Despite being the son of the President of the United States, an over-the-top wedding wasn't on the agenda for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump (née Anderson). The couple, instead, envisioned an intimate affair centered on love and family... and that's exactly what unfolded over the course of one weekend in May on a private island in the Bahamas.
"It was small, it was intimate, it was thoughtful, it was beautiful, not flashy," event planner Lewis Miller, founder of Lewis Miller Design, exclusively told HELLO!, noting the "top priority was that it didn't feel like a big, overproduced, big production."
Fewer than 20 people gathered inside the tiny chapel on Little Pipe Cay, where Don and Bettina exchanged vows. Among them were two of the groom's kids – Kai Trump and Donnie Trump – and three of his siblings – Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump – and their spouses, Jared Kushner, Lara Trump and Michael Boulos, in addition to four of Bettina's siblings – Bebe McCranels, Kristina McPherson, Harry Loy Anderson III and Kent Anderson – and Inger Anderson, the mother of the bride.
The chapel service on May 22 was officiated by Bettina's brother-in-law Brad McPherson, who had notarized the couple's marriage license in Florida just the day before. The ceremony was followed by a multi-course dinner overlooking the ocean and later a bonfire, with additional celebrations for a larger group of guests taking place in the days that followed.
Lewis got the call about the wedding the afternoon of Bettina's bridal shower in April. "I jumped in, and we did it," the planner said. In the end, the bride and groom "were thrilled" with how everything turned out.
But, Lewis pointed out: "You could have taken everything I did away, and these people would have had a beautiful wedding just with themselves."
"It's the people that make the party," he said. "You can have the most beautiful candles and flowers and clothing and atmosphere in the world, and if the love and the energy and the spirit isn't there from the guests and the people that are hosting it, it can be quite dreadful. And this was the exact opposite."
Now, two months after their nuptials, the newlyweds have shared previously unseen wedding photos with HELLO!. Keep scrolling for a look inside Don and Bettina's celebration in the Bahamas.
Guests were gifted welcome bags, which included a "Love Trumps All" candle, a "hangover kit," cookies shaped like conch shells from Sweet Stacy's Palm Beach and more.
"We did the most beautiful welcome bags for everybody," Lewis revealed. "The handwritten notes from them... every guest was treated like this wedding was all about them as a guest. There was just so much thought and attention put into the guest experience."
The bride and groom exchanged vows in a tiny stone chapel on Little Pipe Cay.
© Laura Gordon PhotographyThe chapel was decorated with baby's breath for the occasion.
Bettina's brother-in-law, Brad McPherson, officiated the ceremony.
Guests inside the chapel, which had no air conditioning, were given hand-woven fans.
Fewer than 20 people gathered inside of the chapel for the ceremony on the private island.
Bettina wore a French silk dress designed by Safiyaa.
On her bouquet, the bride carried her late father Harry Loy Anderson Jr.'s locket, which contained two photos of him.
"The Bahamas called for something that felt light, relaxed and effortless while still carrying a sense of occasion," Safiyaa's creative director Daniela Karnuts told HELLO! of the dress. "Had the setting been the White House or somewhere more formal, the gown might have taken on a more architectural quality, while remaining true to its essential simplicity."
The groom wore a custom Mark Russell suit.
The wedding took place less than six months after the couple got engaged at Camp David.
The groom's eldest son, Donnie, served as his best man.
Don's firstborn, Kai Trump, was also on hand for the ceremony.
Three of the groom's siblings traveled to the Bahamas for the festivities: Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump.
The wedding destination, Little Pipe Cay, holds special significance to the bride. "It felt very intimate to her," Lewis told HELLO!. "It was lovely because it was so personal."
Following the chapel ceremony, a dinner was held at the island's Refectory.
The dinner table was decorated with white peonies, ranunculus and candles in cylinder vases.
The dinner menu included a choice of island-style tuna crudo or heirloom tomato burrata, followed by tagliolini and then a choice of butter-poached lobster or truffle-roasted chicken and finally a main course of herb-crusted filet of beef.
For dessert, guests enjoyed a vanilla cake from Sweet Stacy's Palm Beach, featuring palm trees sculpted from frosting.
It was one of two cakes served that weekend. The sweet creations traveled by van, jet, chopper, golf cart and boat to their destinations.
The newlyweds stole a quiet moment to themselves at dinner.
"The ceremony was very serene and pretty and soft, and the dinner was very elegant," Lewis recalled.
From the dress to the chapel, Lewis remarked that the wedding was "so completely" Bettina, "and so much more her than any big, grand production at the White House would have ever been."
"When you're dealing with people that are high-profile figures like this, you never really know what you're going to get," the wedding planner confessed, "And the thing that just made it so pleasurable is like, wow, these two, not only do they love each other, they actually really like each other, they enjoy each other's company. This is gonna work."
The festivities continued on May 23 with a Caribbean night party.
More guests arrived for the celebration held on the second day.
"It was very colorful and lively and festive and fun, and a much larger group," Lewis revealed about the second night.
The party featured a Junkanoo band.
The Caribbean-themed event was described as a "fun welcome party," where a roast pig was among the food served.
The bride wore a one-shouldered Missoni dress and Juju Vera earrings, with her hair swept up in a ponytail.
Don got into the spirit wearing a Junkanoo headpiece.
Don scooped his bride up on the beach.
The day after the Caribbean night, a nautical-themed party took place on the nearby island Over Yonder Cay.
Guests danced under disco balls suspended from palm trees.
The newlyweds shared their first official dance at the party, dancing to Elvis Presley’s "Can't Help Falling in Love."
"Every party had its own flavor," Lewis said. "It never felt disjointed because they were all in different areas, and so it just felt kind of like everything just naturally rolled into a progression of things."
The evening's fare included a seafood boat.
The evening featured dancers and an illusionist.
Bettina, who recycled her slip dress for the nautical party, later changed into a custom Safiyaa couture two-piece set.
A funfetti cake with vanilla bean whip frosting, Bettina's favorite, was cut during the celebration. The five-tiered creation was also from Sweet Stacy's Palm Beach.
"Everything really went off without a hitch, so they were thrilled," Lewis said. "I think it's everything, really everything they wanted it to be."
For more on Bettina and Don Jr.'s private wedding, see the latest issue of HELLO! available in your VIP Members' Area.
