Inside Bill Gates’ daughter Jennifer’s wedding to Nayel Nassar: Kim Kardashian’s make-up artist, dinner by Jean-Georges, live music by Coldplay – and no fewer than 3 exquisite Vera Wang dresses

Oct 22 , 2021

Jennifer Katharine Gates, eldest daughter of Melinda and Bill, marries a dapper looking Nayel Nassar surrounded by friends. Photo: @verawang/Instagram

Bill and Melinda Gates’ wedding back in 1994 was a grand affair, so perhaps it was only natural that the wedding of their eldest child would be equally over the top. However, whilst Bill and Melinda ensured theirs was a hush-hush ceremony with no hovering helicopters and media coverage, this time we have all the charming details – and photos – of Jennifer Katharine Gates’ fairy tale wedding to equestrian Nayel Nassar.

After a bridal shower thrown by Melinda Gates at her US$125 million lakefront mansion in Washington, it was apparent the wedding would be a star-studded affair. Happily, one of the most anticipated weddings of the year turned out to be an “otherworldly fairy tale”, according to the bride herself.

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The bride’s Vera Wang wedding gown was in fact one of three made by the New York designer for the event. Photo: @verawang/Instagram

The wedding saw several heart-warming events take place; two marriage ceremonies, starting with katb el kitab, the Islamic marriage ceremony, followed by a main outdoor ceremony on Saturday and a post-wedding brunch on Sunday.

Multiple ceremonies also means multiple designer outfits, of course, and Gates wore a total of three different designs for her wedding weekend. The most spectacular was her bespoke ivory A-line Vera Wang Haute wedding gown. It looked ethereal with its hand appliqué French macrame lace on the bodice and sleeves that flowed onto her champagne Italian tulle skirt.

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Gates kept her accessories simple on the day, going for a pair of stud earrings and not much else. Photo: @verawang/Instagram

The tulle skirt deserves a special mention as it added oodles of grace with its lining of white hybrid Dutch delphinium flowers. The pretty bride kept her look minimal and fresh as she wore her auburn hair half up and sported simple accessories in the form of a pair of studs to match her dress. She completed the look with Aquazzura heels.

The wedding gown was lined with white hybrid Dutch delphinium flowers. Photo: @verawang/Instagram

On her fashion designer fairy godmother, Jennifer told Vogue: “Vera and her whole team were so wonderful to work with and made my dream dress come true.” She continued, “She is an icon in the fashion industry and a trailblazer as a woman who changed careers late and followed her passions. From our first meeting, I knew that I was in such good hands.”

Clearly, Jennifer found herself mesmerised by Wang’s various creations, as she chose to wear yet another outfit by the designer for the reception that followed.

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After dark, the pair moved festivities to giant, beautifully decorated tents in the grounds of their sprawling equestrian estate. Photo: @verawang/Instagram

Though still stunningly haute couture, the evening gown was a reduced (read: more comfortable) version of the wedding gown, complete with similar details. The dress flaunted a square neckline in nude tulle, and was also embellished with hand appliqué French macrame lace on the skirt and straps. The square neckline looked great with Jenn’s dazzling diamond necklace. Her third dress was yet another stunning white outfit by Vera Wang, but this time a sweet, sleeveless ivory number for their pre-wedding shoot the night before the festivities began.

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For those wondering if the glow on Jennifer’s face was entirely caused by love and happiness, they’d only be partly correct; Jennifer’s bridal make-up was executed by none other than Mario Dedivanovic – famous for his make-up mastery and friendship with Kim Kardashian. Still, unlike Kim’s heavily contoured looks, Dedivanovic gave Jennifer a very natural and dewy appearance to enhance her natural complexion, with simple pink lips and rosy cheeks.

The bride may have stolen the spotlight, but let’s not forget the groom’s classic look too.

Jenn was positively glowing throughout – but was it just because she was in love, or did she get a little help from Mario Dedivanovic? Photo: @verawang/Instagram

Egyptian-native Nayel Nassar looked dapper in a classic Armani tux with a Lily of the Valley boutonnière pinned to his lapel that tweely matched with the bride’s bouquet.

The nuptials cost a reported US$2 million and took place on the couple’s sprawling US$16 million horse farm in North Salem, New York. It saw 300 guests in attendance (all vaccinated and Covid-19 negative, we’re told) and even featured a performance by Coldplay, if the UK’s Evening Standard is to be believed. Dinner was catered by none other than Michelin-starred chef Jean Georges.

Even Jennifer’s famous parents shared images of the couple from the weekend, with Melinda Gates writing on Instagram: “What a joy to celebrate the light and love of @jenniferkgates and @nayelnassar this past weekend. So grateful we were able to find a way to safely gather for this special day.”

This article originally appeared on Luxurylaunches

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Celebrity style

Mum Melinda Gates threw a bridal shower at her US$25 million mansion before the couple said their vows on their own US$16 million farm near New York
The daughter of one of the world’s richest men married Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar in a US$2 million affair that she described as an ‘otherworldly fairy tale’

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