Chelsea Clinton's Wedding Secrets Revealed
Family, close friends trumped celebs as former White House first daughter weds.
Aug. 2, 2010 — -- Despite rampant speculation, there were no fireworks and few celebrities at Saturday's ceremony where Chelsea Clinton married longtime boyfriend Marc Mezvinsky. But, by all accounts, the Rhinebeck, N.Y., nuptials were a beautiful and private affair that left no guest disappointed.
In front of about 400 of their family and friends, the bride and groom tied the knot in an interfaith ceremony. The wedding photos released by the family, dotted with floral gazebos and a harp, were from the pages of a fairytale.
The former first daughter, 30, wore a strapless gown made of ivory silk with silver beading at the waist, designed by Vera Wang, a family friend. Chelsea changed into a second dress for the party.
"She looked very much a modern princess in 2010 ... the luminous skirt in organza and tulle," Brides magazine editor-and-chief Millie Martini Bratten said on "Good Morning America" today. "It was simple and chic and modern ... and will stand the test of time."
Her slimmed-down dad, former president Bill Clinton, who lost more than 15 pounds for the event, was close to tears and bit his lip as he walked his only child down the aisle. Her mother, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, beamed in a full-length Oscar de la Renta fuschia gown.
Chelsea Clinton danced with her father to Frank Sinatra's "The Way You Look Tonight," and guests were on the dance floor until about 3 a.m. Sunday.
Click here to see photos from Chelsea's big day
For such a big wedding, very few details were leaked ahead of time, thanks in part to the couple's wedding planner, Brian Rafanelli, who told the New York Times Sunday that he required confidentiality with all of his vendors.
But the tight-lipped guests have finally opened up, including the bride's uncle, Roger Clinton, who said his niece was a "beautiful woman and her husband is one of a kind."
There were several memorable toasts, including a heartfelt one from the former president, but Mezvinsky stole the show.
"Marc spoke so movingly about his love for Chelsea," Daily Beast editor-and-chief Tina Brown said on "Good Morning America" today. "He locked eyes with her the whole time."
Mezvinsky talked about how blessed he was to have met Clinton, Daily Beast reporter Jacob Bernstein said, and how she had changed his life.
Although their honeymoon destination is a closely guarded secret, the newlyweds spent Sunday night in the Pierre hotel in New York City, Brown said on "GMA."
Clinton Wedding Paparazzi-Free and Without Rumored Celebs
Guests received gift bags filled with wine from a local vineyard, pretzels, peaches and a note from the bride and groom. Neighbors received a bottle of wine for their troubles, hand-delivered by Rafanelli.
As far as who was there to witness it all, the big names the media had buzzed about for weeks -- Oprah Winfrey, Barbra Streisand and Steven Spielberg -- were not in attendance, perhaps not even invited.
"The funny thing about it was that the more they declared they wanted a private, really intimate family wedding, the more the rest of America wanted it to be something more than that," Brown said. "They did not succumb to the celebrity hype."
Two longtime friends, actors Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, were among the prominent names who did make the guest list, which included Bill Clinton's close friend and former White House adviser Vernon Jordan, and former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.
The Astor Courts Estates, which was previously for sale and then taken off the market in preparation for the big day, is back on the market. Realtors hope the recent attention will attract a buyer to scoop up the $12 million historical estate.
Brown said the joyous event came at a good time for the nation, which has been beat down by two wars and a crumbling economy.
"We almost could erase the 10 years since and think ourselves back to that moment when we were all kind of better off [during the Clinton era]," Brown said.
Click here to see photos of Chelsea Clinton through the years
With toasting, dancing and all the wedding traditions, Bratten of Brides magazine said, America got a much-needed lift.
"No matter what is going on in the world," she said, "there is love."