Presidential Wedding Photos: When “Hail to the Chief” Meets “Here Comes the Bride”

U.S. Presidents — They’re Just Like Us! While they may seem like mysterious, faraway entities who control our lives from a literal ivory tower, they breathe, eat, and love just like you or me.

So here’s a collection of presidential wedding photos showing commanders in chief at one of their most joyous occasions.

George H. W. and Barbara Bush

Barbara Pierce met George H. W. Bush at a dance in Connecticut. She was 16, he was 17. Eighteen months later, they got engaged, right before George H. W. left to fight as a Navy bomber pilot in World War II. When he returned from the war, in 1945, they got married.

Barbara and George had six children: George W., Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Dorothy, and Robin, who died of leukemia at the age of three. When George H. W. became President in 1989, Barbara devoted her first lady responsibilities to literacy, starting an organization in her name.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan

Nancy Davis, born Anne Robbins before legally changing her name, was an actor when she met fellow thespian Ronald Reagan in 1949. They helped each other with show biz issues and began dating, though Reagan was still feeling spurned from his first marriage. Eventually, they did get married in 1952.

In this picture, they’re flanked by Reagan’s best man, actor William Holden, and Holden’s wife, actor Brenda Marshall. They had two now-famous children: actor Patti Davis and political commentator Ron Reagan.

When Ronald became president in 1981, Nancy focused on anti-drug education, including the infamous “Just Say No” slogan.

Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman

Actor Jane Wyman met fellow actor Ronald Reagan on the set of Brother Rat, a 1938 comedy about military boys who get into mischief. They wed two years later, and had three children, Maureen, Michael, and Christine who died in childbirth.

The two divorced in 1948, with Wyman citing political differences as too wide to bridge — Wyman was conservative, and at the time, Reagan was liberal. However, Wyman later revealed she voted for her former husband in both of his elections.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

Rosalynn Smith met Jimmy Carter at the United States Naval Academy in 1943. They married shortly after their graduation in 1946, and had four children, Amy, Chip, Jeff and Jack. During Jimmy’s presidency from 1977 to 1981, Rosalynn made herself actively involved in policy.

She sat in on every Cabinet meeting, traveled internationally as an envoy, and advocated for mental health awareness.