Memories of Donald & Melania Trump's Florida wedding before couple’s milestone anniversary

The numerical date 1/25/25 will be a unique one for Donald and Melania Trump: On Jan. 25, 2025, the former first couple will celebrate a milestone anniversary, 20 years of marriage.

Twenty years ago, Donald Trump and then-fiancé Melania Knauss, her professional modeling name, were busy planning their lavish nuptials in Palm Beach, Florida − the wedding at Bethesda-By-the-Sea Episcopal Church, followed by a wedding reception in the new Donald J. Trump Ballroom at his private club.

What was Melania Trump's maiden name?

Melania Trump was born Melanija Knavs April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, according to her bio on the White House Historical Association's website.

As Melania Knauss, she began her modeling career at age 16 and moved to New York in 1996. The couple met in 1998 at a New York fashion party, became engaged in 2004 and married in 2005.

All of this was before Trump became the 45th president of the United States, before Melania became a mom to Barron Trump (Trump’s youngest child of five), and before Mar-a-Lago, site of the billionaire’s wedding reception, became known as the Southern White House when Trump was in office.

Twenty years ago, Melania Knauss was just a bride-to-be, squeezing in wedding dress fittings, finalizing celebrity invites and reception dinner at Mar-a-Lago. Melania Knauss became Mrs. Donald Trump on a Saturday evening in January 2005.

Interestingly, Bethesda-By-the-Sea Episcopal Church was the site of another famous wedding: NBA basketball GOAT Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls (seven-time NBA champion) married Cuban model Yvette Prieto on April 27, 2013.

Photos looking back at the wedding of Donald and Melania Trump

The photo gallery below is a look back at wedding preparations for Donald and Melania Trump and what we know about their Jan. 25, 2005, wedding, from archived photos and coverage of the Palm Beach Post, the Palm Beach Daily News and USA TODAY Network-Florida.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Melania Trump celebrity wedding, Mar-a-Lago pics: Which stars attended