Jenna Bush and Henry Hager’s Wedding: A Summary
This article details the wedding of Jenna Bush, daughter of President George W. Bush, and Henry Hager on May 19, 2008, at the bush family ranch in Crawford, Texas. Here’s a breakdown of the key details:
The Ceremony & Setting:
* Location: bush Ranch in Crawford,Texas,featuring an outdoor aisle leading to a limestone altar by a lake.
* Music: Jenna and President Bush danced to “You Are So Stunning,” while the couple’s first dance was to ”Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes” by Taj Mahal.
* Officiant: Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston.
* Security: Extremely tight,requiring guests to be vetted by the Secret Service at an off-site location before being bussed to the ranch.
The couple:
* Jenna Bush: 26 years old, the 22nd child of a president to marry while their father was in office.
* Henry Hager: 30 years old, a graduate of Wake Forest University and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.He previously worked for Karl rove and the Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez.
* How they met: During President Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.
Pre-Wedding Events & Festivities:
* Friday: Bridal lunch, rehearsal dinner, and post-rehearsal dinner celebration in Salado, Texas. A parade with the belton High School Marching Band and entertainment by the Duke Merrick Band followed the rehearsal dinner.
* Saturday: Barbecue lunch hosted by the groom’s family in Salado.
Family & Guests:
* Approximately 200 guests attended.
* Denver broncos coach Mike Shanahan was in attendance.
* The groom’s parents hosted the rehearsal dinner. His father, John Hager, is a prominent Virginia Republican.
* President Bush highlighted the wedding as a joyous family occasion in his weekly radio address.
Privacy & future Plans:
* The Bush family intentionally kept the wedding relatively private, avoiding a large media spectacle to protect Jenna’s transition to private life.
* The couple planned to honeymoon in Europe and settle down in Baltimore, where they had purchased a home.
This wedding was presented as an elegant and personal event, reflecting the personalities of the bride and groom and prioritizing family and privacy.
