The little white church that sits on the north end of member of the Foundation of the Arts with a mission to Cumberland Island has long been out of reach for most renovate Cumberland Island’s Plum Orchard and develop people. Unless you know someone on the island, are a it into a retreat facility for artists. During JFK Jr.’s guest of Greyfield Inn, or have the stamina for a twelve bachelor days, he came to the island with various female mile hike, there has been very little opportunity to companions, including Darryl Hannah. We can only see the church made famous by the secret wedding surmise that he had brought his bride-to-be to the island, ceremony of John F. Kennedy, Jr. to Carolyn Bessette in as well, and together they made the decision to return for 1996. That is all about to change. the most important ceremony of their lives. With the advent of federally mandated Some have attempted to compare JFK north end island tours to be conducted by the Jr.’s wedding with that of his father’s without National Park Service, everyone will, at last, much success. Both men were 36 years old have a chance to visit this little piece of history. when they married. Both weddings took place Set adjacent to the poignant slave cabin in the month of September. Both men wore ruins of The Settlement, the First African the same wedding shirt. There, the likenesses Baptist Church was originally established in end. 1893 for African American workers (many Jacqueline Lee Bouvier wed John former slaves) who minded the plantations of Fitzgerald Kennedy on September 12, 1953 Cumberland Island. The structure was rebuilt with 800 guests in attendance. JFK Jr. and in 1937 and remains today much as it was 73 Caroline Bessette’s ceremony was witnessed years ago. by only 40 guests on September 21, 1996. Constructed of whitewashed logs, the The senior Kennedy and Jacqueline chose the one-room church is simply adorned with a formidable St. Marys Roman Catholic Church cross made of sticks tied together with string and in chi-chi Newport, Rhode Island. John, Jr. and his bride 11 handmade pews seating 40 people. There is no chose a secret ceremony in a humble one-room wooden electricity or any other modern convenience in the small church on secluded Cumberland Island. Both were, building. however, Catholic ceremonies. Since 1986, the young Kennedy had vacationed often JFK Jr. had wealth, fame, and good looks, but his on Cumberland Island, loving it as much for its privacy as storied wedding contrasted sharply with his wealth and for its magnificent natural beauty. It was a sanctuary to fame. At the time of JFK Jr.’s wedding, he was being the man accustomed to being in the public eye. He was a groomed by the Kennedy clan for a high-profile political 72 continued ... career and a probable presidential run in his father’s footsteps. One wonders if the cool and collected Bessette was occupied with the thoughts of what a future first ladyship might require as she stepped up to the tiny altar in her $40,000 pearl-colored silk crepe gown—the only testament to the wealth of the couple about to take their vows. Bessette’s hair was pulled back with a clip belonging to Jackie Kennedy. She carried a lily of the valley bouquet designed by the woman who designed the White House rose garden. The groom wore the same shirt that his father had worn in his wedding 43 years before. In fact, the ceremony was delayed slightly because John had forgotten his shirt, and a park ranger had to make the trip back to the south end of the island to retrieve it. The couple’s wedding rings were designed by Gogo Ferguson, a Carnegie descendant, island resident, and long time friend of the groom. It was Gogo who made it possible for the wedding to be orchestrated without the knowledge of the media. The planning of the wedding required the skills of James Bond and the whole CIA, but Gogo somehow pulled it off, having everyone involved sign a statement of sworn confidentiality. The day before the wedding, JFK Jr. and Caroline arrived on separate planes at the St. Marys Airport. There, they were administered their blood tests and issued St. Marys is the perfect storybook a marriage permit by a local medical setting to begin your new life technician and a court clerk, as together. From breathtaking pre-arranged by Camden County Judge vistas and antebellum mansions Martin Gillette. Until the couple showed for your ceremony to our up at the airport, the local technician and charming bed and breakfasts clerk did not have a clue as to who they and inns for a romantic were there for. They only knew it was honeymoon, your happily “important people.” ever after is just a click away. After the perfunctories were over, John and Caroline were carried by separate launches onto Cumberland Island. Family festivities were already underway on the island with the younger Kennedys playing football on the pristine sandy beach, and Senator Ted Kennedy rehearsing his toast that was to leave everyone misty-eyed during the evening’s rehearsal dinner. Through a leak whose source, to this Visit www.stmarysgaweddings.com for an day, has been kept secret, a local reporter informative resource guide on everything from made his way onto the island the caterers to photographers to ministers and more. afternoon of the wedding. According to continued ... www.StMarysMagazine.com 73