The President’s granddaughter Naomi Biden married her new husband Peter Neal on the White House South Lawn on Saturday with a backdrop of blue skies and classic decorations.
Reported to be paid for by the Biden family, details leading up to the wedding were closely guarded and a requested press blackout from the couple meant that the world waited until a picture and a statement from the White House was released.
In the statement, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said: “It has been a joy to watch Naomi grow, discover who she is, and carve out such an incredible life for herself,” before adding, “Now, we are filled with pride to see her choose Peter as her husband and we’re honored to welcome him to our family. We wish them days full of laughter and a love that grows deeper with every passing year.”
Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz
As pictures of the new bride and groom began to circulate, Editorial Director of Brides Gabriella Rello Duffy told Newsweek what she thought of the occasion.
The first pictures to appear publicly were of the set-up of the South Lawn location before the event, followed on Saturday afternoon by helicopter images of the ceremony.
“The floral décor is both on-trend and timeless,” said Duffy. “The green-and-white color combination is incredibly classic, but it’s also been very popular with brides and grooms in recent years. It’s a lovely pairing that will never go out of style and exactly what I’d expect for a White House wedding.”
In the lead-up to the big day, there was much speculation about what Naomi Biden would wear, with designer predictions from Reem Acra to Valentino.
The 28-year-old was pictured wearing a long-sleeved fit-and-flare gown designed by Ralph Lauren. The dress had a high neckline detailed with white lace through the front. With hair tied neatly, a long-length veil added the finishing touch to the bride’s look.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
“Naomi’s Ralph Lauren dress was absolutely beautiful and the perfect choice for an American royal wedding—we had been quietly guessing Ralph Lauren was the designer for the big day, but we couldn’t have anticipated just how spectacular the design would be,” said Duffy.
“She’s incredibly stylish in everyday life so I have no doubts that she chose something chic, understated, and timeless for her big day,” she added.
The groom also wore Ralph Lauren as the pair were accompanied by the maid of honor Naomi’s sister Finnegan and the groom’s brother, Robert, who was the best man.
Celebrity wedding planner Bryan Rafanelli who was at the forefront of organizing the event also shared some pictures from the big day on Instagram.
The President was pictured in a sharp suit escorting the groom’s two grandmothers down the aisle, before returning to accompany First Lady Jill Biden to her seat as she wore a flowing green dress and long coat perfect for the 40-degree day.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
Other pictures included the moment the happy couple made their marriage official at the altar, a shot from the White House balcony, and a picture of the bride inside the White House holding a bouquet of white and green.
The bride is reported to have walked down the aisle accompanied by her father Hunter Biden. The song Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve played as the couple’s 250 guests gathered on the White House South Lawn for the first-ever wedding in that location.
“The White House has said multiple times that the couple really wanted this to be a personal, intimate event and I think the decision to keep their ceremony on the smaller side absolutely makes sense,” said Duffy.
However, the reported number of guests does rank higher than the average guest list as reported by The Knot 2021 Real Weddings Study. Revealing their findings with responses from more than 15,000 couples married in 2021, the study found that wedding guest numbers in the U.S. averaged at 110 by the end of 2021, while the average guest size count for 2022 was predicted to be around 129.
“I would anticipate that a larger number of guests joined the couple at the evening reception,” said Duffy.
Following the ceremony, the President and First Lady hosted a wedding luncheon for the guests in the State Dining Room of the White House and a reception with dessert and dancing continued into the evening.
Correction 20/11/22, 2:53 a.m. ET: This article was updated to note that Naomi Biden is 28 years old, not 29.