Beyoncé Opens Up About How She and Jay-Z Kept Their Intimate Wedding Secret, Even From Guests
Elle Magazine | 14.11.2026 22:56
2 min read
THE RUNDOWN
- Beyoncé shared details about her intimate wedding to Jay-Z in a new interview.
- The couple exchanged vows in a small ceremony on April 4, 2008.
- The singer revealed that her mother, Tina Knowles, designed her wedding dress.
Nearly two decades after saying “I do,” Beyoncé is offering a rare glimpse into one of the most private moments of her relationship with Jay-Z. In a new interview with i-D, the singer reflected on their intimate 2008 wedding, revealing that the couple went to great lengths to keep the celebration under wraps.
“We had a very small wedding in our home,” Beyoncé told the publication. “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.”
The couple hosted the ceremony at their New York City residence, and the date they chose (April 4) held special meaning for the pair, with the number four corresponding to both of their birthdays: Beyoncé was born on September 4, while Jay-Z celebrates his on December 4.
Beyoncé also discussed her wedding gown, which was designed by her mother, Tina Knowles. She called it her “favorite dress” that Knowles ever made for her in part because “it was gorgeously simple and made with her love.”
Her mom credited herself in a post celebrating the couple’s anniversary in 2020, saying, “ahem, I designed that dress.”
For the singer, choosing a design by her mother was never about making a fashion statement. “Wearing a dress she designed was very important to me, and more important than any designer dress,” she said.
