The big Clinton Mezvinsky wedding is this weekend and details are leaking out. The latest, Chelsea was spotted leaving Vera Wang in Manhattan, floppy hat for an incognito look that didn’t fool anyone, and hair all did up bridal style (a classic updo). So now that the dress has been confirmed, what else do we know?
We know that her wedding makeup was done up as well and that mom, Hillary, arrived at Vera Wang just 15 minutes before. A last fitting. We know that four Secret Service men were in tow. We know that Hillary also went to Oscar de la Renta (a previous contender for Chelsea’s gown) alone. We know that de la Renta started dressing Hillary in her former First Lady days…so could this be the MOTB designer? Looks that way.
We know that the rehearsal dinner will reportedly be held in a stone barn on a 5oo acre estate called Grasmere in a little town called Rhinebeck (about 90 miles north of NYC on the Hudson). We don’t know where she is registered, but we do know she’s not on myregistry.com. Hmm…we thought this modern girl would certainly go for that.
As seen two days before wedding
Also in Rhinebeck, a large white tent has been set up outside the 50 acre estate known as the Astor Courts, a private home owned by Clinton donors Kathleen Hammer and Arthur Seelbinder (and currently on the market if you have $12 million to spare and need something “a little bigger”). Leave it to the Clintons to pull some political clout to get the FAA to deem the air above as a no fly zone during the event so no paparazzi pics there. Sigh…not even Brad and Jennifer could pull that off.
We know it’s black tie. The event is reportedly costing somewhere between two-three million (20 to 30 times more than Jenna Bush’s “down home” wedding). We know that Bryan Rafanelli, the head of Boston based Rafanelli Events, is Chelsea’s wedding planner. Rafanelli has been described by one Boston socialite as “the Chanel of party planning”. Also known for swanky non-profit events, Rafanelli coordinated some events for the 2008 Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign as well as raising money for our Secretary of State. We know that Jeff Leatham, artistic director of the Four Seasons George V hotel in Paris is doing the flowers (expected to be around $250.000 alone).
We know one boss who didn’t get an invite…President Obama. Is it the old “you invite one person from the Oval Office, you’ve got to invite everyone” or is it something more? Maybe Hillary just wants to cut loose and get drunk like every other MOTB and not having your boss around makes it easier. Who knows, but one thing is for sure is that it’s Chelsea and Marc’s day. It won’t be as star studded as most Clinton affairs. The couple invited more of their friends for the guest list of 400 than their parents. Rumor is that if Chelsea and Marc didn’t know them personally, they didn’t make the cut. Way to stand your ground, Chels!
Celebs that we know will be there are Barbra Streisand, Kate Capshaw and Steven Speilberg, and media mogul Ted Turner.
Jimmy Vali of Vali Entertainment is said to be handling the music for a price tag of around $30,000 with his Uptown Mix Band ranging from Motown, to the King of Pop to Sir Elton John (a Hillary fave)…perfect for this party down family.  The only question left…will Bill get up and play the sax? Odds are yes!
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NOTE: Am I the only one who finds it incredibly funny that P. Obama lets it known that the “invite’s in the mail” on The View?! What’s next on The View…Najwa Ghanem talks about her Golden Wedding Anniversary plans with husband Bin Laden?!  How do they book these people?
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