Conor Kennedy and Giulia Be Celebrate Rio Wedding in Style

Conor Kennedy and Brazilian pop star Giulia Bourguignon Marinho, known professionally as Giulia Be, marked their marriage with a lavish three-day celebration in Rio de Janeiro earlier this month. Images from the festivities have circulated widely on social media, highlighting some of the city’s most recognizable backdrops, from beaches and mountaintops to historic streets and landmark venues.

Kennedy is a son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who serves as secretary of Health & Human Services in the Trump administration. According to reports, the celebration began on Oct. 8 and unfolded across several of Rio’s best-known locations. The schedule included a blessing beneath the Christ the Redeemer statue, a formal ceremony at Igreja Nossa Senhora do Carmo da Antiga Sé in the city’s historic center, and a reception at a historic mansion in Jardim Botânico.

The couple had already made their marriage official months earlier. Vogue reported that Kennedy and Marinho were legally married in a private civil ceremony in Los Angeles in March. The Rio events were designed as a larger gathering for family and friends, with the bride emphasizing the importance of celebrating both their union and the city itself.

"We wanted to celebrate not just the wedding, but also Rio de Janeiro, the city we love," Marinho told Vogue. Reflecting on the blessing with family overlooking the city, she described it as one of the moments she would never forget. Earlier in the year, she also told Brazilian outlet Globo that the event felt like the best opportunity to bring Kennedy’s relatives and friends to Brazil and give them a memorable experience. She also recalled jokingly telling her then-fiancé, "My love, I love you, but I’m not getting married in Massachusetts."

A celebration rooted in Rio

The festivities reportedly opened with a welcome party in Alto da Boa Vista, a hillside area known for its elevated views. The following day, guests joined the couple for beach volleyball on Ipanema before heading to Corcovado Mountain for the blessing at Christ the Redeemer. The monument stands within Tijuca National Park, a setting known for sweeping panoramas across Rio.

The church ceremony took place at the Antiga Sé, one of the city’s most historically significant religious sites. Dating to 1808, the church served as royal chapel and cathedral after the Portuguese royal court arrived in Brazil. Its location near Praça XV de Novembro places it in a district rich with historic character, including a well-known Saturday flea market where visitors browse antiques, records and clothing, according to The New York Times.

The reception was held at Instituto Brando Barbosa in Jardim Botânico. That neighborhood is also home to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, a major public attraction recognized for its extensive plant collection and historic grounds.

Family moments shared online

RFK Jr. posted family photos from the celebration on social media. The images showed the wedding party gathered beneath Christ the Redeemer, his wife Cheryl Hines posing with samba dancers, and the newlyweds checking their phones for updates on the Seminoles-Cardinals game. In one Instagram response, Marinho commented, "Love you, Bobby," and also wrote that seeing everyone enjoy her hometown made her very happy.

Conor Kennedy is a grandson of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, brother of President John F. Kennedy. Vogue also noted that Marinho’s Calvin Klein slip dress for the wedding blessing carried an understated style that recalled Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Kennedy’s late aunt by marriage. Together, the details of the celebration blended family history, Brazilian culture and some of Rio’s most iconic scenery.