After celebrating their 10th anniversary, the duo reportedly wanted to recommit to each other the following year.
Published on June 25, 2025 11:16AM
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Key Takeaways
- After celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary, JFK and Jackie Kennedy reportedly made plans to renew their vows the following year.
- The duo wanted to say "I do" for a second time at Hammersmith Farm, the bride's childhood summer home in Newport and the site of their 1953 wedding reception.
- However, due to JFK's death in 1963, the couple never had the chance to do so.
The wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy on September 12, 1953, in Newport, Rhode Island, was one of the most famous in American history. For the occasion, the bride wore a silk-taffeta gown by Ann Lowe, an embroidered veil, and a pearl necklace. After saying "I do" at St. Mary's Church in the oceanside town, the two joined their more than 800 guests for a reception at Jackie's childhood summer home, Hammersmith Farm, a mansion and estate located just three miles away from their ceremony site.
Though the couple became husband and wife in 1953, People reported that JFK and Jackie also planned to renew their vows in 1964 in honor of their 11th wedding anniversary. Rather than gather with all of their loved ones, the couple wanted to do so in a private ceremony at Hammersmith Farm, returning to the spot in which they hosted the reception on their big day. Instead of donning bridal white for the celebratory event, Jackie reportedly planned to wear a pale blue or yellow dress, the outlet reported. Sadly, the moment never came to be, as JFK was tragically killed on November 22, 1963.
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In an excerpt from J. Randy Taraborrelli's forthcoming book, JFK: Public, Private, Secret published by People, the author revealed more about the couple's 10th anniversary, which set the stage for their vow renewal plans. While the duo honored this milestone with gifts, they also opted to pay homage to their son Patrick, who died on August 9, 1963, two days after he was born. "She presented him with a new St. Christopher’s medal because he'd placed his own in Patrick’s coffin," Taraborrelli wrote. "In turn, he gave her a gold-and-emerald ring, which represented the fighting spirit of the Irish he'd seen in their son’s fight for survival. He slipped it onto Jackie’s finger next to her wedding band and asked her to marry him."
While JFK's gift to his wife may have been symbolic of his love for her and their late son, it didn't align with the time-honored gifts for this milestone anniversary. After 10 years of marriage, the traditional present is tin or aluminum, and the gemstone is a diamond. By offering his wife a gold-and-emerald ring, JFK committed a faux pas, skipping the rituals associated with the occasion. However, the pieces did appear to represent his support for their marriage at the time.
According to Taraborrelli's book, JFK was "a changed man" after 10 years of marriage, setting the stage for him to recommit to his wife. This desire may have been what ultimately propelled the couple to plan their vow renewal ceremony for the following year.
