Naomi Biden: Biden’s granddaughter to marry at the White House
Naomi Biden has publically thanked her “Nana and Pop” for the honour to have her wedding at the White House
By Chloe Kim
BBC News, Washington
The White House is set to host its first wedding in nearly a decade – just the 19th such celebration at the ultimate venue since 1812. The site has also hosted four wedding receptions.
President Joe Biden’s eldest granddaughter, Naomi Biden – the daughter of Hunter Biden and his former wife Kathleen Buhle – is marrying fiancé Peter Neal at a ceremony on Saturday.
The White House is clearly a desired wedding location – and one not available to the average citizen.
Sarah Fling, with the White House Historical Association, explained to the BBC how often such events take place – and who even gets to throw a White House wedding.
Image source, Getty Images
Tricia Nixon’s Rose Garden wedding was nearly ruined by rain
Image source, Getty Images
Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia Nixon gave out 700 press credentials according to the White House Historical Association
There are very few people who can sign off on hosting nuptials at the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States, said the historian.
“It’s exciting because really there’s no hard and fast rule about who can or cannot be married at the White House. It’s essentially up to the President and First Lady.”
Image source, Getty Images
Lyndon Johnson’s daughter, Luci, held her reception at the White House. The ceremony was held at a Catholic church
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In December 1967, Lynda Johnson, Lyndon Johnson’s daughter, married Captain Charles S. Robb in the East Room.
While most past weddings have been held for close family members of the president, some White House staff members have had the rare privilege.
“In 1942, Harry Hopkins, who was a really close adviser to President Franklin Roosevelt, was able to have his wedding on the second floor of the White House in the Oval Room, which was at that time, President Roosevelt’s private study,” Ms Fling said.
Most recently in 2013, Barack Obama allowed White House photographer Pete Souza to get married in the Rose Garden, which borders the building’s West Wing.
Image source, Hulton Archive
Woodrow Wilson’s youngest daughter, Eleanor, married the Secretary of the Treasury
Image source, Library of Congress
Jessie Wilson (middle), the eldest daughter of Woodrow Wilson, with her bridesmaids. She married in the East Room
The size of the wedding – and the publicity surrounding it – is up to the couple getting married.
There is no size cap, but different White House rooms accommodate different size events.
For instance, the Blue Room, which has hosted receptions since the early 1800s, is on the smaller side.
The first and only president to get married at the White House was Grover Cleveland, who said his vows in that room to the much younger – by 27 years – Frances Folsom in 1886.
Image source, Library of Congress
Grover Cleveland was the first and only US president to get married at the White House
The South Lawn, where Naomi Biden’s wedding will be held, has more space, so expect a potentially longer guest list. The White House kitchen is able to serve 140 dinner guests and hors d’oeuvres for up to 1,000 people.
This will be the first wedding at the South Lawn location – the same site as the famous White House Easter Egg Roll – but the very first outdoor wedding at the executive mansion was in 1971 for Tricia Nixon, President Richard Nixon’s daughter.
It was a rainy day, but the sun came out in time and the ceremony continued in the Rose Garden.
Image source, Print Collector
Alice Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter, had quite the guest list – nearly 800-1,000 people were invited. She was married in the East Room
In the 19th Century, weddings at the White House were often quite private affairs.
The first media event was Alice Roosevelt’s wedding in 1906, which was front page news in all the papers and had people lining up at the White House for a glimpse.
There were between 800 and 1,000 guests, according to Ms Fling.
Still, the amount of desired privacy varies.
Tricia Nixon gave out 700 press credentials for her wedding. Ms Fling says Naomi Biden’s will probably be a more intimate affair.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63667016?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
