Updated August 02, 2010
By all accounts, Chelsea Clinton had a wedding fit for a princess. And rightly so, since the 30-year-old former First Daughter is the closest thing to royalty that this country has. When she married investment banker Marc Mezvinsky on July 31, 2010, Chelsea had a gorgeous wedding dress, elaborate flowers and decorations, and a charming country setting. Though the wedding was top-secret with all participants required to sign confidentiality agreements, a few delicious details of their lavish wedding have emerged.
Chelsea Clinton’s Wedding Dress
Created by celebrity wedding dress designer Vera Wang, Chelsea’s strapless silk organza gown featured an elaborately beaded belt and a dramatic skirt. Mimicking the petals of a rose, dozens of layers of silk were pleated at the bodice, and then swirled to create a full ballgown silhouette. The bride also wore peep-toe white heels, a fingertip chiffon veil, simple diamond drop earrings, and she carried an all-white bouquet. See a close-up of Chelsea Clinton's wedding dress.Chelsea and Marc’s Interfaith Wedding Ceremony
Before the wedding, many wondered if Chelsea would convert and adopt her husband-to-be’s religion of Judaism. Instead, they had an interfaith wedding representing both of their heritages. Though it is often a difficult task, the couple found both a Jewish rabbi and a Methodist minister to jointly perform their ceremony.In fact the minister, the Reverend Dr. William S. Shillady, is the pastor at Chelsea’s own church Park Avenue United Methodist, where the entire family famously attended services the Sunday after Hillary Clinton announced she was running for president. Rabbi James Ponet, the Jewish Chaplain at Yale University, let the Jewish portions of the ceremony, including the Seven Blessings read by family and friends, and the signing of the ketubah. The New York Times also reported that a friend read the poem “The Life That I Have” by Leo Marks.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s Dress
The former First Lady wore a deep raspberry-colored gown by her long-time favorite designer Oscar de la Renta. Echoing her daughter’s wedding dress, it also had an elaborately pleated bodice and a dramatic skirt. In the background of this picture, we can see that Mrs. Clinton’s dress was ombre dyed with petal appliques.The Food – Chelsea’s Vegan-Friendly Wedding Menu
Chelsea has been a practicing vegan – a person who doesn’t eat any animal products – since childhood, and so her wedding menu appropriately included several vegan and vegetarian options. However she was gracious to her carnivore guests by also including some grass-fed organic beef. Because she also suffers from a gluten allergy, her wedding cake was both vegan and gluten-free.The Flowers, Décor, and Setting
The wedding took place under a chuppah made of twisted branches and hydrangea flowers, while the bride kept things simple with an all-white bouquet. But because this was a large wedding of 400 guests, their total flower order was anything but simple; many reports say that the flowers alone cost upwards of $250,000. The reception took place in an elaborate tent complete with glass windows, dance floor, and separate bathrooms.The Wedding Guests
Though there were unfounded rumors of attendance by Oprah Winfrey, President Obama, Barbara Streisand, and Steven Spielberg, the guest list was actually primarily college and graduate-school friends of the couple. But there were a few well-known names sprinkled into the mix, included Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Vera Wang, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.The Proud Parents
After the wedding, Bill and Hillary Clinton released a heartfelt statement: "Today, we watched with great pride and overwhelming emotion as Chelsea and Marc wed in a beautiful ceremony at Astor Courts, surrounded by family and their close friends. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the beginning of their life together, and we are so happy to welcome Marc into our family. On behalf of the newlyweds, we want to give special thanks to the people of Rhinebeck for welcoming us and to everyone for their well-wishes on this special day."See more of Chelsea and Marc's beautiful wedding photos!
