Revealed: The last minute preparations for Chelsea Clinton's £3.2m wedding

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By Daily Mail Reporter

Luxury location: Preparations are well underway at Astor Courts in New Jersey, where Chelsea Clinton will marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday


When you are spending £3.2million on a one-day event you want nothing left to chance.

And so with four days to go until Chelsea Clinton marries Marc Mezvinsky, preparations for the ceremony and reception are already nearly complete.

Aerial photos reveal huge temporary structures securely in place and a team of workers swarming over the tree-lined country mansion in New Jersey.

The union of Miss Clinton, 30, and Marc Mezvinsky, 32, will take place at Astor Courts, the former estate of millionaire John Jacob Astor IV in Rhinebeck, New York.


The 50-acre estate is set along with Hudson River, against a mountainous backdrop.
It is in the small village of Rhinebeck, population 4,000, located 100 miles north of Manhattan.

The picturesque village has thrown itself behind Chelsea, welcoming it's brief moment in the spotlight.

Businesses have been getting into the swing of things, with banners bearing messages of congratulations hung inside cafe windows and outside shops.


Last minute preparations: Chelsea Clinton is spotted leaving a New York gym


Of course, when your father is a former U.S. President and your mother is the Secretary of State, having your wedding reception in the local pub isn’t an option.

No expense will be spared at what will be the American society event of the year, with the equivalent of £6,400 being spent on each of the 500 guests.

At least £400,000 has been spent on setting up the tents and structures surrounding the mansion.

Another £70,000 is going on tables and crockery and a staggering £320,000 is being spent on flowers, thought to be Casablanca lillies and orchids.

Miss Clinton’s dress, designed by Oscar de la Renta or Vera Wang, is rumoured to be a cool £16,000, and the jewellery she wears on the day is worth £160,000. The cake alone will cost £7,000 and security a further £130,000.

Guests are even being treated to porcelain portable toilets that flush, play music and have hot running water.


Away from prying eyes: Chelsea has chosen a rural location


Miss Clinton is expected to hire between four and six Portaloo trailers - at a total cost of about £10,000.

Estimates put the cost at between £1.9million and £3.2million, far more than most celebrity weddings.

When Liza Minnelli and David Gest tied the knot, it cost £1.6million, while Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes spent £1.2million.

‘This will definitely be the biggest wedding of the year,’ said Donnie Brown, a celebrity wedding planner.


And as the big day draws near, it seems Miss Clinton has been hitting the gym to look and feel her best.

The rings will cost £3,500 each, alcohol and food for the main event and after party will come to £100,000, the equivalent of £200 per person, although the cake will cost £7,000 on its own with sugar flowers and fondants increasing the price.

Even mundane items like the stationery - invites, programmes and menus - will push the budget up, and are expected to come to a total of £32,000.

No expense has been spared with organisational matters either, and the rehearsal dinner alone cost £16,000 and a huge £320,000 has been earmarked for transporting guests to the event


The wedding will take place at Astor Courts in Rhinebeck, New York: 500 guests are expected to attend


As for the toilets, they will be equipped with sinks with hot water, vanities for the ladies, marble interior and skylights with a male and female attendant in each trailer.

Wedding planner Claudia Hanlin said the final bill would be pushed up by the high quality demanded across the board.

‘Food and booze are already expensive, but the Clintons are reportedly hiring multiple vendors, which is one reason the food estimate gets so high,’ she said.


On the plus side, it looks like both sets of parents can afford it.

Mezvinsky is an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and the child of two politician parents, Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky and Edward M. Mezvinsky, both former members of Congress.

Marc and Chelsea were teenage friends in Washington DC and they became closer as undergraduates at Stanford University, California.


Hilary Clinton looked relaxed as she arrived outside Chelsea's apartment (left): She was accompanied by an assistant carrying a large dress bag


Bill and Hillary Clinton are also not shy of a dollar - since leaving office as president he has made a fortune from the lecture circuit and she is US Secretary of State, which carries an annual salary of £120,000.

Between 2000 and 2007 they earned a reported £70million.

The Clintons have have done their best to keep the guest list at a manageable number, forcing them to exclude many longstanding Democratic supporters.


The happy couple: Chelsea and Marc Mezvinsky have been friend's since they were teenagers


A seat will doubtless be saved for President Obama should he attend - currently there are no plans for him to do so - but apart from that only those with a personal connection to the bride and groom have been invited.

Among the celebrities expected to attend, according to reports, are Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand, as well as former prime minister John Major.

Major donors to the party and dozens of acquaintances have been snubbed as the family tried to keep the list under 500 people.

'We love you all but this is her wedding,' Hillary Clinton said.


Getting into the spirit: Local businesses have started to erect congratulations messages ahead of the big day


Champagne toast: Shop windows bear notes wishing the happy couple well on their wedding day

source :dailymail

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