Bill Gates’ daughter Jennifer asked everyone at her wedding to be vaccinated and take a negative COVID-19 test before attending, she has revealed in a Vogue interview about the lavish $2million nuptials which she said were difficult to plan during a ‘challenging’ year ‘with the pandemic’ and her billionaire parents’ divorce.
Jennifer, 25, married equestrian Nayel Nassar this weekend on her $25million horse farm in North Salem.
In an interview with Vogue that was published on Monday, Jennifer – or ‘Jenn’ – said it had been ‘challenging’ planning the event through ‘the pandemic’ and while her family was ‘going through transitions’.
Her parents announced divorced earlier this year in one of the most expensive in history.
‘It’s been a challenging year, both collectively with the pandemic and for our families going through transitions. But our love for one another has been a constant. Being able to celebrate our wedding with our closest friends and family was a dream come true,’ she said.
The wedding weekend involved two ceremonies (one religious, one civil), a wind-down Brunch, catering by renowned New York City restaurants, a custom Vera Wang gown and performances by Coldplay. Event planner Marcy Blum took the reins for the weekend.
Nonetheless Jennifer, who is in medical school, said it was ‘no small feat’ putting it all together.
‘Planning a wedding while I was in medical school rotations and Nayel was preparing for the Olympics was no small feat,’ she said. Nayel competed for Egypt during this year’s Olympics.
Jennifer also told Vogue she required all 300 of the guests at the wedding to be vaccinated and take COVID tests, she said, in order to ensure everyone’s ‘safety’.
‘We made the decision that all guests must be fully vaccinated and receive a negative test result prior to the wedding.
‘We also made masks available. We feel incredibly fortunate to be able to gather with our loved ones safely.
Jennifer, 25, married Egyptian-native Nayel Nassar this weekend on her $25million horse farm in North Salem, New York. There were two ceremonies, a Sunday brunch, catering by NYC restaurant Jean Georges and Coldplay was the wedding band. Melinda is in the front row but Bill isn’t seen in the picture she posted on Instagram on Monday
Jennifer – or ‘Jenn’ as she is referred to her in her Vogue interview – said it was ‘no small feat’ planning the $2million event
Both Bill and Melinda – who divorced in August – posted photos from the wedding on Instagram on Monday along with messages for the happy couple
‘We know others aren’t as lucky, especially as the pandemic continues to devastate communities in the United States and around the world,’ she said.
In one of the photos she posted from the event, proud mother Melinda can be seen sitting in the front row at the ceremony. Bill is not in the pictures posted, but DailyMail.com photographed him walking Jennifer down the aisle with Melinda.
The pair danced to ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ for their father-daughter-dance.
Nassar and Gates both posted photos from the event on Instagram on Monday
Her first dance with her new husband was ‘Yellow Lights’, a song ‘which was written and performed by their friend and artist Harry Hudson’.
Hudson is friends with Kylie Jenner, among other stars.
Yellow Lights has been streamed more than 34million times on Spotify.
‘One piece of advice we were given [throughout the planning process] was to remember that this day is about us and our love.
‘I think we really kept that at the center of our minds while planning, and we also tried to ensure that our families and friends were able to enjoy themselves,’ she said.
The couple first said I Do on Friday night in a religious ceremony. They then held the big bash on Saturday, before rounding off the weekend with a wedding brunch on Sunday.
‘Our main ceremony took place on Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, and we had just finished taking photos when the rain started.
‘The ceremony was facilitated by a longtime family friend, and we both wrote our own vows. It was a really special and intimate moment.
Microsoft heiress Jennifer Gates, wearing a custom Vera Wang gown, takes photos at her Westchester estate flanked by her bridesmaids dressed in evergreen, ahead of her wedding ceremony on Saturday
Dad, Bill, daughter Jennifer and mom, Melinda, could be seen waiting for their cue to enter the ceremony
Jennifer Gates looks stunning as she has her hair and veil adjusted while posing with Nayel Nassar on their wedding day for pictures
Gates wore an elegant white bridal dress while the groom wore a grey suit for the couple’s pre-wedding photos on Friday. It later emerged that the photo shoot was part of a secret Muslim wedding ceremony
Bill Gates could be seen smiling with just hours to go before he will be giving his daughter away in a wedding hosted at her sprawling estate
Earlier, on Friday, Melinda French Gates could be seen speaking to a man on the driveway of the estate as she carried her heels in her right hand
The outdoor wedding was held on Saturday afternoon on the family’s 142-acre estate in North Salem, New York
Jennifer and Nayel before their wedding
‘It was a beautiful evening and a dream come true for both of us!’ Jennifer said.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Bill wrote: ‘Jenn and Nayel, it’s impossible to put into words how happy it makes me to see you filled with joy on your wedding day.
‘I’m so proud of you both for everything you’ve accomplished in your lives so far and everything you will do with your future together.’
The happy new couple also gushed about the event on Instagram. Jennifer uploaded a photo of them walking back down the aisle after the ceremony, writing beneath it: ‘My universe.’
Nassar posted the same image, writing: ‘We did a thing this weekend! Can’t wait for forever after with you’.
Melinda uploaded her own gushing post.
‘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,’ she said.
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