billings, Red Fay, and Torbert Macdonald, Senate colleague George Smathers, and Charles Bartlett, who had introduced the couple.

The ceremony was performed by Archbishop Cushing, a friend of the Kennedy family, and he was assisted by four other priests, including the former president of Notre Dame and the head of the Christopher Society. Before the mass, a special blessing from Pope Pius XII was read.

Tenor soloist Luigi Vena from Boston sang Gounod’s Ave Maria.

The reception was held on the terrace of the 300 acre Auchincloss oceanfront estate, Hammersmith Farm, for more than twelve hundred guests. The wedding cake, four feet tall, was ordered by Joseph P. Kennedy. Meyer Davis and his orchestra played under a huge canopy.

Seven years later from the wedding, the couple would become the youngest president and first lady in American history. Here, below are some of amazing photos from the wedding in 1953:

A smiling Jacqueline Bouvier arrives at St. Mary's Church in Newport, R.I., on the arm of her stepfather, Hugh D. Auchincloss, for her wedding. (Photo by Pat Candido/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Future US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (in a Battenburg wedding dress) arrives at St Mary's Church for her wedding to John F Kennedy, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Six hundred guests stand listening to wedding vows of Sen. John F. Kennedy and his bride Jacqueline. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917 - 1963), Democratic senator for Massachusetts, escorts his bride Jacqueline Lee Bouvier (1929 - 1994) down the church aisle shortly after their wedding ceremony at Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Jacqueline Bouvier in gorgeous Battenburg wedding dress w. her husband Sen. John Kennedy as they stand in front of church after wedding ceremony. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Future US President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) and Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (in a Battenburg wedding dress) stand in front of St Mary's Church after their wedding ceremony, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Elevated view as well-wishers gather around the car that carried newly wed future US President John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy to their wedding reception, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

A scene from the Kennedy-Bouvier wedding. Groom John walks alongside his bride Jacqueline at an outdoor reception, 1953. Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Bachrach/Getty Images)

John F. Kennedy, in his first year in the U.S. Senate, and the former Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, described as a 'socialite career girl,' are flanked by their twenty attendants, page boy, and flower girl on their wedding day. (Photo by Pat Candido/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Sen. John F. Kennedy (C), with his bride Jacqueline in their wedding attire. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Sen. John Kennedy & his bride Jacqueline in their wedding attire, standing with 10 ushers incl. Teddy & Bobby Kennedy as 4 bridesmaids & flower girls sits on lawn in front of them while attempting to pose for group shot at their wedding. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

General view of the guests at the reception the newly wed future US President John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy , Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Senator Leverett Saltonstall congratulates Sen. John F. Kennedy at the wedding reception as Kennedy's wife, Jacqueline Bouvier, looks on, Sept. 12, 1953. (Photo by Charles McCormick/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Joseph Kennedy (1888 - 1969) whispers to his new daughter-in-law Jacqueline Bouvier (1929 - 1994) on her wedding day as her husband John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) looks on, smiling, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy gets a kiss from her father-in-law, Joseph Kennedy, after her wedding. (Photo by Pat Candido/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Future US President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) and Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (in a Battenburg wedding dress) take the first dance at their wedding reception, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

View from behind of Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (in a Battenburg wedding dress) as she dances with her husband, future US President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) at their wedding reception, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Former US Amb. to Great Britain Joseph Kennedy, dancing with son John F. Kennedy's bride, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, at their wedding reception held at her mother's home. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Senator John Kennedy and bride Jacqueline sitting together outdoors at table, eating pineapple salad, at their wedding reception. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

President John F. Kennedy with wife Jacqueline cut the cake at their wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. (Photo by Pat Candido/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

Future US President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) and Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (in a Battenburg wedding dress) hold hands as they cut the cake at their wedding reception, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Flower girl Janet Auchincloss holding up a wedge of wedding cake for bridegroom Sen. John Kennedy as her half-sister bride Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy looks on in amusement at table during formal luncheon at their wedding reception at her mother's estate. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

View of the head table of at the Kennedy wedding reception, Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. Among those pictured are Robert Kennedy (1925 - 1968) (seated, second left), bride Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) (seated, center) (in a Battenburg wedding dress), groom and future US President John F Kennedy (1917 - 1963) (seated second, right); standing behind them is Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921 - 2009). (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Sen. John F. Kennedy with his bride Jacqueline at their wedding reception. (Photo by Lisa Larsen//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)

American future First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1929 - 1994) poses with her husband politician and future US President John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) immediately after their wedding at Hammerstein Farm Newport, Rhode Island, September 12, 1953. (Photo by Lisa Larsen/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Bridal portrait of Jacqueline Lee Bouvier (1929 - 1994) shows her in an Anne Lowe-designed wedding dress, a bouquet of flowers in her hands, New York, New York, 1953. (Photo by Bachrach/Getty Images)