Journalists, celebrities and enough political bigwigs to put on an inaugural ball are converging on the quaint town of Rhinebeck, New York, this weekend for the wedding of former first daughter Chelsea Clinton, 30, and investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, 32.
The mother and father of the bride, former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, won't need to worry about media helicoptors drowning out the "I do's." The airspace over the venue is restricted.
The posh venue, Astor Courts, was commissioned by millionaire financier John Jacob Astor IV, who died aboard the Titanic, according to the venue's website.
Despite the bouquet of details that CNN has gathered about the festivities, a number of questions remain mere hours from the start of the ceremony. Will the bride wear Vera Wang (as her recent shopping habits slyly hinted), Oscar de la Renta or a Bridal Mart rental? Will Bill break out the sax? And what exactly is "country chic" (the dress code offered for Friday evening's rehearsal dinner)?
But here is what others are saying about Chelsea Clinton's (and Bill and Hillary's) big day:
– Chelsea Clinton's future father-in-law says the bride and groom are "two wonderful human beings." Ed Mezvinsky, 73, a former U.S. congressman, was spotted getting a haircut in Rhinebeck.
– Bill Clinton arrives in Rhinebeck and causes pandemonium. When asked by a reporter if he was excited, Clinton said, "You bet." The follow-up question: "Is your daughter going to look beautiful?" To which Clinton said: "She looks beautiful every day to me."
– Some large events have portable toilets, some have whole portable bathrooms. At a reported cost of $15,000, the latrines will have porcelain toilets, hot running water and audio speakers that play music.
– To make amends for causing a town ruckus, the family is giving wine to the locals. The Clintons sent nearby residents "Dear neighbor" letters attached to a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. "It’s very sweet," a neighbor told the New York Post.
– Another couple has some special plans of their own on Saturday in Rhinebeck. “I know she’s not doing it on purpose,” Emn Haddad-Friedman, a Brooklyn teacher said. “But Chelsea Clinton has taken what was supposed to be a special day for me turned it into hell.”
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Just wait until the minger pushes through the plastic.
Taj Mahal picture looks very Photoshopped.
taj mahal = photoshop
Ask the thousands of unemployed if we care. Millions of dollars being spent on a wedding while so many can't afford groceries.
so true
The Clintons are dropping serious coin - which means they're employing people - in an area that can use an economic boost. It's their money. They made it writing books and collecting speaker fees after decades of public service. Working in government won't make you wealthy, and Bill grew up poor. Say what you will about his morality, you can't dispute that he used his intelligence and charisma to build his career and, ultimately, his fortune. You're just jealous, and probably not half as smart.
The "Millions" figure is being offered by people not in the know and reported as fact in the media. Insiders say the entire event is being done for under seven figures.
I agree they are paying people to do this work and it is there money, not tax payer money, so it is no ones business what they spend there money on. This is there only daughter and they wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams! Good for them! Other then haveing an affair (and that is not our business just his families) Clinton was a good president!
Leave this poor family alone, I mean lets talk about Obama and all his faults!
Wonder if Bill handed out cigars??
Does Chelsea even have a job? If so , what does she do
wall street. where else?
DC marries wall street. what else is new? the shameless parasites and their minions thumb their nose to the people once again.
Hope the marriage lasts as long as the hype preceding it...
In 1986, my wife and I got married on $200 for all, including catering which was a veggie/cheese platter from Costco. Okay, okay, sure, that was almost 25 years ago and times change, so add another $150 for all that and call it even. Love doesn't require opulence. You get by and spend money where it's needed. Our little modest wedding has as many fond memories as those ceremonies that cost ten times as much. No regrets.
Congrats on your marriage, may the happiness last forever.
Is it your plan to contribute that amount to your daughter's wedding? Or have you done better since then?
Chelsea, like any other bride, deserves a wedding of her choosing. Nevertheless, the hyperbole of the gushing media applying terms such as "royal wedding" is ridiculous. The Clintons are royal????? Likewise, the hypocrisy of assertions that they are trying to keep everything quiet is evident. If they wanted an event that is under wraps why spend millions, erect gigantic edifices in a rural area ( think no one would notice?), and send the bride's father out practically campaigning on the streets of the small town venue already swarming with reporters? Some presidents' daughters were married very tastefully and covered by the press, but minimally. So, the Clintons shouldn't pretend that they didn't want a big dog and pony show with all of the interminable press groveling.
Why didn't she rent the Taj Mahal?
A hard-core US Citizen getting married in India? Yea, that's special
I remember my wedding. I hope theirs is just as magical and special.
Great thoughts! You're a good soul.
If they have the money, they can use in whatever way they wish. The fact that some of you commenting here are broke does not make you holier than those who have a fat bank account. Being wealthy is not a crime.
Bernie Madoff was wealthy.
Chelsea & Marc – Congratulations on your special day. I hope it is wonderful for you. I have my daughter's wedding in just three short weeks. I'm doing what I can for my daughter, as I know your parents are doing for you. There's really no difference, it's only in scale; we don't live in communism, some people are rewarded for their hard work & can then share that for what they believe is important. My parents did it for me – my Dad immigrated from Ukraine and my Mom from Canada many, many years ago. I wouldn't have it any other way!
I be on food stamps and needing another welfare check that Bill Clinton cheated me and my 9 kids out of. I willz never vote for that old pervert and her husband. All this talk abouts they nose how we feel and then they goes off and waist a million billion dollars on that old funky looking kid. What about my love child? All nines of them?
you know I'd almost feel bad for you if you didn't make fun of the way Chelsea Clinton looks. Is that really necessary? What did she do to you? Why does she deserve to be talked about like that?