On October 20, 1968, Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of assassinated US President John F. Kennedy, were married on Onassis’ private island of Skorpios.
The ceremony was held in a small family circle at the tiny chapel of the Virgin Mary (Panagia), with about twenty guests. Even so, their wedding was one of the biggest society events of the era, drawing the attention of journalists and photographers from around the world.
Two days after the ceremony, on October 22, 1968, ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ published Nikos Kambanis’ report from Skorpios, describing the atmosphere, the details of the ceremony and everything that took place out of sight of most reporters:
“Those who lived these moments on Skorpios on Sunday afternoon will hardly forget them. They were the moments before the wedding ceremony, when the groom, the bride, their four children and their few guests came down the stairs of the ‘Christina’ to go to the chapel.”
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Aristotle Onassis and his new wife, Jacqueline Kennedy are seen on the yacht after their wedding on Scorpios Island, Greece on Oct. 20, 1968. (AP Photo)
“A different Onassis”
Shortly before the ceremony, the atmosphere was tense. The bride and groom and their relatives were getting ready to head to the chapel under the gaze of the photographers:
“Difficult moments: A different Onassis, visibly moved and nervous. An expressionless Jacqueline, whose glances wandered between the past, the present and the future. An Alexander Onassis pacing nervously along the waterfront, smoking. His sister Christina, smiling. […]
“All these people were under a constant ordeal of cameras and television lenses that captured their every grimace. In the small bay, caique boats overflowed with reporters and onlookers, and a plane flew low, filming a panoramic view of the wedding.”
Aristotle Onassis and his new wife, Jacqueline Kennedy inside a car on Scorpios Island, Greece. Source: Paper Photo Archive
The couple
Shortly before five in the afternoon, the guests began making their way to the chapel. The weather was not on their side, as it was drizzling on Skorpios. As expected, Jackie’s appearance drew the most attention:
“The bride, Jacqueline, wore a cream-colored lace ensemble, a miniskirt two fingers above the knee, with pleats, also cream-colored, and closed white pumps.
“Her hairstyle took an hour and a half. Her hair was combed down in a soft, loose style with a hairpiece that ended in a braid.”
The groom had chosen an equally polished but simpler look:
“Onassis, without his classic dark glasses, wore a deep blue summer suit with a white handkerchief in his breast pocket.”
The rain continued but did not disrupt the ceremony. Onassis arrived at the chapel first, driving one of the small electric cars used on the island himself, and waited for the bride.
The reporters’ “landing”
Jackie’s arrival at the chapel came with an unexpected incident. As the launch carrying the bride approached the shore, reporters tried to follow it in their caiques. The coast guard, however, did not let them get close.
“Then came the great… landing. A few brave reporters and photographers who happened to be on the caiques closest to the shore, seeing there was no other hope of watching the wedding, jumped into the sea, got soaked up to the waist and waded to the shore.”
Gardenias, camellias and twenty guests
At the small chapel of the Virgin Mary, Onassis was waiting for Jackie:
“Meanwhile, Jacqueline had arrived. Mr. Onassis was waiting for her with a smile. He kissed her and led her into the small chapel, which measures just 4 by 5 meters and is called Panagia. The chapel was decorated with gardenias and camellias, many of which Mr. Onassis had placed there himself on Saturday.”
According to the report, the few guests barely fit inside the church, while Jackie’s personal bodyguard stood at the entrance.
The ceremony was performed by Archimandrite Polykarpos Athanasiou of the Kapnikarea church in Athens, with two cantors present:
“The wedding ceremony began at 5:10 and lasted half an hour. The koumbara (maid of honor) was Mrs. Artemis Garoufalidou, Mr. Onassis’ sister. The candles were held by John-John Kennedy and Caroline.”
Jackie’s first Greek word
After the ceremony, the newlyweds appeared more relaxed and happy. They left the chapel and received congratulations:
“They both looked overjoyed. They got into one of the small cars to go to the ‘Christina.’ Mr. Onassis was in the driver’s seat. Next to him sat Jacqueline, with little Caroline in her arms.”
The photographers kept following them, trying to capture every moment:
“A storm of flashes. The little car moved forward with difficulty. With hundreds of meters of film, the television cameramen captured the various scenes. […]
“Every so often, Jacqueline said the first Greek word she had learned, ‘Efharisto’ (thank you), and added in English, ‘I am happy.’”
Jackie: “Telis (Aristotle) and I are happy”. Today in the afternoon, the wedding at Skorpios
Onassis, for his part, tried to get away from the photographers, telling them:
“Come on, guys, let me go. We’re here. We’re not going anywhere. We’ll talk again.”
The wedding reception on the “Christina”
After the ceremony, the couple and their guests returned to the luxury yacht Christina, where the wedding reception was held. Onassis asked not to be disturbed by phone calls, while the wedding cake, brought in specially from Paris, was served in the yacht’s lounge.
Kambanis even recorded the couple’s drink preferences:
“Then he drank his favorite drink: whisky. Jacqueline drank her own favorite drink: ouzo.”
The newlyweds then signed the marriage certificate in the presence of the maid of honor and the archimandrite.
As the evening went on, most guests left, and only close relatives and friends remained on the yacht.
“Afterward, on the brightly lit ‘Christina,’ everything calmed down again. Most of the wedding guests left, and the inner circle stayed for the wedding dinner. The couple spent their first night aboard the yacht.”
The reaction in America
While the wedding on Skorpios ended in an atmosphere of excitement, the news stirred mixed feelings on the other side of the Atlantic.
In its October 22, 1968, edition, ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ republished an article from The Observer describing the reactions the wedding caused in the US.
“ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ,” 22 October 1968, “ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ” | “TA NEA” Historical Archive
Five years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Jackie still held a special place in the hearts of Americans. Her marriage to the Greek shipowner marked a new period in her life, as well as a change in the image the public had formed of her:
“Among the masses of her admirers, her second marriage caused sadness. Many were simply surprised, and few approved of the decision of the woman who had witnessed two assassinations up close.”
The writer also discussed the former first lady’s public image and the prestige she still held among Americans:
“It would be unfair to claim that through her new marriage she loses this aura. Jackie was never a person of compromise. […]
“Despite the reactions expressed in this country to her new marriage, there is a widespread desire among the public to see their former ‘queen’ happy.”
Their marriage lasted less than seven years. On January 23, 1973, Onassis’ son Alexander was killed in a plane crash at the age of 24. His death devastated the Greek tycoon, whose health declined in the following years. Aristotle Onassis died in Paris on March 15, 1975, at the age of 69. Jackie returned to New York, where she lived until her death in 1994.