01of 10John Roca/NY Daily News Archive via GettyAn enamored John F. Kennedy Jr. proposed to Carolyn Bessette during a weekend on Martha’s Vineyard in July 1995. Kennedy popped the question while fishing on a boat off the island’s coast: “He went into this thing about how everything’s better with a partner, not just fishing but life,” his former assistant, RoseMarie Terenzio, tells PEOPLE. “He said, ‘I want you to be my partner.’ "

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John Roca/NY Daily News Archive via Getty

John F. Kennedy Jr. boating with Carolyn Bessette.

An enamored John F. Kennedy Jr. proposed to Carolyn Bessette during a weekend on Martha’s Vineyard in July 1995. Kennedy popped the question while fishing on a boat off the island’s coast: “He went into this thing about how everything’s better with a partner, not just fishing but life,” his former assistant, RoseMarie Terenzio, tells PEOPLE. “He said, ‘I want you to be my partner.’ "

02of 10Evan Agostini/LiaisonIt wasn’t an instant yes for Bessette Kennedy. A close friend reveals that she waited three weeks to accept his proposal, which made Kennedy “all the more intent on marrying her.”

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Evan Agostini/Liaison

John F. Kennedy Jr. Walks with Wife

It wasn’t an instant yes for Bessette Kennedy. A close friend reveals that she waited three weeks to accept his proposal, which made Kennedy “all the more intent on marrying her.”

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John Kennedy Jr & His Wife Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

04of 10Arnaldo Magnani/GettyShe did, of course, accept — andthe couple wedin an intimate, secret ceremony on Sept. 21, 1996, on Cumberland Island in Georgia.

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Arnaldo Magnani/Getty

John Kennedy Jr And Wife Carolyn Bessette Returning Home From B

She did, of course, accept — andthe couple wedin an intimate, secret ceremony on Sept. 21, 1996, on Cumberland Island in Georgia.

05of 10GettyDespite the high-profile nature of their relationship (seen here attending a White House dinner in February 1998) Kennedy was determined for the couple to remain a sense of normalcy. They declined security at his insistence, which made Bessette Kennedy uneasy. “John wasn’t sensitive to the fact that this had been his life since he was born, but it was not Carolyn’s,” Terenzio tells PEOPLE.

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Despite the high-profile nature of their relationship (seen here attending a White House dinner in February 1998) Kennedy was determined for the couple to remain a sense of normalcy. They declined security at his insistence, which made Bessette Kennedy uneasy. “John wasn’t sensitive to the fact that this had been his life since he was born, but it was not Carolyn’s,” Terenzio tells PEOPLE.

06of 10GettyDespite their intense bond, they had their ups and downs. “They would love hard, and fight hard,” Ariel Paredes, the granddaughter of Jacqueline Kennedy’s former assistant Providencia Paredes (and a good friend of couple), tells PEOPLE. “But they were very much in love.”

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Despite their intense bond, they had their ups and downs. “They would love hard, and fight hard,” Ariel Paredes, the granddaughter of Jacqueline Kennedy’s former assistant Providencia Paredes (and a good friend of couple), tells PEOPLE. “But they were very much in love.”

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08of 10Ron Galella/WireImageAlthough they were talking about starting a family, Kennedy was more ready than his wife, who wanted to wait until they found a home outside New York. She had concerns about the omnipresent paparazzi outside of their downtown Manhattan loft.

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Ron Galella/WireImage

“Newman’s Own” George Awards

Although they were talking about starting a family, Kennedy was more ready than his wife, who wanted to wait until they found a home outside New York. She had concerns about the omnipresent paparazzi outside of their downtown Manhattan loft.

09of 10Dave Allocca/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/GettyThe Carolyn that her friends knew was “quite a loveable person,” says Carole Radziwill, the widow of Kennedy cousin Anthony Radziwill, who was close to Bessette Kennedy. “She was clever, she was naughty, and she had that balance of being able to be really serious and deep yet funny.”

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Dave Allocca/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty

John F. Kennedy Jr. And Carolyn Bessette Kennedy

The Carolyn that her friends knew was “quite a loveable person,” says Carole Radziwill, the widow of Kennedy cousin Anthony Radziwill, who was close to Bessette Kennedy. “She was clever, she was naughty, and she had that balance of being able to be really serious and deep yet funny.”

10of 10GettyBessette Kennedy considered skipping the July 1999 Cape Cod wedding of Kennedy cousin Rory Kennedy. “I said, ‘You have to go — this is a family wedding,'” Terenzio tells PEOPLE. Kennedy piloted the small plane carrying Bessette Kennedy and her older sister Lauren Bessette (pictured here), whichplunged into the dark waters near Martha’s Vineyard, killing all onboard.

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Bessette Kennedy considered skipping the July 1999 Cape Cod wedding of Kennedy cousin Rory Kennedy. “I said, ‘You have to go — this is a family wedding,'” Terenzio tells PEOPLE. Kennedy piloted the small plane carrying Bessette Kennedy and her older sister Lauren Bessette (pictured here), whichplunged into the dark waters near Martha’s Vineyard, killing all onboard.

source: people.com