Saturday 19 November 2022 04:44 PM Naomi Biden weds at the White House trends now

Saturday 19 November 2022 04:44 PM Naomi Biden weds at the White House trends now
Saturday 19 November 2022 04:44 PM Naomi Biden weds at the White House trends now

Saturday 19 November 2022 04:44 PM Naomi Biden weds at the White House trends now

Guests filled the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday morning as Naomi Biden prepared to marry her fiance Peter Neal on a sunny but cold day in Washington D.C.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden were the hosts for their oldest granddaughter's big day, the 19th known wedding in White House history.

Chairs were lined up on the lawn and no tent was put over the outdoor venue. It was a crisp 37 degrees in D.C. but sunny and no wind. 

Guests lined up early to be inside by the time the 11 a.m. ceremony began. Staff checking them in handed out hand warmers as they welcomed them through the White House gates to the wedding inside.

The guests had to be covid tested and go through a screening process to get inside. 

Former Senator Chris Dodd was one of the many guests spotted going inside, as was Michael Cohen's daughter, Samantha Blake Cohen, who went to the University of Pennsylvania with Naomi Biden. 

The White House was decked out with wreaths of white flowers and security was tight. Lafayette Park and the National Ellipse - the two public parks on either side of the White House - were closed to the public. There was heavy police presence outside.

The White Houses hosts hundreds of social events a year but there's nothing like a wedding. 

Saturday's event will consist of three parts, a source familiar with the planning told DailyMail.com: the 11 a.m. ceremony on the South Lawn; followed by a private lunch for family and the wedding party in the White House; and an evening of dessert and dancing, which will also take place in the White House.

Otherwise the White House has released few details about the wedding, other than to say the Biden family is paying for it.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Naomi's wedding

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Naomi's wedding

Guests took their seats on the South Lawn on Saturday for Naomi Biden's wedding

Guests took their seats on the South Lawn on Saturday for Naomi Biden's wedding

Guests lined up to go through security to get into the wedding

Guests lined up to go through security to get into the wedding

There was no tent on the South Lawn for Naomi's big day

There was no tent on the South Lawn for Naomi's big day

Security checks in guests, who were given hand warmers

Security checks in guests, who were given hand warmers 

The days leading up to Saturday were filled with the usual round of festivities and last-minute details, like picking up dresses and the getting the marriage license. 

The South Lawn was a buzz with activity on Thursday and Friday with workers marking the aisle the bride will walk down to meet her groom.  Blue plastic on the ground showed the bride will exit out of the diplomatic room to meet Peter. Garlands of flowers were hung for her to walk through.

Chairs were set up in row after row on the South Lawn. 

And deliveries were unloaded with multiple Ryder trucks on the driveway.

Despite the wedding being held on government land, the Biden administration said Peter and Naomi want a 'private' event, which is why the event will be closed for press coverage.

'Naomi and Peter have asked that their wedding be close to the media and we're respecting the wishes,' press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday at her daily briefing.

Naomi Biden, 28, is the president's oldest grandchild and the first of her generation of Bidens to wed. But when other president's family members - including Tricia Nixon and Lynda Bird Johnson - had White House weddings those were open to the media, including photo and video coverage.

But Jean-Pierre reiterated the young couple wants a 'private' event - even though Naomi Biden choose to have her wedding on the South Lawn of the White House. 

'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 First Lady after the wedding. And, again, these are their wishes and we're going to respect them,' she said.

Wedding logistics can be a challenge for any bride but a White House wedding has the added complications of Secret Service background checks on guests, security screenings before people walk in the door, and questions from the White House press corps. 

 

 

Finnegan Biden gets ready to head to the Renwick Gallery for her sister Naomi Biden's rehearsal dinner

Finnegan Biden gets ready to head to the Renwick Gallery for her sister Naomi Biden's rehearsal dinner

Maisy Biden, in the orange cardigan, talks with a friend as she heads to her sister's dinner

Maisy Biden, in the orange cardigan, talks with a friend as she heads to her sister's dinner

Despite the fact the Renwick Gallery is just steps away from the White House, President Joe and Jill Biden took the Beast (above) to their granddaughter's rehearsal dinner

Despite the fact the Renwick Gallery is just steps away from the White House, President Joe and Jill Biden took the Beast (above) to their granddaughter's rehearsal dinner

Meanwhile, Naomi Biden's younger sisters Maisy and Finnegan got glammed up on Friday night to join the bride and groom and the rest of the family at a rehearsal dinner ahead of Saturday's wedding.

Finnegan, 22, wore a sparkly black dress, and Maisy, 21, wore an orange cardigan over a printed outfit as they left mom Kathleen Buhle's residence to head to the Renwick Gallery, which Peter Neal's family rented out for the evening.

The Renwick Gallery is on the same block of Pennsylvania Avenue as the White House. Despite it being just steps away, Joe and Jill Biden took a motorcade there to join the festivities. The museum features contemporary craft and decorative arts. 

Peter Neal's parents - Drs. Mary and William Neal - hosted the event, according to the White House.

The Biden family has been busy preparing for Saturday.

Maisy Biden took delivery of her dress at mom Kathleen Buhle's residence on Thursday. She even left a note for the delivery drivers, imploring them: 'My sister is getting married on Saturday. My dress is in this box. Please leave packages.'

The missive must have been successful as she was spotted picking up a box, a big grin on her face.

Meanwhile, the couple has their marriage license. Peter Neal posted a pic of him and Naomi at the Washington D.C. Marriage Bureau on Thursday, securing their license to wed.

Flowers were being hung around the South Portico of the White House, including around the diplomatic room, where the bride will exit to meet her groom

Flowers were being hung around the South Portico of the White House, including around the diplomatic room, where the bride will exit to meet her groom

A worker sets up folding chairs on the South Lawn of the White House

A worker sets up folding chairs on the South Lawn of the White House

Peter Neal and Naomi Biden at the Washington D.C. Marriage Bureau on Thursday ahead of their Saturday wedding at the White House

Peter Neal and Naomi Biden at the Washington D.C. Marriage Bureau on Thursday ahead of their Saturday

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