So many brilliant women have left their stamp on American history, but some of the most iconic public figures are the First Ladies of the United States. And while the philanthropic work they do while in office on behalf of their country is often what they are best remembered for (and rightfully so!), these leading ladies had lives before (and after!) their husbands became president. Some were actresses and journalists, while others were (and still are) lawyers and college professors. And they were all, at one point, brides, who had weddings and wore gorgeous wedding dresses when they tied the knot.
Naturally, we were curious about what a First Lady might wear on her wedding day (we are Brides, after all!), so we decided to round up some of the most stylish first lady wedding dresses ever to be worn. From Betty Ford and Jackie Kennedy to Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, keep scrolling to see the very best ensembles, in addition to a few historical facts about each look and wedding.
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, 1759
The country’s very first First Lady, Martha Washington (née Dandridge Custis), married founding father George Washington in a gorgeous gown made from gold silk damask fabric, according to Insider. Washington paired her dress with “custom-made slippers in purple satin with silver trimmings,” per Smithsonian Magazine,
Frances Clara Cleveland Preston, 1886
President Grover Cleveland was the first (and only) sitting president to wed during his time in the White House. For the monumental event, his wife Frances (Folsom, prior to their union) donned an ivory satin gown that, according to the History Channel, was made of such stiff fabric that it could stand on its own. After the wedding, she had it altered to wear for portraits and for other events.
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, 1905
Eleanor and President Franklin D. Roosevelt tied the knot in 1905, and in her autobiography, This Is My Story, Eleanor (who was born a Roosevelt; she and her husband were fifth cousins once removed) gave readers an inside look at her wedding dress. “My own dress was heavy stiff satin with shirred tulle in the neck and long sleeves. My grandmother Hall’s rose point Brussels lace covered the dress, and the veil of the same lace fell from my head over my long train,” she shared in the memoir.
Mary Geneva “Mamie” Eisenhower, 1916
Mamie Doud—who was known for her sense of style, according to Insider—married President Dwight D. Eisenhower on July 1, 1916. For the big day, the former First Lady donned a beaded gown with cascading, scalloped ruffles, which she also paired with a delicate cardigan.
Elizabeth Virginia “Bess” Truman, 1919
Bess Truman (née Wallace) married her childhood classmate, President Harry S. Truman, in a gorgeous white gown made of georgette (a sheer and lightweight crêpe fabric), and a soft, ribbed silk fabric called faille, according to Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. The blushing bride completed the look with a white, wide-brimmed hat and oxford-heeled shoes.
Elizabeth Anne “Betty” Ford, 1948
Betty Ford was ahead of her time when she married the future President Gerald Ford in 1948. Breaking with tradition, the former First Lady wore a sapphire blue silk dress, which featured a V-neckline and lapels, which were considered modern back then.
Barbara Pierce Bush, 1945
Barbra and President George H.W. Bush got married in 1945, and later spent 73 years together, making them the presidential couple with the longest marriage. A replica of her gorgeous white satin, high-neck gown is currently on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas.
Nancy Davis Reagan, 1952
Nancy Reagan, (born Anne Frances “Nancy” Robbins) technically married President Ronald Reagan in a Hollywood wedding, as they were both movie stars at the time (their political careers would unfold later, in the 1960s). Despite this, she wore a surprisingly simple (and non-white!) dress with a collar and buttons for the occasion, which took place on March 4, 1952, at The Little Brown Church in the San Fernando Valley, California.
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier “Jackie” Kennedy, 1953
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and President John F. Kenndey tied the knot in Newport Rhode Island in September 1953. As many people already know, Jackie’s iconic gown was created by Black dressmaker Ann Lowe, whom her mother commissioned to design the wedding dress. The ivory tissue-silk look had a portrait neckline and a bouffant skirt, and was styled with an heirloom rose-point lace veil and a string of pearls around her neck. According to the book What Jackie Taught Us, the first lady wasn’t too happy with the dress design, as she was hoping for something a bit sleeker. However, JFK’s father had insisted on a grandiose dress to capture such a grand moment.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, 1975
When Hillary Rodham and President Bill Clinton wed back in October 1975, the bride didn’t purchase her dress until the night before the big day. She and her mother actually ran to Dillard’s at the Fayetteville Mall in Arkansas, where she purchased a $54 Jessica McClintock Victorian lace gown (reportedly one of the first she spotted) for the occasion.
Laura Welch Bush, 1977
According to Insider, Laura Bush’s two-tone beige satin dress was bought off the rack when she and President George W. Bush got married in November 1977. The simple nature of the ensemble made it quite sophisticated, and the former First Lady completed her monochromatic look with beige shoes and a string of ivory pearls.
Dr. Jill Tracy Jacobs Biden, 1977
For their 1977 wedding, Dr. Jill Biden wore a causal, long-sleeved dress with a scalloped hem and collar. The couple’s ceremony was held at the United Nations Chapel in New York City; both of President Biden’s sons, Beau and Hunter, stood up next to them at the altar.
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, 1992
President Barack Obama married Michelle Robinson in 1992 at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. For the big day, Michelle stunned in a white, structured, off-the-shoulder gown with intricate details on the bodice, which appears to have had detachable sleeves. Her voluminous veil and pearl drop earrings further elevated her look, and made her an on-trend ‘90s bride.