Naomi Biden made history over the weekend as the first grandchild of a sitting president to marry in the White House — and she did it in a Grace Kelly-inspired dress. Naomi, the oldest grandchild of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, married Peter Neal on the South Lawn on Saturday morning in front of 250 guests. Afterward, they celebrated with a luncheon in the White House’s State Dining Room followed by an evening reception at the executive mansion.
Naomi, 28, chose an elegant long-sleeve lace gown by Ralph Lauren for the occasion, featuring a full tulle skirt and a high neck, evoking a similar style to the dress Grace Kelly wore to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956.
Both the bride and groom chose wedding bands from Tiffany & Co., and they accessorized with other jewels from the brand as well, including Tiffany Victoria Earrings with pearls and diamonds for Naomi and a Tiffany & Co. Schlumberger Single Brooch for Peter. Bridesmaids also wore pieces from Tiffany & Co.’s T1 collection.
In an official statement, the President and First Lady said: “It has been a joy to watch Naomi grow, discover who she is, and carve out such an incredible life for herself. 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.”
Naomi is the daughter of the President’s son, Hunter Biden with his ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle. Both Naomi and Neal, 25, are law school graduates (Columbia and University of Pennsylvania, respectively) and currently live in the White House residence. Their home was transformed into a floral-filled wedding venue by Bryan Rafanelli, who is known for planning White House events like state dinners as well as Chelsea Clinton’s wedding held in upstate New York in 2010.
Rafanelli Events shared photos on its Instagram page along with a statement from the designer. “I am honored to have had the opportunity to bring Peter and Naomi’s vision for their wedding day to life and to work in this historic house once again. As with every private celebration, we have worked closely with the couple and their families to create a beautiful and elegant celebration reflecting their story while highlighting the rich history of the White House. – Bryan F. Rafanelli.”
This marks the 19th wedding held at the White House. The latest was Peter Souza’s, President Obama’s chief photographer, in 2013. Richard Nixon’s daughter Tricia Nixon held hers in the Rose Garden in 1971, while George W. Bush’s daugther Jenna Bush held a reception at the White House in 2008 after marrying in a ceremony in Texas.
