Sept. 12 Marks 66th Anniversary Of JFK's Newport Wedding

NEWPORT, RI — 66 years ago Thursday, more than 800 people crowded into Newport's St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church to witness one of the largest social events of the year: the marriage of Jacqueline Bouvier to then-senator John F. Kennedy.

The ceremony was conducted by Boston Archbishop Richard Cushing, the Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum said, and included the reading of a special blessing from Pop Pius XII before the mass began.

According to Biography.com, the Kennedy family insisted on the large, lavish affair, inviting as many as 1,200 people to the reception that required the young couple spend two hours simply greeting well-wishers in the receiving line. The family also insisted Jackie wear her now-iconic traditional taffeta gown, which required 50 yards of fabric to complete to full skirt and rows of embellishments.

The reception was held at Hammersmith Farm, a 300-acre oceanfront estate nearby.

Today, the church is well-known as the site of the historic wedding, welcoming visitors throughout the summer to special "Return to Camelot" events that recreate the day. Guests looking to immerse themselves in Kennedy history can watch historic film clips, listen to live performances of music played on the day and listen to recordings of step-brother Yusha Auchincloss and other Newporters recall the day. The event runs every Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., July through October. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.