From the storied lore to their imitable style, the Kennedy dynasty has captured public fascination for decades. Almost everyone knows of Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy and their tale of Camelot. But you may not have heard about their wedding that turned “Jacqueline Bouvier” into “Jackie Kennedy.” We rounded up a few things about the Newport, Rhode Island nuptials that may be a complete surprise to even the most knowing Kennedy fans.

1. A LIFE Engagement Announcement

They may not have been the President and First Lady of the United States yet, but both John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were highly regarded in the public eye. She was Washington Times-Herald‘s “Inquiring Camera Girl,” and he was a young senator from Massachusetts. Their engagement was published in LIFE magazine with a headline of “Senator Kennedy Goes a-Courting.” LIFE even sent their photographer Lisa Larsen to cover the wedding on September 12, 1953.

2. The Well-Attended Catholic Ceremony

It may not surprise you that the Kennedys had a Catholic New England wedding on Rhode Island, but you may be shocked by the number of attendees.

We won’t leave you guessing. It’s 600. No, sorry, that was the number of guests at the St. Mary’s Church ceremony. The correct number is 900 for the reception. Or maybe 1,200, according to the JFK Library. We cannot even begin to fathom the logistics for an event of that size, much less how they did it without making their registry on Over The Moon or using our Directory.

As for the ceremony, it was officiated by the Archbishop of Boston, a family friend of the Kennedy clan, and assisted by four other priests, one being the former president of Notre Dame and the head of the Christopher Society. Before the mass, they read a special blessing from Pope Pius XII.

3. The Mother of The Groom, a Papal Countess

Two years earlier, JFK’s mother Rose Kennedy was named a “papal countess” by the Vatican for her “exemplary motherhood and many charitable works.” She was one of six American women at the time to have this title. 

4. Jackie Disliked Her Dress

This ivory tissue silk dress is so noteworthy, it even has its own Wikipedia page. But while the gown still takes up space in our shared public imagination, the bride actually didn’t like it much. The traditional silhouette was a request of the Kennedy family, and the complete opposite of what Jackie wanted. She thought the portrait neckline was unflattering to her figure and told friends the skirt looked “like a lampshade.” What she didn’t know is that this dress was a true feat of artistry in more ways than one.

5. The Wedding Dress Designer

Janet Lee Bouvier, her mother, hired “society’s best-kept secret” to design not only Jackie’s wedding gown but also her ten bridesmaid dresses, too. African-American designer Ann Lowe outfitted the elite, from the Rockefellers to the du Ponts.

Just two months shy of the wedding, a pipe burst in Lowe’s studio and ruined Jackie’s finished dress, along with 9 of her bridesmaids’. Instead of 8 weeks, they had fewer than 8 days to redo their design. It took up no less than 50 yards of fabric to make. She worked with her crew tirelessly to ensure it was ready in time—and never told the bride or her family what had happened.

Lowe and her team were supposed to make a $700 profit on this project. They ended up with a $2,200 loss instead. And when The New York Times covered the wedding in their paper, they didn’t even acknowledge the designer by name. She did not receive credit for her design until after her passing.

The couturier is finally getting her long overdue recognition too many years later as a leading designer who changed—and made—fashion history.

6. A Very Long Receiving Line

With anywhere from 900 to 1,200 guests to greet, John and Jackie stood in line for two hours. The closest thing to an all-American royal wedding was right in the heart of New England. An attendee recalled it being “like a coronation,” which seems like an appropriate summation.

7. A Daytime Reception

The mother of the bride and step-father, hosted the lunchtime reception at their 300-acre Hammersmith Farm in Newport. The bride and groom danced to Johnny Mathis’s then-chart topper “I Married an Angel” performed by Meyer Davis and his orchestra. Fruit cups, creamed chicken, and ice cream were on the menu that afternoon and served outside.

8. A Very Presidential Cake

Guests dined on five layers of white cake, fresh raspberry jam, and raspberry-flavored buttercream covered in white buttercream at the reception. Jackie reportedly had a sweet tooth, and while JFK allegedly didn’t, he did request their wedding cake at his inauguration.

You can try this flavor today. Boston-based Montilio’s Baking Company ships the exact—but smaller—cake flavor on Goldbelly. JFK isn’t the only president or dignitary to try this. Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush also had this cake at their inaugurations. When Pope John Paul II and the Queen of England visited Boston, they also had a bite or two at the third-generation family-owned-and-operated bakery.

9. A Tropical Honeymoon

The newlyweds vacationed in Acapulco after the wedding.

Still want to know more? Read our brief round-up of the 11 most famous Kennedy brides here.