- When did Donald Trump & model Melania Knauss meet? At a New York fashion party in 1998. They were engaged in 2004 & married in 2005.
Who attended the Donald and Melania Trump wedding? Some guests on the list may surprise you.
In January 2025, the former first couple will celebrate a milestone − 20 years of marriage. Twenty years ago, Trumpand then-fiancé Melania Knauss, her professional modeling name, were in the throes of planning their lavish nuptials in Palm Beach, Florida − the wedding at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-By-the-Sea, followed by a wedding reception in the new $35 millionDonald J. Trump Ballroom at his private club. Melania Knauss (Melania Knauss was a name change and her original name is Melanija Knavs) began her modeling career at age 16 and moved to New York in 1996.The couple met in 1998 at a New York fashion party, became engaged in 2004 and married in 2005.
All of this wasbefore Trump became the45th president of the United States,before Melania became a momto Barron Trump (Trump’syoungest child of five), and before Mar-a-Lago, site of the billionaire’s wedding reception, became known as theSouthern White House when Trumpwas in office.
In 2005, the Palm Beach Post reported that Melania Knauss was just a bride-to-be, squeezing in wedding dress fittings, finalizing celebrity invites, wedding favors and reception dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Melania Knauss became Mrs. Donald Trump on Jan. 25, 2005.
Melania Trump was the first lady of the U.S. from 2016 to 2020.
Here’s a look back at the wedding guest list for Donald and Melania Trump and what we know about their Jan. 25, 2005, wedding, from archived photos and coverage of the event byThe Palm Beach Post and thePalm Beach Daily News.
Trump makes 'I do' a doozy!
Who attended Donald and Melania Trump wedding? Which celebrities went to Trump wedding in Florida?
They do!
According to archive news reports from the Palm Beach Post and Palm Beach Daily News, here’s a small list of the 350 people who were invited to Donald and Melania Trump’s wedding in Palm Beach, Florida, in January 2005:
- Les Moonves, former chairman of CBS, and wife Julie Chen, longtime host of “The Talk” and "Big Brother" reality TV show on CBS
- Bill and Hillary Clinton (Trump's Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential election): At the wedding reception in the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach Daily News reported: "Bill Clinton discussed politics and his golf game (he left before dinner so he could rise early for his Sunday round at the Palm Beach Country Club)."
- Barbara Walters ("20/20," "The View," journalism icon), who wore a one-shoulder-baring solid maroon Donna Karan wrap gown
- NBA basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic, L.A. Lakers): At the wedding reception, the Palm Beach Daily News reported: "Shaquille O'Neal talked basketball and his golf game."
- Mark Burnett, creator/executive producer of "The Apprentice" reality TV competition on NBC, was accompanied by his wife, "Touched By an Angel" actress Roma Downey and their children.
- Abe Rosenthal and Shirley Lord
- Libby and George Pataki (houseguesting with Charles Gargano)
- former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his wife, Judy Nathan
- Howard and Michele Kessler
- Audrey and Marty Gruss
- Andrea and John Stark
- Katie Couric of NBC's "Today" show and "CBS Evening News," who wore a multicolored Emilio Pucci print halter gown
- Matt Lauer, former host of NBC's "Today" show (former co-hosts include Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira and Savannah Guthrie): At the wedding reception in the Donald J. Trump Grand Ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach Daily News reported: "Matt Lauer talked about television and his golf game."
- Stone Phillips, co-anchor of "Dateline NBC" who appeared on "NBC Nightly News"
- George H. Ross, who was featured on "The Apprentice," was executive VP for the Trump Organization
- TV journalist Deborah Norville, host of "Inside Edition," and Karl Wellner
- Gayle King, "CBS News" anchor and Oprah Winfrey bestie
- boxing promoter Don King, who accessorized his tuxedo with several strands of diamond necklaces
- Bo Dietl, retired NYPD detective and "One Tough Podcast" host
- Mohamed Al-Fayed (who sat in the front of the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea)
- Carolyn Kepcher, co-star of the reality TV show "The Apprentice" on NBC, and her husband George
- NBC president Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne
- TV producer Marty Richards
- Simon Cowell ("America's Got Talent," "American Idol," "Britain's Got Talent")
- Claudia Cohen, New York Post's Page Six gossip columnist and TV reporter
- Sports TV personality Pat O'Brien
- Victoria's Secret supermodel Heidi Klum and host of "America's Got Talent" on NBC and "Project Runway" on Bravo
- Richard and Robin Bernstein
- singer Donna Summer ("Last Dance," "Bad Girls")
- Rick and Kathy Hilton, parents of socialite and reality TV personality Paris Hilton
- Miami Heat owner Mickey Arison
- Jeannine Pirro, former judge known as "Judge Jeanine" on Fox News
- singer Billy Joel ("Piano Man," "Uptown Girl") and then wife Katie Lee Joel (Food Network's "The Kitchen" and former host of "Top Chef"), the Palm Beach Daily News said, "instead, it was the 30-piece orchestra and offerings from Billy Joel (in person) then Tony Bennett (in person) then Paul Anka (in person) with a poolside disco after midnight."
- Lois Pope, Vilda dePorro and Maurice Kazzi
- Gianna and Guido Lombardi
- rap mogul Russell Simmons (in a tux with sneakers and a baseball cap) and Kimora Lee Simmons
- Jean-Georges Vongerichten and his wife
- Tina Brown with husband Harold Evans
- Star Jones, former host on "The View" and "Divorce Court," and husband Al Reynolds
- Donald Trump's ever-loyal assistant Norma Foerderer
- Mort Zuckerman (repeatedly checking the weather reports) with CNN producer Kathleen Friery
- "Live with Kelly and Mark" host Kelly Ripa and her husband, actor Mark Consuelos ("Friends," "All My Children," "Riverdale")
- Steve and Christine Schwarzman
- Terry Allen Kramer and Nick Simunek
- Ruth and Ray Perelman
- singer Paul Anka, the Palm Beach Daily News said, "instead, it was the 30-piece orchestra and offerings from Billy Joel (in person) then Tony Bennett (in person) then Paul Anka (in person) with a poolside disco after midnight."
- Cindy Adams (who was staying with Arlene Dahl and Mark Rosen)
- Chris Matthews, host of "Hardball" on MSNBC
- singer Vic Damone and Rena Damone
- Tony Bennett, the Palm Beach Daily News said, "instead, it was the 30-piece orchestra and offerings from Billy Joel (in person) then Tony Bennett (in person) then Paul Anka (in person) with a poolside disco after midnight."
- former New York Sen. Al D'Amato and his wife
- British businessman and newspaper owner Conrad Black and his wife
- Kathie Lee Gifford, former host of "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee," and husband football star Frank Gifford
- Palm Beach Town Council members Jack McDonald, Sam McLendon, Bill Brooks and Norman Goldblum and their wives
- Dame Celia Lipton Farris (in a pale, pale pink confection that made a nice background for her medal from the Queen) with Bert Sokol
- According to a Jan. 21, 2005, Palm Beach Daily News story, others expected among the 350 guests were Mike Bloomberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Tom Brady, Derek Jeter, Mets owner Fred Wilpon, Leonard and Evelyn Lauder, Abe Rosenthal and Shirley Lord, Liza Minnelli, Anna Wintour (fashion icon and longtime editor of Vogue), Shelby Bryan and Robert Kraft.
Mrs. Trump:Before milestone anniversary, look back at Trump-Knauss lavish wedding, insider details
Who was invited to Donald Trump-Melania Knauss wedding but couldn't make it?
According to a Jan. 21, 2005, story from Palm Beach Daily News, "regrets came from Bruce Willis (shooting in Montreal), Elton John (charity commitment in Europe on Sunday), Oprah Winfrey (the ever-vague "previous engagement"), Joe Torre (in Hawaii), George Steinbrenner (tied up with spring training stuff), Catherine Zeta-Jones and hubby Michael Douglas (he's on a United Nations peace mission − really!), Eliot Spitzer (previous commitments) and Phil Mickelson, who's playing in the Buick Invitational."
What it's like to cover Trump's wedding:It was a doozy, one for the record books
Contributing: Bill Ingram, Damon Higgins, Bruce R. Bennett and Staci Sturrock, Palm Beach Post, and Jeffrey Langlois, Palm Beach Daily News
Palm Beach Daily News Society Editor Shannon Donnelly has been covering the Palm Beach social scene for 38 years.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her onTwitteror Instagram at@byjensangalang. Support local journalism.Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.
