Details of Chelsea Clinton's Wedding to Marc Mezvinsky Being Kept on Lockdown

June 22, 2010— -- It may be the most closely watched wedding event of the year, but details of Chelsea Clinton's big day are being kept on tight lockdown.

The former first daughter will wed her childhood friend Marc Mezvinsky on July 31 in a secret location within a two to three hour drive from New York City, said Doree Shafrir, who first reported the details of the nuptials in New York Magazine.

News of Clinton and Mezvinsky's engagement went public in November, when the two sent an e-mail to friends, saying: "We're sorry for the mass e-mail but we wanted to wish everyone a belated Happy Thanksgiving! We also wanted to share that we are engaged! We didn't get married this past summer despite the stories to the contrary, but we are looking toward next summer and hope you all will be there to celebrate with us. Happy Holidays! Chelsea & Marc."

Since then, the buzz surrounding the nuptials has grown steadily.

When asked in February by CNN's Candy Crowley whether negotiating Middle East peace is as hard as negotiating the wedding, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton jokingly replied: "I'd probably call it a draw about now."

The first glimpse of the ring came in April, when Chelsea attended the opening of the Broadway show, Promises, Promises. That month, former president Bill Clinton also discussed how he's trying to lose weight for his daughter's big day.

"She doesn't think I'm in shape," Clinton said told CBS' Bob Schieffer while participating in the Pete Peterson Foundation's Fiscal Summit. "You know she told me the other day she said, 'Dad the only thing you gotta do is walk me down the aisle and you gotta look good.' So I said 'Well, what's your definition?' And she said: 'Oh, about 15 pounds.' So I'm about halfway home."

There was initial speculation that the wedding would be at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., but Shafrir said it will now be held at a secret location.

"All the guests who've been invited are going to be notified a week before the wedding by the wedding planner as to where the wedding is," she said.

Chelsea Clinton to Wed in July

On the list are likely to be everyone from heads of states to friends of the Clintons', not to mention the couple's own friends. According to Shafrir, only the family's closest friends will be on the list, and Chelsea Clinton has said she has to personally know every invitee.

Shafrir's sources said about 400 guests are expected at the wedding, a relatively small number against the legions of people the Clintons' hosted at the White House during the eight years they lived there.

Like Clinton, Mezvinsky also comes from political royalty. His father is former Rep. Ed Mezvinsky and his mother, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinksy, also served in Congress.

Clinton and Mezvinsky were childhood friends in Washington and attended Stanford University but didn't start dating until 2005.