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 The Compleat Chelsea and Marc Wedding Details
| Marc Mezvinsky and Chelsea Clinton at an outdoor ceremony at the Astor Courts estate on Saturday, July 31 in Rhinebeck, N.Y. (Handout / Getty Images) |
NYSD had the good fortune of obtaining an eye-witness account of the Chelsea Clinton-Marc Mezvinsky wedding two Saturdays ago in Rhinebeck, New York at the Astor Courts. This account is from one of the 450 guests and is particularly interesting because the guest had a reporter’s eye for detail and all the details are about the actual wedding itself. The writer, as you will notice, makes no editorial comment about anything except for what he/she saw and what it looked like. It looked like it was a wonderful wedding ceremony and party afterwards designed for the bride’s and groom’s friends and family.
The Wedding ...
Although we we weren't allowed a camera at the wedding or any events, here is my attempt at giving the full rundown:
Astor Courts. Built between 1902-1904 and originally used as a sporting pavilion with guest bedrooms, it houses the 1st indoor swimming pool in the U.S., and a huge indoor Tennis Court. To get there you have to go through this long winding road, and the grounds are truly breathtaking on the Hudson. (See NYSD 7.18.10)
Upon arrival we had a quick glass of water, and then went to the ceremony.
Ceremony. It was all outside and the weather was great. They had yarmulkes for the men, and fans for everyone in case it got hot. The chuppah was the most amazing one I have ever seen. It was constructed out of willow branches and decorated with white roses and hydrangeas. It was shaped like a dome, almost like a pavilion, and in the evening, after the ceremony during the dinner dance, it was lit up so we could see it.
The Ceremony was very Jewish, about 80%. The rabbi did most of the talking and they had a nice Ketubah on display, and they had a Sheva Brachot whereby the Rabbi read each one in Hebrew, and then a reader repeated it English.
At the end when Marc broke the glass, the Rabbi told us that they would use the broken pieces and put them back together to make a mezuzah for their apartment. Chelsea told a friend it was her idea, and that she researched it and bought it at the Jewish Museum. Clearly a lot of thought had gone into the ceremony and it was really lovely right at sunset.
Dresses. As has been reported Chelsea was in Vera Wang, She really looked lovely, and it had a long train. Hillary really looked spectacular in a beautiful red dress with embroidered flowers and she was so attractive. Bill looked great and had lost over 20 pounds for the wedding. Both of them were beaming throughout the whole ceremony.
The bridesmaids also wore Vera Wang in a soft purple (one of a kind, because they had white dresses dyed to the right color). After the ceremony Chelsea changed into another white dress (Vera Wang again). Needless to say Vera was in attendance.
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| Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky with the ketubah behind. The ketubah is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. |
Flowers. I don't think there was a hydrangea left in the Northeast. The main house was decorated in large bouquets of white hydrangeas and roses and over the fireplaces were long displays of white lillies (like they have at the Hotel Georges Cinq in Paris where they arc across the room). In the main reception area (a tented construction behind the house), there were a variety of arrangements but the tables had a minimum of 3 to 4 different arrangements, this time in purple/pink roses and hydrangeas again. I mean a minimum of 100/150 roses per table.
Reception. They set up a marquee in the back behind the tennis courts. It was an amazing sight. Chandeliers, air conditioning and a huge dance-floor. There were about 450 people but it didn't feel that big. The tables were mixed arrangements in shape – some round, some square; a very long dais (where Chelsea/Marc/Bridal Party/Family were). The flowers were arranged mixed, some high, some low, with a variety of candle/water arrangements. The color palette was a soft lilac/white.
We were seated at each table, with a personalized printed menu for each person (instead of a name card). Of course everyone was split up so couples were separated.
Band. The band was amazing, about 20/25 people with a full string section, as well as a standard band. They could play anything and did, really leading the crowd through the entire festive night. The first dance was great and Marc and Chelsea did a pretty sexy tango style which was showed how much in love they were. Bill was crying when he danced with Chelsea. They did a Hora, and yes, both Bill and Hillary were raised on the chairs and carried around the room. Hilarious. |
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Food. Very good (and now I know that Chelsea is a Vegan – there were gluten free breads and the huge wedding cake was gluten free as well). Salad, Risotto, choice of Arctic Char, Angus Steak or Vegetarian, plus Desert and Cake. We didn't finish eating until 1am or so.
After Party. The band wrapped up at 1:30, and then we went into the Tennis Court which was converted into a lounge, with different flowers (this time red hydrangeas and roses everywhere) and a dance floor surrounded by couches, etc. Then came the comfort food: Grilled Cheese with Truffle, Seared Tuna, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Mini burgers etc). They had a DJ playing, as well as someone playing the electric violin. It was really great fun, and we headed back on the buses at 3am, and got back to the hotel at 4am. We had started the night at 4pm, so it was a long night.
Guests. The press had it all wrong, it wasn't a Hollywood event but more of a family and friend event. So the only "stars" were Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson (who partied till 3am as well), Madeline Albright, Vernon Jordan and Terry McAuliffe. There were a lot of Washington people, but mostly it was family and friends which was great, as it was very comfortable and everyone knew people. |
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Speeches. Hillary and Bill made the welcoming speeches and both were excellent. Hillary welcomed everyone by saying "The press was saying – who is invited – well you are, everyone in this room has touched the lives of Chelsea and Marc either in the past or present, and we hope you will be part of our lives going forward – we thank you for all that you have done for them both.”
Bill then said that he has been outnumbered in his house with Chelsea and Hillary and was looking forward to having an ally. The best men (brothers) made nice speeches and the matron of honor made a really heartfelt speech. The highlight was Marc's speech where he described the moment he went to ask Bill (and Hillary) for Chelsea's hand in marriage, which was funny and surreal. He also said that Chelsea embodied the finest qualities of both her parents and he thanked them for raising such a special person (Bill had tears at this point).
Marc also said that as people have been there for them, he wanted to make it clear that he and Chelsea would always be there for everyone else – good times and bad. It was very touching and meant a lot to everyone in the room who knows them well. Chelsea 's speech was also great (off the cuff) and she radiated when she spoke of her love for Marc and again for everyone in the room. |
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The next day we had the Brunch.
Location. The brunch (again hosted by Hillary and Bill) took place in this magnificent barn in Rhinebeck. We had to drive (ID checked again and again), and then on a arrival, a golf cart took us to the barn, which was just amazing. They had two 20-foot walls covered in Sunflowers and we sat at communal tables (it was informal) and had very good brunch food (again wheat/gluten free options). It was a beautiful morning, and you could look out over this huge expanse of land; it was really special. Even though we were all tired, it was great. Hillary was out in force, being very Mother of the Bride and looking very summer cool. Bill showed up towards the end of the Brunch; and Marc and Chelsea were both there (Chelsea again in a beautiful bright blue dress). It was a great end to the weekend. |
(Barbara Kinney / AFP - Getty Images) |
Highlights. Madeline Albright dancing with Vera Wang, and hearing Hillary say to Madeline at the Brunch, "You were one hot mamma last night!"
Bill and Hillary being lifted on chairs during the Hora. Secret Service made sure there were plenty of men to do the carrying.
The grounds of Astor Courts lit up at night framing the marquee, pool area and the chuppah under the stars.
The relaxed elegance and beauty of the brunch – it was a special place.
Gift Bag. Last but not least they had a great gift bag (again with the same logo/writing as the invitations/save the date) – with wine, maps, sweets, pen, stationary, all local things sourced at Rhinebeck as a tribute to the Wedding. |
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