Nearly three decades after JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette tied the knot in what’s now considered one of the most iconic celebrity weddings of all time, rare new photos from the day are finally seeing the light.
The couple wed on September 21, 1996, in an intimate, closely guarded ceremony that has fascinated fans for years – from Carolyn’s now-legendary Narciso Rodriguez slipdress to the tiny guest list and secret island location.
CNN has just published never-before-seen images from the wedding, captured by journalist and Real Housewives cast member Carole Radziwill. The shots will also be featured in the new three-part documentary American Prince: JFK Jr. and give a fresh glimpse into a celebration that was both impossibly chic and entirely unpretentious.
Radziwill recalls that the event felt almost like an elopement – just 30 close friends gathered without a trace of paparazzi or public intrusion. “You didn’t get the sense anything was overly planned,” she said. “They just let things happen the way they happened. And there was something so beautiful about that.”
One photo shows Carolyn, her hair in a loose messy bun, sharing a matching T-shirt moment with her new husband. In another, the couple smiles over a wedding gift. There’s a glimpse of the intimate dinner under a white tent with only a few tables, a candlelit terrace meal, and a romantic shot of JFK Jr. tossing his jacket over Carolyn’s shoulders as they danced.
Keeping the wedding private was a deliberate choice – and one Carolyn was determined to pull off. “It became apparent quickly that nobody knew we were there or why we were there,” Radziwill said. “That in itself was magical. Mostly Carolyn pulled it off, because she was determined to be married privately.”
Radziwill vividly remembers the candlelit moment when Carolyn walked down the aisle. “It was already dark, the church lit with candles. The doors opened, and she walked in… she just looked so beautiful. The light was insane. It was like a movie,” she said, adding, “Scorsese couldn’t have done this better.”
The whole day mirrored Carolyn’s famous street style – effortlessly elegant, never overdone. “There’s an elegance to the casualness that’s hard to replicate, even now,” Radziwill said.
But not all portrayals of the couple’s relationship have been embraced by the family. Ryan Murphy’s upcoming American Love Story series has already sparked backlash, with promotional images criticized by fans and family members alike. JFK Jr.’s nephew Jack Schlossberg called the project “grotesque” and confirmed that the family was never consulted.
“For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted… the answer is no,” Schlossberg said in an Instagram video. “The right to privacy, which includes controlling your own name, image, and likeness, doesn’t survive death in New York. He’s considered a public figure, so there’s not much we can do.”
While Hollywood may continue to fictionalize their love story, these newly released photographs offer a rare, authentic peek into a night that has lived in pop culture legend – an unrepeatable blend of secrecy, intimacy, and timeless style.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
