The Ceremony of The Century
Vogue subscribers and readers get a sneak preview of the gown. Editors Talley and Singer even appeared on the Today show to talk about Melania's wedding dress and the February 2005 issue of Vogue.
The estimated retail price of Melania's dress? Over $100,000.
Some have suggested it cost $132,000.
While Melania has paid for the dress, certainly Christian Dior offered a considerable discount given the publicity they expected from the fanfare associated with their wedding. Such couture gowns usually cost more than $100,000.
So what does $100,000 pay for?
Melania's dress includes the highest quality satin fabric.
28 seamstresses and 1000 hours of work in Dior Couture's Paris atelier, including 550 hours of embroidery were required to create her gown.
The dress is embroidered with over 1500 crystal rhinestones.
Such a dress also takes several fittings.
For Melania there were four, including one that lasted over four hours.
On Monday, Vogue editor Sally Singer told The Associated Press:
Melania definitely got what she was looking for: a dress that would be absolutely special and a dress that could only be worn to one's wedding.
Knauss chose a more theatrical-style dress over modern, Singer said.
In lieu of a bouquet of flowers, Knauss will reportedly carry an antique rosary down the aisle.
"The dress also had to hold its own against the massive ballroom they've built at Mar-a-Lago," Singer said.
The room is in the ornate Louis XIV style and the visual theme of the wedding is white, gold and jewelry - meaning diamonds.
Knauss wasn't intimidated by the hunt for her wedding dress or the ceremony of haute couture.
"Most women when they encounter fashion - whether it's in a magazine or in the mall or watching the Golden Globes - they compare it to what they can wear.
Melania isn't like that, probably because she was born beautiful," said Singer.
Runners-up included: Valentino, Rochas, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix and Chanel.
Something Borrowed
Melania will wear diamonds from New York jeweler Fred Leighton.
Something Blue
Melania's lingerie, in an "azure shade", comes from the Italian house of La Perla.
Because of the sheer volume of the dress, the magazine reports, Knauss decided to sit on a bench for dinner because a chair wouldn't work.
Following the traditional first dance with The Donald, the bride will change into a new outfit.
Vera Wang has designed the "after the first dance" dress which is both sexy and sleek. The material is made out of lightweight diaphanous tulle.
Last week, the New York Times said Trump has received discounts from jewelers, photographers, florists and caterers. All are interested in being part of Trump and Knauss' high profile celebration.
As an example, the newspaper said that Trump paid half-price for the 15-carat diamond engagement ring he gave to his bride-to-be which would normally sell for $1.5 - $2 million.
The bride has chosen to not have any bridesmaids. However, her sister, Ines will be their maid-of-honor. Donald's two sons, Donnie Jr. and Eric, from his first marriage, will serve as best men.
The wedding will take place at the gothic-style Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Palm Beach. Reverend Ralph Warren will officiate the ceremony.
Guests will go from there to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Palm Beach.
Donald and soon Melania's posh 17-acre estate was built in 1928 by cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. Trump bought it for $10 million in 1995 and turned it into a private club for the rich and famous.
The reception will take place in the club's 11,000 square foot, $35 million recently restored ballroom.
A Fairy Tale Wedding with A Fairy Tale Guest List
Celebrities, royalty, media moguls, entertainers, politicians and professional athletes expect to be in attendance at tomorrow's wedding.
Guests will be greeted by red carpet and champagne service from Jet Aviation, a private aircraft company.
A number of names you might recognize include:
Prince Charles
Prince Andrew
Prince Albert of Monaco
Muhammad Ali
Paul Anka
Naomi Campbell
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
Katie Couric
Actor, producer, director, Clint Eastwood
New York's ex-mayor, Rudy Giuliani
New York Yankees star, Derek Jeter
Billy Joel
Larry King
Henry Kravis
Supermodel, actress and fiance to Seal, Heidi Klum
Matt Lauer
David Letterman
Liza Minnelli
Patt O'Brien
Shaquille O'Neal
New York Governor Pataki and his wife, Libby
Luciano Pavarotti
Ron Perelman
Regis and Joy Philbin
Kelly Ripa
Lionel Ritchie
Maria Shriver & Arnold Schwarzenegger
Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons
Sylvester Stallone
Howard Stern
Andre Leon Talley
Usher
Miramax mogel, Harvey Weinstein
Anna Wintour
Among those invited, but apparently unable to attend: Bruce Willis, Elton John, Oprah Winfrey, Elliot Spitzer, Phil Mickelson, Joe Torre, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas.
Trump's former wives, Ivana and Marla have not been invited to Donald's third wedding.
Five hundred people were invited to the celebration. 350 plan to attend.
If you lost your invitation, the proper attire is black tie.
Donald and Melania's theme: White, gold and diamonds.
Guests will be served a feast by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose Manhattan restaurant is located in the Trump International Hotel. Vongerichten's preparations will be a gift to the Trumps. He plans to serve filet mignon with peppercorn sauce, prawns, foie gras, lobster and caviar.
Dessert will be a chocolate sponge cake with chocolate truffle filling served to each guest in the shape of a mini wedding cake.
The bride and groom's cake will be a five-foot-tall, seven-tier, 200-pound Grand Marnier creation decorated with 3000 white roses made out of icing.
Mr. Trump was interested in sending guests off with a bang. However, the town council voted 5-0 to not allow a fireworks display.
The bride and groom's gift registries can be found at Tiffany & Co. and Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
Selections have also been made at the world-famous linen specialist Frette. Cream white 500-thread-count cotton bedsheets have been selected at $1,000 to $1,200 a set.
The Trump's future dinner guests will be served dinner on Palladium Platinum Edge china from Tiffany. The cost to serve twelve: $1,800. The china is a simple white color with an elegant platinum ring around the edge.
The host of NBC's reality show "The Apprentice" will not broadcast his wedding to the public. However, you can see him on his hit show this Thursday on the season premiere.
This will be Trumps' third marriage as well as his third season on NBC.
Trump hopes to shoot at least two more seasons after this one.
Hopefully, this will be his last marriage.
Inspire & Be Inspired.
Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful "third time's a charm" living!
~ Jennifer Carolyn King
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