Inside the Marriage of the Year
January 24, 2005 Here
comes the billionaire and his bride. Donald Trump's
spectacular Palm Beach wedding attracted a parade of
his powerful and famous friends this weekend, including
Rudy Giuliani, Heidi Klum, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters,
Tony Bennett, Billy Joel and our very own Dayna Devon.
Oprah Winfrey couldn't make the big day, but her right-hand
woman, Gayle King, attended. So did boxing promoter
Don King, Paris Hilton's mom, Kathy and "American
Idol" judge Simon Cowell, who told us what he thought
was the best part of the wedding: "The 'I do.'
It was the best 'I do' I've ever heard."
Former President Bill Clinton missed the ceremony, but
made the reception, while Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
sat in the front pew of the church with Lakers star
Shaquille O'Neal, who scored that seat because of his
long legs.
Dayna told us about the ceremony, revealing, "They
kissed about four times. They didn't stop kissing."
"It was very nice. It was very touching,"
Billy Joel added. "It was just a culmination of
the vows and the whole place stood up and cheered, and
I thought that was pretty cool." And Joel's new
bride, Kate, added, "I thought when they kissed
and they looked so happy, I got a little misty-eyed."
And although Trump's bride, Melania's dress is said
to have weighed 50 pounds, Dayna assured us, "I
think she was floating. Her feet never touched the ground."
After the ceremony, dozens of locals raided the church
and stole the flowers, one even joking about selling
them on eBay. But hype aside, the wedding ended with
happiness and warm wishes from Billy Joel, who hopes
Donald Trump's third marriage, will be as great as his
own: "You know what? This is my third, so I think
three's good luck."
After the ceremony, the guests went to Trump's Mar-a-Lago
resort for the reception, and the next morning, "Extra's"
Tanika Ray met up with Donald's best man, Donald Jr.,
for a post-party brunch and a little insider info about
the big night.
"I am a little tired," Donald Jr., admitted.
"I got to bed at three, up at six. It's the Trump
schedule, you can't sleep in."
Donald Jr. gave us his take on the big night: "It
was a great vibe. It was amazing. It was a who's
who of finance, entertainment and everything. When
I got up to give the best man speech, I look around
and there are 500 of the world's biggest killers.
I'm looking at Barbara Walters. I'm looking at Matt
Lauer. After 27 years of putting up with my father,
he's a great guy, this is my venue for a little
bit of revenge."
As for Trump the dancer, Donald Jr. told us, "I
was surprised, he pulled out some moves; it went well."
But the topper had to be Billy Joel's serenade for the
newlyweds.
So how will the world's most watched just-marrieds spend
their honeymoon? "I think he'll take the week off
and enjoy himself down here. He is not a kind of hangout-on-the-beach
kind of guy."
Well, whatever you do to celebrate your union, we say
congratulations, Donald and Melania!
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