Love Story Recreates John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's Iconic Wedding

The FX series dramatized the couple's 1996 nuptials on Cumberland Island, Georgia.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The sixth episode of the FX series Love Story, which chronicles the relationship and deaths of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, focuses on the couple's 1996 wedding on Cumberland Island, Georgia. The production team faced the challenge of recreating one of the most famous and discreet weddings of all time, scouting locations in New York and building their own version of the First African Baptist Church where the ceremony took place. While they couldn't include every detail, the episode aimed to capture the essence of the intimate and romantic event, the last before the couple became a global sensation.

Why it matters

John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette's wedding was a highly publicized and secretive event, with the couple going to great lengths to keep the details private. Recreating this iconic moment for the Love Story series required meticulous planning and attention to detail to convey the intimate atmosphere of the ceremony and celebration.

The details

The production team scouted locations in New York to find a suitable stand-in for Cumberland Island, where the actual wedding took place. They built their own version of the First African Baptist Church, which was lit by candlelight for the ceremony. While they couldn't include every detail, the writers and director worked to capture the essence of the event, including Carolyn's mother's concerned toast and the couple's desire for a more intimate experience before becoming a global sensation.

  • The wedding took place on September 21, 1996.
  • The Love Story episode 'The Wedding' dramatizes the event.

The players

John F. Kennedy Jr.

The son of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who married Carolyn Bessette in 1996.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

The wife of John F. Kennedy Jr., known for her high-profile relationship and untimely death.

Connor Hines

The creator of the FX series Love Story, which dramatized the wedding of John and Carolyn.

Juli Weiner

The writer of the Love Story episode 'The Wedding'.

Gillian Robespierre

The director of the Love Story episode 'The Wedding'.

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What they’re saying

“My initial question was, 'How do we recreate one of the most famous and most discreet weddings of all time?' It was a very tall order.”

— Connor Hines, Creator, Love Story (Town & Country Magazine)

“Everybody on our production was at the very, very, very top of their game. They left no stone unturned in terms of making this feel as intimate and romantic as it really was. It came together beautifully.”

— Connor Hines, Creator, Love Story (Town & Country Magazine)

“Ultimately you have to ask yourself, 'What is the episode about emotionally.' For example, we knew that Carolyn's mom gave a concerned toast, saying that she was worried about her daughter marrying into this family just because of everything that came along with it.”

— Connor Hines, Creator, Love Story (Town & Country Magazine)

What’s next

The Love Story series will continue to dramatize key moments in the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy.

The takeaway

The recreation of John and Carolyn's iconic wedding for the Love Story series showcases the production team's meticulous attention to detail and commitment to capturing the intimate and romantic essence of the event, despite the challenges of dramatizing one of the most famous and discreet weddings of all time.