The 12 Most Stylish First Lady Wedding Dresses

On Wednesday, President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Meaning another First Lady has packed her bags (metaphorically and quite literally) and will be moving into the White House.

Many amazing women have come through the iconic and esteemed building and left their stamp on the country. Dr. Jill Biden is next in line to stand alongside her husband during his presidency, and we look forward to seeing the positive changes she’ll implement.

So in honor of the country’s newest First Lady entering the White House on Wednesday, we’re taking a look back at 12 impeccably stylish first lady wedding dresses—because obviously, they have good taste.

01 of 12

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington- 1759

Martha and George Washington Wedding — Junius Brutus Stearns/Library of Congress

The country’s very first, First Lady, Martha Washington (then Dandridge Custis) married founding father George Washington in a gorgeous gown made from silk damask fabric, according to Insider.

02 of 12

Frances Folsom and Grover Cleveland - 1886

Frances and Grover Wedding — Archive Photos/PhotoQuest/Getty

Cleveland actually wed during his time in the White House—and was the first (and only, so far) sitting president to do so. 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 to other formal events.

03 of 12

Eleanor and Theodore Roosevelt-1905

Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt wed in 1905, and in her autobiography, “This Is My Story,” Eleanor wrote about 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."

04 of 12

Mamie Doud Dwight Eisenhower-1916

Mamie and Dwight Eisenhower — Corbis Historical/Getty

Mamie Doud—who was known for her sense of style, according to Insider—wed Eisenhower in a beaded gown with cascading, scalloped ruffles.

05 of 12

Bess Wallace and Harry Truman- 1919

Bess and Harry Truman — Corbis Historical/Getty

Bess married a classmate from childhood 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.

06 of 12

Betty Bloomer and Gerald Ford-1948

Betty and Gerald Ford — Corbis Historical/Getty

Betty soon-to-be Ford wore a chic and elegant blue satin dress when she wed Gerald Ford in 1948. The “V” neckline even had lapels to give it a suited up, modern for the time feel.

07 of 12

Barbara Pierce and George Bush-1945

George and Barbara Bush — Corbis Historical/Getty

The couple wed in 1945 and spent 73 years together—making them the presidential couple with the longest marriage. A replica of her gorgeous white satin, high-necked gown is currently on display at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas.

08 of 12

Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy - 1953

The society couple wed in Newport Rhode Island in September 1953. Jackie’s iconic gown was created by Black dressmaker Ann Lowe, whom her mother commissioned to design the wedding dress. The ivory tissue-silk dress had a portrait neckline and a bouffant skirt, and was completed 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—she was hoping for something a bit sleeker. JFK’s father had insisted on a grandiose dress to capture such a grand moment.

09 of 12

Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton-1975

Hillary and Bill Clinton — Hillary Clinton/Instagram

When the power couple wed back in October 1975, Hillary didn’t purchase her dress until the night before the big day (!!). She and her mother 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!

10 of 12

Laura Welch and George W. Bush-1977

George W. Bush and Laura Wedding — George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum

According to Insider, Laura’s two-tone beige satin dress was bought off the rack when she and George W. Bush got married in November 1977. The simple nature of the dress makes it quite sophisticated. The future First Lady completed the monochromatic look with beige shoes and a string of ivory pearls.

11 of 12

Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama- 1992

Michelle and Barack Obama — Michelle Obama/Twitter

The Obamas wed in 1992 at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Michelle stunned in a white, structured off-the-shoulder gown with intricate details on the bodice, which appears to have had detachable sleeves. Her poofy veil and pearl drop earrings made her a classy and on-trend ‘90s bride.

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Dr. Jill Jacobs and President-elect Joe Biden

For their 1977 wedding, Jill wore a more causal, long-sleeved dress with a scalloped hem and collar. The soon-to-be first couple wed at the United Nations Chapel in New York City with both his sons Beau and Hunter next to them on the altar.