The whole world had its eyes fixed on Montreal on December 17, 1994. Céline Dion married René Angélil, her great love and her manager. Nothing had been left to chance for this extraordinary day, which seemed like the outcome of a fairy tale. A look back at this incredible day, the 30th anniversary of which we are celebrating.
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A year after the public formalization of their romantic relationship, Céline and René decided to get married in Montreal, within the confines of the Notre-Dame basilica, even though several members of their entourage had advised them to choose the intimacy of their home in Florida or the relative discretion of Los Angeles. But the couple wanted to celebrate their love at home, among their loved ones, parents and friends.
On the big day, several thousand admirers of the singer invaded the streets of Old Montreal, from early in the morning, to try to catch a glimpse of the bride, while nearly 500 guests arrived in dribs and drabs in one of the 12 buses. rented for the occasion. The family arrived in one of 18 limousines reserved for them. On the list of privileged people who would witness the love between Céline and René, there were the elite of show business and hockey, of whom René was a loyal supporter, such as Luc Plamondon, Michel Jasmin, Sonia Benezra, Marcel Aubut, Michel Bergeron, Guy and Véronique Cloutier, Patrick Roy, Anthony Kavanagh, Mario Pelchat et Rene Simard.
The frenzy was such that one of the singer’s admirers managed to climb over the security gates. “We saw someone sneak away to cut off a piece of the blue carpet on which Céline had walked when entering the basilica,” the photographer told us. Paul Ducharmewho covered the event for Featured Echoes. Others imitated him, and several left with a piece of the carpet before security intervened.
Asked by Patricia Paquin leaving the basilica, René Simard seemed moved by what he had just experienced. “It wasn’t a show full of artifice, it was solemn. It was very simple and people would be surprised to see how much Céline and René experienced it internally. That’s what impressed me the most.”
A memorable dress
When the singer arrived in front of the basilica, everyone was able to admire her magnificent princess dress. Made of silk and French lace, the dress adorned with pearls was designed by the Montreal designer Mirella Gentilefrom Bella di Sera Creations. It required more than 1,000 hours of work from the seamstresses, and notably included a huge train 10 meters long, which weighed nearly 50 pounds. “I wanted a fairy dress, a dream dress,” Céline revealed to the media. I am paying the price for it today, because it is very heavy.”
But more than the dress, it was the imposing tiara that Céline wore on her head that left its mark. Made of 2,000 Swarovski crystals, the headpiece weighed nearly 7 pounds and had to be sewn into the singer’s hair to hold it in place. In fact, the star recently revealed that the day after the wedding, she had to see a doctor because she had a huge bump on her forehead from her tiara. She had to take antibiotics for three weeks because of the head injury.
Moving ceremony
It’s on his father’s arm, Adhemarthat the 26-year-old young woman entered the basilica, before joining her future husband. Last April, she told Vogue: “It’s a moment that will remain engraved in my memory for the rest of my life.” The ceremony, celebrated by Monseigneur Ivanhoë Poirierwas very solemn, even if Céline and René held hands throughout. The singer was also moved to tears several times during the ceremony.
At the time of signing the registers, the party began to break up when the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choirmade up of around fifty choristers, began to clap their hands. The guests imitated them, and the newlywed couple even did little dance steps.
The festivities then moved to the Westin Mont-Royal hotel. Guests were welcomed there for a cocktail where several activities were offered to them, including casino gaming tables. A five-course meal was then served, while seven musical groups provided entertainment.
“During the evening, around 10 p.m., I saw that René was starting to get tired while everyone wanted to talk to him,” revealed Mia Dumont. I then gave a dose of 1000 mg of vitamin C to Céline and René, telling them that they would be able to last until 3 a.m..”
Press conference
Celine Dion et René Angélil certainly remain the only newlywed couple to have given a press conference immediately after the ceremony. It was necessary for them to share their happiness with the approximately 200 journalists from all over the world who had come and who had not been able to be accepted within the basilica. They even repeated their newlywed kiss in front of the many cameras, René confiding in passing: “She is more beautiful than I would have imagined. Now our dream is to have a child. We’re going to rehearse, we’re going to practice, we’re perfectionists.”
After the brunch organized for the families, the day after the wedding, Céline and René treated themselves to a well-deserved two months of vacation in their Florida home.
