Rumor has it that Chelsea Clinton is getting married this weekend and it is going to cost a fortune. Chelsea, now 30, will marry her longtime boyfriend — investment banker Marc Mezvinsky, 32. Chelsea would like to keep the event private but Secret Service men have been seen milling around New York’s uber-posh Astor Estate this week and speculation is that the wedding will be held there.
Estimates of the cost of the wedding have ranged anywhere from 1.5 million dollars to 5 million dollars. The venue alone is estimated to cost $200,000 in rental and the catering is rumored to be provided by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, St. Regis Hotels and celebrity chef Olivier Cheng to the tune of $750,000. Add flowers in the vicinity of $250,000, security weighing in at around $30,000 and a dress rumored to cost between $10,000 and $25,000 and things can quickly add up well into the seven figures.
Chelsea’s wedding will clearly surpass her parent’s in both style and cost. The Clintons were married in a living room of a house they had recently purchased in front of 15 relatives. Hillary bought her dress off the rack at Dillard’s department store and after the ceremony they attended a reception given by friends with about 100 people in attendance.
Some controversy abounds as this wedding draws near. Two Norwegian journalists were arrested and charged with trespassing for snapping photos at the estate’s gate. Clinton acquaintances have gotten their feelings hurt because they have been left off the guest list and a Brooklyn based school teacher whose wedding has been planned for two years is facing a possible nightmare because she is getting married on the same day not more than five minutes from Chelsea.
Obviously the Clintons can afford this wedding and personally I feel it is their right to celebrate however they choose but there is some controversy regarding the cost of this wedding as you read around the internet. Of course some websites are going the political route and comparing it to Jenna Bush’s wedding which cost around $100,000. I am wondering why that is even necessary? One has nothing to do with the other in my mind.
A total of $72 billion is spent on weddings annually in the U.S. $22,000 is the average amount spent on a traditional American wedding. What are your thoughts on Chelsea Clinton’s wedding? Is it excessive? Are the cost of weddings in the U.S. out of control? Can you even remember how much you spent on your own wedding? Share your thoughts.
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43 Responses to Chelsea Clinton- A Whopper Of A Wedding!
I believe that they have the right to celebrate her wedding however they choose…my only problem is the hypocrisy of admonishing corporations and CEO’s about their greed and extravagance while living such an extravagant lifestyle oneself. It’s ok for them but it’s not ok for someone in the private sector, apparently. As recently as March, the Clinton’s were crying poor mouth stating that Hillary’s campaign debt had yet to be paid off.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20004883-503544.html
If they can afford a 2 million dollar + wedding, why did they have their hands out?
I have the same problem with the Obama’s who as recently as a few days ago said that they were feeling the crunch of the economy. Meanwhile they’ve thrown countless ridiculous parties at the White House, have gone on at least 4 vacations, made 5 million dollars last year in income and are planning another extravagant vacation as we speak. Earlier this month, they had their dog flown to Maine on a private jet! All of this on the taxpayer’s dime.
So while I don’t begrudge anyone the opportunity to spend their money as they please, I’d like for them, at the same time, to keep their hands out of my wallet and get out of my business when I (or any other private citizen) am spending mine. I’d like for the double standard to end. All of these politicians who are supposedly for the “little people” are living it up and a lot of times, their living it up on Taxpayer money. Then when it comes to paying taxes that they all tout to be “patriotic” and necessary, they are nowhere to be found. Just ask Tim Geitner, Charlie Rangel and all of the other tax cheating politicians (on both sides of the aisle).
As long as the Clintons pay their bills…I could give a rip what Chelsea’s wedding costs. If there is one thing her parents have done right…their daughter is proof positive that they loved her well. (For every $ spent for this wedding, there is a vendor, business etc. that benefits. Oh yes, I will use ‘trickle down economy’ ;0) )
If I put out the date of 23 Nov. 1963…as the date of our wedding? Ring any bells for those old enough to remember 22 Nov.? Walter Cronkite was on the t.v. when my parents & in-laws were trying to force feed me into eating lunch at a tavern outside of NYC. Those who were to be the waitstaff for the rehearsal dinner were ‘in mourning’ at a CC, & never showed. 8 of the 10 attendants worked in NYC w. jobs that held them at their desks w. ‘breaking news’…they missed dinner & rehearsal. On the 23rd - pouring rain…there was to be a tent put up from parking lot to the home of the reception. NO SHOW! My father ended up going to a funeral home to borrow their umbrellas so the police could get guests from car to front door! ETC. With MANY more stories…our wedding was not just memorable, but grand fun. (Despite a rather elderly lady who said ‘ how dare a wedding go on when our president has been killed’!) What did this wedding cost? A whole lot less than origionally planned. PS - No, my husband has never forgotten our anniversary…no one lets him!
It’s their money and their prerogative. Personally, I can’t help but find obscenely expensive weddings to be absolutely ridiculous. It’s one day and it seems like a huge, indulgent waste to me.
But I don’t begrudge someone else the right to spend as much money on their wedding day as they wish. And if I do, it’s only momentary and I immediately admonish myself and refuse to admit it out loud…..
Honestly, I wish them well and hope their day goes without a hitch.
I’m not going to lie, I kind of can’t wait to see the wedding pictures. This is my thought–she is the daughter of two huge politicos, her father was the president and her mother was a presidential candidate. I think it is no secret that they are rich, and I’m sure that they had a trust fund settled for Chelsea years ago–meaning it was her money and no longer theirs. In addition Chelsea’s fiance is an investment banker and she is a hedge fund manager (talk about BIG BUCKS). Basically, they could pretty much pay whatever they want on a wedding, even without her parents.
That being said, necessary security measures are going to make being any where near that wedding is going to make it a nightmare no matter who else is around (former presidents and a sitting president will be in attendance, as well as the secretary of state) so I don’t think that should be a reason to hate on the wedding. Also, with the nature of the guest list and the fact that she has been part of the political elite for more than 18 years, I think there is an expectation that the wedding should be ultra-luxe. I think this is one of the few exceptions I make to my “big weddings are ridiculous” mocking. I will return to my regular mocking this weekend when I watch say yes to the dress and people pay 10k on a dress when they are unemployed.
I agree with you all AND still maintain my point that they can’t then go cry poor mouth or go admonish others for doing the same. That’s my only request.
It’s their money so they can do whatever they want with.
It is annoying that have plead poverty, so I agree with that.
Same goes for a potential Governor. Spent 90 million so far on running, It’s her money !
Stu says…Same goes for a potential Governor. Spent 90 million so far on running, It’s her money !
I don’t necessarily disagree, Stu – I assume you are referring to Meg Whitman for our non-California audience? That said, I think there is a difference between spending millions to buy an elected office and spending millions on a daughter’s wedding. Some may disagree, but I think I have more problems with attempting to buy the office.
I know this isn’t the focus of the discussion, however.
I mostly agree with ErinKate. That said, I am a little bit surprised that Chelsea has agreed to this elaborate event. She seems to prefer being under the radar. Perhaps given the position of her family and her in-laws, she couldn’t avoid it.
I am happy for her. I am old enough to remember when Rush Limbaugh called Chelsea Clinton (as a young teen) “ugly”. It still makes me angry.
I think it’s wonderful that Chelsea has grown into a beautiful and successful young woman. I credit her parents
I can’t wait to see the pictures of the wedding myself. My sister was a nanny years ago for the familyof the new hubby, when he was a small child living in the Midwest. The family was very kind to her, but his Father was involved in dirty politics and went down for that. I hope the press does not bring that all up again, and lets them have a nice day. Bill and Hilary should pay their own bills!!!
Just read that President Obama and family were not invited to the wedding. Strange politics???
I am somewhat judgmental (in a general sense) about really lavish weddings, partly because I just don’t understand spending so much money on something so fleeting. That said, with such a range in the estimated costs, and little idea who is actually paying for it (which renders complaints about the Clinton’s “poormouthing” moot, IMO), I don’t feel that inclined towards outrage here.
I do see how the costs can run up pretty quickly – both families are in politics, so there are probably quite a few friends and colleagues that might be expected to be invited – it sounds like even as it was there are some hurt feelings about people who didn’t get invited.
HB,
Now that is a wedding to be remembered for everyone involved. I was only in 3rd grade that year but I remember it well and I am somewhat surprised that you went ahead with your wedding ( but really what else could you do?). If I remember right, the whole country seemed to stand still for about a week.
That wedding is giving a big stimulous to the economy, lol. I think huge weddings are ridiculous but then I am not in the same financial situation as the Clintons. My daughter got married 4 years ago next month and it cost around $20,000, my son’s wedding was around the same 2 years ago. Both families and the couples chipped in to pay for the receptions and related expenses. My husband and I probably spent $100.00 bucks on our wedding on 08-05-77. I was 2 weeks shy of 19 and he had just turned 21. We got married in a chapel in a church with only his immediate family there (parents and 7 siblings, 2 sister-in-laws) and two girls I went to high school with. Afterwards we went to a local restaurant with our friends for dinner. I guess it turned out okay since we will be married 33 years next week!
Pam, I’m happy you added ‘really what else could you do?’ By putting out my very abbreviated story…I put out just enough to be judged. I thought twice about that since NO ONE knows our whole story…tho’ I must admit being married a couple years shy of 50 years is evidence of something done well.
Of course politics enters into Chelsea’s wedding. Both bride & groom have lived knowing nothing but…yet, how grand is it that they’ve apparently turned into 2 very delightful people. The fact George Soros & family have given them a venue is not surprising. Nor would any of us guessing what price they pay for this day of theirs - ever really know just how much it will cost. Like it’s been said that is FACT…to have been a vendor will reap more business for anyone involved.
Anya…that Rush quote is infamously out of context. He was quoting someone else. ;0)
HB – nothing to be judged about. Life goes on. People still got married after 09-11. Congrats on being married “shy” of 50 years. I do feel sorry for the teacher who also planned a wedding that day. She will have good stories to tell her grandchildren.
Rhonda
HB,
No I wasn’t judging you. I completely understand. I just remember that time really well . Actually we had a family gathering that weekend and right now I can’t remember what it was for. It was about a four hour drive for us and further for other aunts, uncles and cousins and we all still went. I actually think that people needed to be around other people at that time and talk about what had happened. So your wedding probably provided people with a much needed place to vent and talk about it.
Rhonda
I was married in May of 1977 also. Our wedding was very modest. I bought my dress out of the Penny catalogue and I think it cost me $60 which was a lot of money to me. My husband and I paid for the flowers and cake. We did have our reception at a Supper Club but it was lunch and it was just sandwiches and the foods that go along with that.
Later that evening we had a “street dance.” My parents hired this man who was a “one man band” and he played just about every instrument and sang, LOL. My mom have tons of food set up in our basement and everyone that was invited from the wedding came in addition to most of the people in the small town I was from. It was really a lot of fun for everyone.
The one thing that I remember about the time of my wedding was how hectic it was. I was graduating from college with a Nursing degree. I had my pinning ceremony on May 7th. My graduation on May 14th. I was married on the 21st. Somewhere in all of that I applied for a position and was hired by a hospital several hours away from where I went to college. My husband and I found an apartment and moved our things there before we were married and I started work on May 23rd, two days after we were married. No honeymoon for us.
HB, did you happen to see the episode of Mad Men from last season where Roger Sterling’s daughter is married right after the Kennedy assassination?
Interesting to ‘meet’ someone who really was!
I would think security would be one of the biggest issues, including keeping overzealous paparazzi from barging in. More than one celebrity couple has complained about not being able to hear their own wedding vows because the noise of hovering helicopters drown them out.
People are always ticked at being left of a guest list. In this case, from what I gather, the guest list is quite properly on the couple’s friends rather than parental owes. Remember that it isn’t just the Clintons’ political friends; BOTH of the groom’s parents were in Congress (his father was on the House Judiciary Committee that voted to recommend Nixon’s impeachment) and are still active in political and humanitarian issues. The couple would have to get married in a football stadium to accommodate all of their parents’ contacts. President Obama seems quite OK with not being invited; as he put it, you really don’t need two presidents at one wedding.
Whatever criticism people have of Bill and/or Hillary Clinton in politics and governments; they seem to have done a bang up job of raising their adored daughter. Except for going to a few fashion shows with Madonna, which occurred while Chelsea, like her dad at her age, was studying at Oxford, she has kept a very low profile, even in college. Her only emergence into politics was to campaign for her mother, which, IMHO, was more an act of love than any love of publicity. She seems intelligent, charming, well-educated, hard-working and unpretentious, considering that she has spent her whole life in the public eye (for all but 2 years (the break occurred when she was a toddler) of her first 12 years, her father was governor of Arkansas).
Some well-planned dates turn out to be disastrous due to forces beyond one’s control; there had to have been people whose weddings were scheduled on September 11, 2001.
HB-Even if Rush was quoting someone else, that is no excuse. He didn’t have to repeat it. This was a pre-teen girl who had no say about whether her parents were in politics. It’s typical of Limbaugh. I’ll never forgive him imitating and mocking Michael J. Fox’s dyskinesias to accuse Fox of going off his meds to exaggerate his Parkinson’s symptoms to get sympathy for stem cell research (ironically, it’s the meds that CAUSE the dyskinesias; unmedicated, Fox could literally be frozen in one position)
I don’t necessarily disagree, Stu – I assume you are referring to Meg Whitman for our non-California audience? That said, I think there is a difference between spending millions to buy an elected office and spending millions on a daughter’s wedding. Some may disagree, but I think I have more problems with attempting to buy the office.
It’s your money you earned it. I feel as long as it’s not illegal go for it. In today’s politics……it’s a rich persons game….like it or not. Still no matter how much you spend on getting elected the people still have to pull the lever.
Come on, Stu!
I want you to share a little bit more on this thread. I want to hear about your wedding.
Hey PeggyP. Couldn’t agree more…my sound byte was just that. Unfortunately in this day & age news has become nothing but the ‘telephone game’…what starts out as an innocent remark soon becomes unrecognizable. I do more reading than listening or watching. Coming from a very political family…it’s interesting to read exactly the opposite of what I may know to be truth. FYI: I appreciate your own comments that seem bent on fact finding! ;0)
Anya…no we missed out on Mad Men. We’ve had several friends who told us about this show & tried a couple of episodes…it didn’t look like something we could just pick up w/o seeing the shows from the beginning. Thanks for reminding me!!! ;0)
Pam ……I’ll start with our last night as single people. We went to a hotel and ……….
Then we were married!
Just read that President Obama and family were not invited to the wedding. Strange politics???
I think that’s very wise. Having one (former) president is enough. Can you imagine the Secret Service? Also the focus should be on her and it wouldn’t with a sitting president in attendance.
He actually commented very nicely about that on The View today.
People magazine just posted an article dispelling some of the rumors regarding this wedding.
Two things that were in the article were that Oprah Winfrey did not get an invite and sources close to the bride are saying the wedding will cost under 1 million dollars.
I have no problem with the expense. I wouldn’t/couldn’t do it, but I have a feeling she is still living within her means. Chelsea seems to be a rather modest woman from the little I have seen. I wish them well.
(I didn’t know that she and her husband were such successful capitalists. Good for them.)
Pam, I spent $60 on my wedding dress almost 20 years after you got married…I borrowed my sister’s and got it dry cleaned. I am not sure how much my wedding cost. I paid for part and my parents paid the rest. With my mom in charge I am certain we got a great value for the money. We had a mass in the morning, a lunch (not a late dinner, that saves $$$,) a DJ, and it was wonderful. We celebrate our 19th anniversary this week.
Happy Anniversary to you this week, too, Rhonda.
It’s Chelsea’s day as I am writing this. If they have the same weather we have here in PA, she’s going to have a beautiful day. Blessings on the new couples (I am thinking of that school teacher now, too.)
Anya -
I am happy for her. I am old enough to remember when Rush Limbaugh called Chelsea Clinton (as a young teen) “ugly”. It still makes me angry.
Ah yes I actually saw the incident. That’s right, remember when Rush had a tv show? He would sit at a desk with lots of pieces of paper and read things with a tv screen behind him. The screen showed a picture of a black and white cat. Rush said, look a new cat at the white house. Then it flashed a picture of a young Chelsea and Rush said, and a new dog too.
It was disgusting and the end of any viewing or listening on my part.
On of the twitter accounts I followed retweeted something by the wedding planner that was used for Bethenney Frankel’s wedding. This is the party planner that Ivanka Trump, Barbara Walters etc uses. He states:
ShawnRabideau
Could someone please tell me where reporters got $ numbers for #ChelseaClintonsWedding? In my professional opinion theyre exaggerated a bit
The NYT has a few photos. Her dress, a Vera Wang, is gorgeous and she looks very beautiful. They make a lovely couple.
“I am old enough to remember when Rush Limbaugh called Chelsea Clinton (as a young teen) “ugly”. It still makes me angry.”
No you dont remember it. Because that never happened.
“that Rush quote is infamously out of context. He was quoting someone else. ;0) ”
That quote is false. What he was doing on his tv show was doing a segment on In/Out lists. The election had just taken place, Clinton had won, and here is the real story:
http://lyingliar.com/?p=17
This story has morphed over the years into: Limbuagh called Chelsea ugly (or) the White House dog.
Marcia…that’s why I try to publically stay away from politics. It happens not just to Rush, but most everyone who is passionately opposed on any topic…right, left or center. The ‘dog’ was to be a pic of the Sr. Bush’s dog, Millie. Just like the Gosselins, I was late to the show - I’d never heard or seen Rush, but did tune in to hear/see a passionate apology for this misunderstanding.
Thanks for the link. It’s been so long since that happened, that it’s great memories now get a jolt w. a link!!!
Marcia -
I hadn’t seen that bit but notice how the answer at first is that ‘they showed the wrong picture’. Then it changes to a different date etc. This is just someone defending Rush by saying people like me are wrong and didn’t see what we saw. I can guarantee that if is happened in this day and age we would all have a better record of it. One of the things the internet has done for us all.
I don’t understand the article because they have the date confused. But what I know is that it happened within weeks of the Clinton’s cat coming to the White House so it couldn’t have happened in 1992 since Clinton didn’t take the oath and move in until 1993. I’m not sure why they say the date was Nov 6, 1992, because it wasn’t. I read quite a bit on that site and it’s not exactly objective. And for the record I don’t think Al Franken’s book was objective either. I had not read it and find it interesting that he had a conversation with Sean Hannity on the subject. So the article has the wrong date and I repeat, I saw it.
Marcia -
Gosh, look what you made me find! This is another article that mentions the same incident. It is a column written by Molly Ivins for the magazine Mother Jones. (note for the conservative reader, this is about as left as something can get – Molly Ivins & Mother Jones) What is interesting about this is that the article is from May 1995. So it was written in the same era as the incident.
http://motherjones.com/politics/1995/05/lyin-bully
The cost of the wedding could have housed and fed families that are homeless,and hungry….
Reader, aka Marie…I don’t know why you are on all sites Chelsea w. your political rants anti-Palin, Limbaugh, Bush…! I think the basic topic was what a wedding this is for Chelsea. So far it looks like she had her day w. class. She deserved it & more!
I just googled an image of Chelsea in her wedding dress. Beautiful! I love the dress.
Ziggy has two beautiful pictures up. The full length view is better at her site than the link I posted above.
Reader, aka Marie…I don’t know why you are on all sites Chelsea w. your political rants anti-Palin, Limbaugh, Bush…
I am at a loss. I make a couple of posts here and you are accusing me of all kinds of things. I’ve always enjoyed the posts and topics here. I loved when the site expanded beyond just the Gosselins. I really only post on a handful of sites and then infrequently since I travel for work. I don’t know where this comes from but the sites I post at are 2 technical, 1 travel related and occasionally TWOP. I don’t think any of those people have come up in the threads. I know that I haven’t brought them up. There are other Maries, even here on IP. I apologize for whatever wrong you think I’ve done you. I’ll just read with interest if I see you posting. Sorry again to everyone for upsetting the thread.
MarieS – please don’t apologize, I was the one who brought it up in the first place! I think you may have been confused for someone else. So sorry about that.
Anyway, back on topic - I agree with Ann and others. The dress is stunning. I thought the picture of Bill and Chelsea were very touching and he is looking healthy these days. Good for him.
I don’t want to make the other topic the focus, but trust me, I am not ragging on Limbaugh just for fun or because of one incident. I do not condone the type of behavior he engages in coming from either side of the political spectrum. It is juvenile, IMO.
MarieS. - It is me who should apologize. I made one hasty comment on ROL re. how great I thought Chelsea looked - in the midst of rabid hatred for all things Clinton. A poster named Reader responded to me, out of the blue, claiming I needed to get off of Rush & Fox for my news. I made too hasty a judgment…! I’ve posted on 3 Gosselin-friendly blogs (only recently) & on ROL for waaaay too long in response to the same G- subject. I took to defending Chelsea, as I am but a proponent of NOT wishing ill will just because of the shroud of the internet.
Politics is but a blood sport w. all views being skewered hourly. ;0)
This is a Washington Post column written as Chelsea was turning 16. It’s dated 2/27/96. It references Rush Limbaugh’s “joke” when Chelsea was 13, which would have been in 1993.
Still, “Saturday Night Live” saw fit to air a sketch that compared Chelsea, then 13, unfavorably with Vice President Gore’s daughter. The first lady was furious about that, and even angrier when Rush Limbaugh took this shot: “Everyone knows the Clintons have a cat,” said Limbaugh. “Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is also a White House dog?” And he held up a picture of Chelsea.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/inaug/players/chelsea.htm
“But what I know is that it happened within weeks of the Clinton’s cat coming to the White House so it couldn’t have happened in 1992 since Clinton didn’t take the oath and move in until 1993. I’m not sure why they say the date was Nov 6, 1992, because it wasn’t. I read quite a bit on that site and it’s not exactly objective. And for the record I don’t think Al Franken’s book was objective either. I had not read it and find it interesting that he had a conversation with Sean Hannity on the subject. So the article has the wrong date and I repeat, I saw it.”
No you didnt. You saw NOTHING. The article I cited has the correct date. You saw this innaccurate version of events somewhere o nthe internet, assumed it was true, and lied about having seen it yourself. The incident you claim happened, didnt happen. Not in 1993, or any other year. The site I linked to has tha official transcript. Its interesting that after all these years of making this claim, those who make this same accusation, cannot back it up with an official transcript, or better yet: video.
“Gosh, look what you made me find! This is another article that mentions the same incident”
I’m well aware of that Molly Ivins article. THATS where this whole phony version of events got started! Molly Ivins got it wrong, but that lie has taken on a life of its own.