Former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump recently celebrated two decades of marriage. Let's revisit the details of their extravagant 2005 nuptials.
Before his presidency, Trump married Melania Knauss in a ceremony at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by a lavish reception at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The guest list topped 350, and the event was a spectacle of opulence.
Melania's Christian Dior gown, estimated at $100,000, featured a breathtaking 13-foot train and a 16-foot veil, meticulously hand-sewn with intricate beading. The Mar-a-Lago ballroom was transformed into a floral wonderland with 10,000 blooms. Guests, numbering around 500, enjoyed premium caviar, Cristal champagne, and gourmet cuisine, including perfectly cooked tenderloin and individual wedding cakes.
The couple celebrated New Year's Eve with friends shortly before their wedding. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
Melania Knauss leaving the church after her wedding rehearsal. (Greg Lovett/USA Today/Imagn)
Flowers adorn the church entrance on the wedding day. (Steve Mitchell/USA Today/Imagn)
The interior of Bethesda-by-the-Sea church. (Jeffrey Langlois/USA Today/Imagn)
Melania waves after the ceremony. (Jeffrey Langlois/Palm Beach Daily News/Imagn)
Contemporary accounts described the reception as a scene of unparalleled luxury. Long tables adorned with cream and gold linens, china, and flatware filled the ballroom, illuminated by gleaming chandeliers. Towering candelabra, draped in white orchids and roses, added to the grandeur. The Michael Rose Orchestra provided the musical backdrop.
In her memoir, Melania reflected on the day, emphasizing that despite the event's scale, her focus remained on her love for Donald and the significance of their commitment. The guest list included media personalities, Hollywood stars, musicians like Paul Anka, Billy Joel, and Donna Summer, and political figures, including Bill and Hillary Clinton.
The Trumps with Joy and Regis Philbin. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
The following year, the couple welcomed their son, Barron, who recently played a significant role in his father's second presidential campaign. His encouragement for his father to engage with podcasts and platforms like "The Joe Rogan Experience" proved to be a strategic move, according to political commentator John Morgan.
