Cleveland became the only president to marry in the White House when he wed Frances Folsom. At the time, he was forty-nine and she was twenty-one.

Cleveland was a law partner with Frances Folsom's father. Cleveland had actually bought her first baby carriage. When her father died, Frances was eleven years old and Cleveland became her unofficial guardian, helping her to gain an education. It was while she was in college that he asked Frances's mother if he could court her.

Together, the Clevelands had three daughters and two sons: Ruth, Esther, Marion, Richard Folsom, and Francis Grover. Their daughter Esther was the only president's child born in the White House.

Before his marriage, Cleveland's sister Rose had acted as the official White House hostess. Once married, however, Frances took over these duties as the nation's youngest first lady and became an instant celebrity. In fact, at that time there were no laws protecting people from having their image used in advertising without their permission. As such, Frances Cleveland's image was used everywhere to advertise products ranging from perfume to ashtrays and more. She was also a trendsetter, with women emulating her hairstyle and clothing. Frances remarried after Cleveland's death in 1908, becoming the first wife of a president to do so.