From the dress to the decoration

The President’s granddaughter Naomi Biden married her new husband Peter Neal on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday against a blue sky and classic decor.

Reportedly paid for by the Biden family, details leading up to the wedding were closely guarded, and a press blackout requested by the couple meant the world waited for a picture and statement from the White House to be released.

In the statement, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden: “It’s been a joy to see Naomi grow, find out who she is and build such an incredible life for herself,” before adding, “Now we’re so proud to see that she chose Peter to be her husband.” and we are honored to welcome him to our family. We wish them days of laughter and a love that grows deeper with each passing year.”

As pictures of the new bride and groom began to circulate, the editorial director of brides told Gabriella Rello Duffy news week what she thought of the occasion.

The first images to appear publicly showed the construction of the South Lawn site ahead of the event, followed by helicopter images of the ceremony on Saturday afternoon.

“The floral decor 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 beautiful pairing that never goes out of style and is exactly what I expect from a White House wedding.”

Ahead of the big day, there was much speculation as to what Naomi Biden would wear, with designer predictions ranging from Reem Acra to Valentino.

The 28-year-old wore a long-sleeved fit-and-flare dress designed by Ralph Lauren. The dress had a high neckline that was adorned with white lace at the front. With her hair neatly tied back, a long veil added the finishing touch to the bride’s look.

“Naomi’s Ralph Lauren dress was absolutely beautiful and the perfect choice for an American royal wedding – we had secretly suspected that Ralph Lauren would be the designer for the big day, but we could not have foreseen how spectacular the design would be” she said to Duffy.

“She’s incredibly stylish on an everyday basis, so I have no doubt that she chose something chic, understated and timeless for her big day,” she added.

The groom also wore Ralph Lauren as the couple were joined by maid of honor Naomi’s sister, Finnegan, and the groom’s brother, Robert, who was the best man.

Celebrity wedding planner Bryan Rafanelli, who spearheaded 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 escort First Lady Jill Biden to her seat as she wore a flowing green dress and long coat that was perfect for the 40 degree day were.

Other images 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 White House bride with a white and green bouquet.

The bride is said to have walked down the aisle with her father, Hunter Biden. The song Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve played as the couple’s 250 guests gathered on the South Lawn of the White House for the first-ever wedding at that location.

“The White House has said on numerous occasions 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 makes perfect sense,” Duffy said.

However, the reported number of guests ranks higher than the average guest list as reported by The Knot 2021 Real Weddings Study. The study revealed its findings with responses from more than 15,000 couples getting married in 2021 and found that the number of wedding guests in the US averaged 110 by the end of 2021, while the average guest number for 2022 was estimated at around 129 became.

“I expect a larger number of guests will join the couple at the evening reception,” said Duffy.

Following the ceremony, the President and First Lady hosted a wedding dinner for guests in the State Dining Room of the White House, and a reception with dessert and dancing continued into the evening.

Correction 11/20/22 2:53 PM ET: This article has been updated to note that Naomi Biden is 28 years old, not 29.