It was a cold January night in Florida, but inside the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, things were heating up. Everyone wants to know the quick answer: what year did Trump marry Melania? They tied the knot in 2005. Specifically, January 22, 2005.
Twenty years have passed since that day. Back then, Donald Trump was the king of reality TV, riding high on the success of The Apprentice. Melania Knauss was a successful Slovenian model who had already graced the cover of British GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
The wedding wasn't just a ceremony. It was a massive cultural event that basically took over Palm Beach.
The 2005 Nuptials: More Than Just a Date
If you're asking what year did Trump marry Melania, you’re probably also curious about the sheer scale of the thing. This wasn't a quiet "I do" at a courthouse. It was a $2.5 million production.
The couple met back in 1998 at a New York Fashion Week party. He was 52; she was 28. He actually arrived with another date but ended up asking Melania for her number. She famously refused to give it to him, insisting he give her his number instead. Smart move. It took seven years of dating and a high-profile engagement at the 2004 Met Gala to finally get to the altar in 2005.
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The guest list for that 2005 wedding is legendary now, mostly because of how much politics has changed since.
- Bill and Hillary Clinton were front-row guests.
- Billy Joel performed.
- Simon Cowell gave the ceremony a "nine out of ten."
- Shaquille O’Neal was there.
- Barbara Walters and Katie Couric represented the media world.
Honestly, it’s wild to look back at those photos today. Seeing the Clintons laughing with the Trumps feels like a fever dream from a different timeline. But in 2005, it was just another Saturday for the New York and Florida elite.
The Dress That Weighed a Ton
Melania’s dress is still talked about in fashion circles. It was a custom Christian Dior gown designed by John Galliano. It reportedly cost $100,000, which was an insane amount of money for a dress back then.
It was heavy. Seriously heavy. The thing weighed about 60 pounds because it was embroidered with 1,500 crystals and pearls. It had a 13-foot train. She actually had to sit on a bench instead of a chair at the reception because the dress was so voluminous it wouldn't fit anywhere else.
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Why the Year 2005 Matters
Choosing 2005 as the year to get married wasn't just a random choice. Trump was at the peak of his "business mogul" persona in the public eye. His brand was all about luxury, gold, and "The Donald." Marrying Melania in such a public, extravagant way solidified that image.
They didn't just have a cake; they had a 200-pound, seven-tier orange sponge cake soaked in Grand Marnier. It was covered in 3,000 icing roses. Funny enough, guests didn't even eat the main cake because it was held up by an elaborate wire structure. They were served individual chocolate truffle cakes instead.
Life After the Wedding
Just a year after they married in 2005, the couple welcomed their son, Barron Trump, in 2006. That same year, Melania became a U.S. citizen.
Their marriage has survived two decades, multiple presidential campaigns, and the intense scrutiny of the White House years. While the public often analyzes their body language or looks for signs of trouble, they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary in January 2025.
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What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people think they got married right before he ran for president. Nope. They had been married for over a decade by the time he took the stage in 2015 to announce his candidacy.
People also forget that this was Trump’s third marriage. He was previously married to Ivana Trump (1977–1992) and Marla Maples (1993–1999). For Melania, this was her first marriage. She has often said in interviews that she isn't "a "yes" person" and that she gives her husband her honest opinion, even if he doesn't always listen.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs
If you’re researching the Trump-Melania timeline for a project or just out of curiosity, keep these specific milestones in mind:
- September 1998: First meeting at the Kit Kat Club in NYC.
- April 2004: Engagement at the Met Gala (12-carat diamond ring).
- January 22, 2005: The wedding at Mar-a-Lago and Bethesda-by-the-Sea.
- March 20, 2006: Barron Trump is born.
To truly understand the impact of the wedding, you have to look at the 2005 Vogue cover. Melania was the first bride to ever appear on the cover of Vogue in her wedding dress. It marked a transition for her from "model" to "high-society fixture."
When looking at the history of the First Family, the year 2005 stands as the definitive starting point of their life as a unit. Whether you follow their politics or just like celebrity gossip, the sheer extravagance of that January day in Palm Beach remains a massive part of the Trump legacy.
Next steps for your research:
- Check out the archived Vogue February 2005 issue to see the original "Melania Knauss: The Wedding of the Year" feature.
- Visit the website of the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea to see the historical architecture where the ceremony took place.
- Compare the 2005 guest list to the 2017 inauguration guest list to see how the couple's social circle shifted over twelve years.