Tyrone Power’s 1949 Wedding: A Look Back

On January 27, 1949, silver screen heartthrob Tyrone Power pledged his love to actress Linda Christian in a lavish ceremony in Rome. Although their love was not to last, with the pair parting ways in 1956, they always had the memory of the day they said “I do” at the church of Santa Francesca Romana.

The wedding was the top topic of all the Tinseltown tabloids, including Screenland, which revealed to its readers that white lilacs sprinkled at the altar cushioned the knees of the bride and groom as they knelt before Monsignor William Hemmrick, who pronounced the couple husband and wife. After signing the register, the newlyweds were honored by an audience with the Pope, who presented the newly-dubbed Mrs. Power with a rosary and booklet containing advice about family life.

Italian designer Madame Fontana applied 2,000 pearls to Linda Christian’s bridal attire– an elegant combination of 50 yards of satin and 70 yards of lace, which was admired by the thousands of fans who flocked outside the church to offer their best wishes to the happy couple.

The newlyweds (seen here accepting wedding gifts from townspeople) embarked on a honeymoon excursion which took the twosome to Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, North Africa and London.

Photos courtesy Picapp