Jenna Bush reveals Crawford wedding details in Vogue

First daughter, mother discuss plans for the May 10 nuptials

Cox News Service
Thursday, April 17, 2008

Since announcing her engagement to Henry Hager in January, first daughter Jenna Bush has been relatively quiet about her May 10 wedding at the family's Crawford ranch. But for the May issue of Vogue, which hits newsstands next week, the 26-year-old author and teacher discusses her engagement and reveals a few nuptial details to contributing editor Julia Reed, who also interviewed Laura Bush and Hager for the article.

As reported earlier this week, Oscar de la Renta will design the wedding dress. As Jenna Bush describes it to Reed, it is "a 'very structured' organza ... gown, with embroidery and a bit of matte beading, that is 'simple and elegant' with a bit of a train but somehow 'still casual.' " Here are some other highlights from the article:

Lela Rose (enlarge photo) For the 14 women in Jenna Bush's house party, family friend Lela Rose designed short dresses with her signature rosettes.

Hager, the son of Virginia Republican Party Chairman John H. Hager and a former aide to Karl Rove, asked Jenna Bush to marry him in August after an early morning hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain in Maine.

Bush's engagement ring features a round diamond — a Hager family heirloom —and two sapphires.

Dallas native and Bush family friend Lela Rose designed the crinkle silk chiffon dresses (featuring Rose's signature rosettes) that will be worn by the 14 members of the house party as well as the dress for her only bridesmaid, twin sister Barbara. "Having known Jenna, Barbara and the Bush family for years, it is an honor — both professionally and personally — to be a part of Jenna's special day," Rose told the American-Statesman.

The house party dresses will be short and come in spring-inspired shades to complement the season on the ranch.

Although Jenna Bush, who will be the 12th daughter of a president to marry while he's in office, felt some pressure to have a White House wedding and the glamour that goes with it, "That's not really my personality."

The outdoor ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m.; the ranch reception will feature a seated dinner and dancing under a tent.

More than half of the guest list of 200 people are relatives; the rest are close friends.

Laura Bush opted not to use a wedding planner.

Sister Barbara Bush joked with Reed that she has been preparing for her toast since birth. And what will her she be wearing? Rose told the American-Statesman that for the twin (also pictured in the May Vogue, but as part of a photo shoot from the American Museum of Natural History Winter Dance — she's wearing a seafoam green Carolina Herrera pants ensemble), Rose designed "a special moonstone blue silk shimmer soft long gown with a fluttered open back. The gown is accented with a silver sash to complement those used for the House Party's dresses."

As for after the wedding, Jenna Bush told Reed she plans to go back to teaching. Although she's not specific on where she'll do this, the Baltimore Sun reports that Hager, who is scheduled to receive his MBA from the University of Virginia later in May, has purchased a $440,000 rowhouse in South Baltimore and has accepted a position with Constellation Energy Group.