Beyoncé is sharing rare insight into her wedding with Jay-Z 18 years after they tied the knot.
“We had a very small wedding in our home,” the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer, 45, told i-D in an interview published on Wednesday, November 11. “We told the guests we were having a party, and no one knew they were coming to our wedding but our parents and a few friends.”
Beyoncé also gushed about her wedding dress, which her mother, Tina Knowles, designed.
“My favorite dress my mother designed was my wedding dress — it was gorgeously simple and made with her love,” she said. “Wearing a dress she designed was very important to me, and more important than any designer dress.”
Beyoncé and Jay-Z, 56, tied the knot at their New York City home in April 2008. Though the couple have mostly kept quiet about their special day, a few details have been made public over the years.
People reported earlier this year that the Grammy winners traveled to upstate New York days before their nuptials to quietly obtain their marriage license. The pair chose April 4 as their wedding date because of the personal significance of the number four. (Beyoncé was born on September 4, while Jay-Z was born on December 4.)
Only 40 guests attended the ceremony, including Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. Beyoncé’s parents and sister, Solange, were also on the guest list, as well as Jay-Z’s mom, grandmother, sister and niece.
Beyoncé’s mother’s minister, Rudy Rasmus, officiated the wedding, while DJ Cassidy provided the music at the reception.
Beyoncé finally gave fans a look at her wedding dress in the 2011 video for her song “I Was Here.” The stunning gown featured a strapless design and a dramatic, ruffled train.
Nearly four years after tying the knot, Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed their first child, daughter Blue Ivy, in January 2012. The pair became parents again when they welcomed twins Rumi and Sir in June 2017.
In her i-D interview, which promoted the British launch of her haircare brand Cécred, Beyoncé gushed about her children developing their own sense of fashion.
“I’m so excited to pass all my archives to my kids, especially now that they’re all discovering their own personal style,” she shared. “I’m going to enjoy seeing how they pull from their parents’ carpets and tours if they’re ever interested. Rumi’s favourite place to shop right now is Ross and TJ Maxx these days.”
