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Naomi Biden told Vogue magazine about planning the first White House wedding in nearly 10 years after the administration said she and Peter Neal wanted a “private” event.
The president’s granddaughter appears on the cover of the digital edition of Vogue in her wedding dress, relaxing on a couch with First Lady Jill Biden, who has her arms around her.
“We’re so close with our families, so we always knew we’d get married in someone’s backyard,” Naomi told Vogue. “I think if my dad wasn’t president, it would probably be their home in Wilmington or Peter’s family’s backyard in Jackson. [Wyoming].’
The piece features portraits of Noami in her Ralph Lauren-designed wedding gown, taken in the State Rooms of the White House. The dress is inspired by Grace Kelly’s wedding dress.
“Like any little girl, I had a vision in my head — it was Grace Kelly’s dress that I loved,” Naomi said.
There’s also a photo of her and Peter at their wedding reception, where they stand on a ladder to cut their eight-tier wedding cake. Naomi put on a Reem Acra sheath dress for the evening.
Press coverage was banned from her marriage.
“Naomi and Peter have asked for their marriage to be closed to the media and we respect the wishes,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during her daily briefing on Friday.
“They want it to be private and we’re going to respect their wishes. We’re going to provide a photo and a statement from the President and the First Lady after the wedding. And again, these are their wishes and we will respect them,” said Jean-Pierre.
A source familiar with the wedding told DailyMail.com that the Vogue photo shoot took place on Thursday and that no Vogue photographers or news outlet reporters were present at Saturday’s wedding ceremony, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House.
The White House released a photo on Saturday of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden with Naomi and Peter at the wedding. Event planner Bryan Rafanelli, who led the festivities, also released several photos.
First LadyDr. Jill Biden hugs granddaughter Naomi Biden on the cover of the digital edition of Vogue in a photo taken by Norman Jean Roy
Naomi Biden married fiancé Peter Neal on Saturday in a small ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House – she was photographed by Vogue at the White House on Thursday in her Ralph Lauren wedding dress
Naomi Biden pictured in one of the State Rooms in the White House with the Washington Monument visible in the background
Naomi Biden, 28, is the president’s oldest grandchild and the first of her generation of Bidens to marry. But when relatives of other presidents — including Tricia Nixon and Lynda Bird Johnson — had White House weddings, they were open to the media, including photo and video coverage.
The bride was led down the aisle to the Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony” by her father Hunter Biden and mother Kathleen Buhle (the couple divorced in 2017).
Every wedding has its logistical challenges, but the White House comes with additional challenges. Guests were required to provide their social security number and date of birth for a Secret Service background check. All guests were also COVID tested on Saturday morning.
“It’s hard to ask people for their social security number on their RSVP,” Naomi told Vogue.
She also told the magazine she was surprised that Peter was “a bit of a bridezilla” and “obsessed with all the details.”
She said Jill Biden, whom the grandchildren call “Nana,” was also heavily involved.
Naomi and Peter moved into the White House when their DC apartment lease expired. She and their mini Australian Shepherd, Charlie, live on the third floor.
“I try to remind myself it’s the White House, but it also normalizes over time,” Naomi said.
“Now we do wedding planning together and she’s super involved,” Naomi says of the first lady.
Wedding details were plotted over a glass of wine – Cabernet for Dr. Biden, Sancerre for Naomi – or attending barre and SoulCycle classes together in Georgetown.
“Naomi has a strong sense of herself and had a vision before her marriage,” said Jill Biden. “It was nice to see her having so much fun with all the details.”
Naomi and Peter were surrounded by 250 family and friends on the South Lawn for their chilly but sunny wedding day. Peter also wore Ralph Lauren, a three-piece suit.
The three bridesmaids – Naomi’s sisters Finnegan and Maisy and Peter’s sister Betsy – who wore navy blue dresses. Finnegan and Maisy wore blazers over their formal dresses. Peter’s brother Robert was a witness.
The decor was all natural – green bushes and white flowers, including roses and hydrangeas.
Naomi’s father Hunter Biden sat in the front row, holding his son Beau and sitting next to his wife Melissa Cohen. Kathleen Buhle, mother of the bride, sat on Hunter’s other side.
Naomi’s cousins Natalie and Hunter Jr. — the children of the late Beau Biden — were also in attendance. So was Ashley Biden, Joe and Jill’s daughter and aunt of the bride.
After the 11 a.m. ceremony on the South Lawn on Saturday morning, the Bidens hosted a luncheon for friends and family in the State Dining Room of the White House.
“I know she was awake when I planned to serve turkey sandwiches for lunch,” Naomi said of her grandmother.
They added chicken pot pie to the menu, which was her father Hunter’s favorite dish.
The White House has released a photo of Naomi Biden and Peter Neal with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the day of the wedding
Naomi and Peter posted for photos on the South Portico after the wedding ceremony with her cathedral-length veil flapping in the wind
Naomi and Peter walk down from the South Portico to the waiting guests; her dress resembled Grace Kelly’s. Right: Naomi and Peter Neal exchange vows during their wedding ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House
Friends returned to the White House Saturday night for a celebratory reception with dessert and dancing.
Jill Biden wore a gold-embroidered seafoam blue Reem Acra dress, which she wears on the digital cover of Vogue.
Naomi and Peter climbed a ladder to cut into an eight-layer eight-layer lemon cake with buttercream icing.
The dessert bar also included apple pie (the groom’s cake) and Graeter’s favorite chocolate ice cream from President Biden. “He was a Breyers guy all along, but we got him to upgrade to Graeters,” Naomi said.
Naomi’s wedding was the 19th known to have been held at the White House and the first at the South Lawn. Naomi was the first presidential grandchild to marry in the White House.
The last wedding to take place at the White House was on October 19, 2013, when Pesident Barack Obama’s photographer Pete Souza married Patti Lease in the rose garden. Obama attended.
The last family weddings were on May 28, 1994 when Anthony Rodham – Hillary Clinton’s brother – married Nicole Boxer during Bill Clinton’s term in office.
Naomi and Peter kiss at their wedding, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday
Naomi with her sister Finnegan, who served as her maid of honor
First daughter Tricia Nixon married Ed Cox in the rose garden on June 12, 1971 in one of the more famous White House weddings. Her father, President Richard Nixon, walked her down the aisle.
There is also a long history of presidential children getting married or having receptions there. James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, John Tyler, and Ulysses S. Grant all saw weddings during their tenure.
Modern first daughters Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Hager were married elsewhere.
Chelsea’s father was not president at the time of her marriage. Jenna’s father was and George W. Bush hosted a reception for his daughter at the White House, even though her wedding took place in their home state of Texas.