I delved into the pockets of my inner soul and brought out such an idea to pen about John F Kennedy Jr, the dear departed swashbuckling, plucky celebrity idol who had been the most sought-after bachelor during his prime back in the days in the United States.
John F. Kennedy Jr characterised and portrayed the best-known link to his illustrious father’s Camelot era. This engaging, charismatic and entrancing man was one of the most noticeable and remarkable figures of the second half of the 20th century.
His destiny had been boorish and rude to him and his life was taken away at the relatively young age of 38.
Fatal crash
John F Kennedy Jr along with his wife and sister-in-law was killed in a fatal plane crash in 1999. Kennedy Jr himself piloted the aircraft. He was flying on route to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts with the intention of attending to the big day of Rory Kennedy, his cousin. Dashing and magnetic Kennedy Jr tied the nuptial knot with Carolyn Bessette; the couple preferred their big day to be exceptionally top secret in order to avoid media frenzy.
Kennedy Jr and his fiancée even while they were dating were often being followed by a wave of media scrutiny.
The couple despite being incredibly popular across the world managed to exchange their vows without being captured by the inquisitive eyes of the paparazzo whose curiosity over the then most eligible bachelor of the United States and his heart winning stunning damsel was still overwhelming with a pivotal sense of national significance.
Paparazzi
In the present day world context where the celebrity weddings being the bread and butter for the paparazzi cameras, in the age of social media, secrecy maintained on weddings of the celebrities can hardly be a reality; still they are leaked or speculated, and eventually get highlighted on social media platforms despite the strong unwillingness of the wedded parties who wish to cherish their privacy.
Bessette was elegantly dressed in a peal coloured silk crepe slip dress which was added with a rich long silk gloves and a hand rolled silk tulle veil that looked mesmerising.
Designer Rodriguez, commenting on the dress in an interview with Vogue in 2018 said, “It was a great moment in my career but also a beautiful moment in my personal life”.
Meanwhile Meghan Markle, the duchess of Sussex, talking to Glamour in 2016 fondly noted that Bessette’s wedding dress has often been her most favourite ever worn by a celebrity. “I personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly
romantic”, the duchess remarked.
An extremely low-key venue was set for the couple which was also one of their priorities. They opted for a tiny Chapel that was just off the coast of the state of Georgia, where the Chapel has only eight rows of pews.
This indicates how simple and low key the entire ceremony had been and they were assured that they would not lose the true essence of their ceremony with prying eyes not being around. The guest list for the wedding too was unbelievably very less with only 40 guests being attended. Caroline Kennedy, groom’s elder sibling was the matron of honour.
Limelight
Being married to the celebrated Kennedys is an indication of being in the limelight often; Bessette was said to be not truly comfortable in getting herself adjusted overnight to a life in the extreme spotlight where the couple chose to wed in a low key ceremony that was held in total secrecy.
Albeit, the wedding ceremony managed to maintain its privacy, to the utter astonishment of the newlywed couple, as they returned from their honeymoon from Turkey, it is reported that a huge mass of reporters with sharp eyes had been waiting at their doorstep to get a capture on Kennedy Jr, one of the magnetic and handsome men at that time in the States with his charming and alluring spouse.
Even more than two decades after her untimely and tragic death, Bessette still lives in our memory as a symbol of utmost poise, charm and class.
Bessette and Kennedy Jr exchanged their nuptial vows in 1996 and at the time, their marriage was one of the most awaited nuptials since Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The weddings of the celebrities create a window of opportunities for their little known dress designers; they would become intensely popular overnight.
Household name
Bessette’s wedding dress designer is not an exception and following Bessette’s wedding, Rodriguez became a household name. Rodriguez couldn’t wait to launch his very own eponymous label the very next year.
A startling anecdote, surrounded by Bessette’s nuptials is revealed in an excerpt from a recently published book, “BBK; Carolyn Bessette Kennedy: A Life in Fashion”, that makes a mention of a wardrobe malfunction where Bessette was a little late to walk down the aisle.
The book further notes that Bessette spent two hours fitting up in Paris prior to her dress being complete. Designer Rodriguez is reported to have gifted the dress to Bessette, his dear friend and client.
At the time the dress had cost 40,000 $. I have a collection of pictures of Kennedy Jr that splashed across the front pages of world renowned fashion magazines throughout his life; I am moved by a picture where the little Kennedy Jr saluting his assassinated father just on his third birthday, dressed in a blue dress coat and short trousers.
This picture of the young master brought the people across the world into tears on the day of President John F Kennedy’s funeral. Many years earlier being photographed in his blossoming youth, People magazine in 1988 couldn’t wait to name athletic shirtless Kennedy Jr as the “Sexiest man alive”; his hypnotising and spellbinding looks, popularity and privilege have made him almost immortal.
