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Wedding Day for Chelsea Clinton

It's not easy finding a flattering picture of Hillary Clinton in the dress she wore last night to Chelsea Clinton's pre-wedding dinner. But she and Bill are definitely the proud parents today, and Congratulations, Chelsea and Marc. (Update: Found a better photo.)

As always, Bill Clinton draw a crowd:

[More...]

I doubt the Clintons or Chelsea wanted this much attention for the event. Maybe it was their trying to keep details quiet that ensured a media circus. For those into the minutiae, here's the menu for the Rhinecliff restaurant, which changed the names of many items to create a political theme. The menu for the wedding had a lot of vegan items, and the wedding cake, by LuLu's of Scarsdale, was vegan and gluten free.

Update with wedding photos here.

< Obama Faces SnookiGate | Saturday Night Open Thread: Chelsea Clinton Wedding Photos >
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  • Display: Sort:
    I hope it's a wonderful occasion. (5.00 / 4) (#1)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:21:23 PM EST
    I can't help it, I just downright LIKE Bill and Hillary. And by extension, Chelsea.

    Well I like girlie dresses (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:27:13 PM EST
    and I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  But I personally can't find a photo of Hillary and this dress that I think is unflattering.  I like this dress on her.

    Love Is Blind (1.80 / 5) (#3)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:29:23 PM EST
    I have great taste in clothing (none / 0) (#4)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:30:05 PM EST
    no insults please (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:40:15 PM EST
    If MT likes the dress, that's her choice.

    Parent
    Not An Insult (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:49:49 PM EST
    Me too (none / 0) (#57)
    by Nemi on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 05:26:21 AM EST
    No, make that love that dress on her! It's one of the most perfect and flattering designs I've ever seen her wear.

    The hair and the makeup is just perfect too.

    Parent

    And, BTW, I'm kind of miffed my $50 (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:10:42 PM EST
    didn't garner me a wedding invitation!

    OK Milt (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:18:42 PM EST
    I think that the dress is not flattering on Hillary, at least from the picture provided.

    And, FYI, I do not worry about someone calling me stupid, or even more well versed...  

    Ha! Touche (none / 0) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:54:14 PM EST
    My daughters and I went to the purported (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by byteb on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:04:59 PM EST
    bakery in Scarsdale, NY where Chelsea's wedding cake has been made, yesterday afternoon and ordered and consumed some incredibly delicious cupcakes in her honor The bakery is called Lulu's and all the ingredients for all their goodies are organic. It has a webpage and a facebook page and you can order cakes to be shipped to you.

    I have never had cupcakes that were so amazing!

    Congrats to the bride and groom.

    And I think Hillary looked lovely in that dress.

    Yes, apparently the cake was (none / 0) (#54)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 09:50:52 PM EST
    by Lulu's from Scarsdale and all vegan. I read Chelsea is a vegan and allergic to gluten. But there was also organic grass raised beef at the wedding. (At least I think I remember that's the kind of beef it was)

    Parent
    I guess Chelsea won't be (none / 0) (#55)
    by shoephone on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 09:56:03 PM EST
    eating the brisket at Seder dinner!

    On a more serious note, it seems a lot of people are allergic to gluten.

    Parent

    It's a tiny, nondescript bakery (none / 0) (#56)
    by byteb on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 10:57:56 PM EST
    on a quiet nondescript street in Scarsdale. I think 15 ppl might be able to fit into it but the cookies and cupcakes are just about perfect...better than homemade b/c everything is organic and fresh.
    My daughter is about to graduate college and I think a Lulu's cake might be in her future. :)

    Parent
    Here's the scoop. Not Lulu's. (none / 0) (#60)
    by Angel on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 09:29:51 AM EST
    The reception was catered by the St. Regis Hotel (the rehearsal dinner by Blue Ribbon Restaurants). La Tulipe Desserts made the gluten-free wedding cake.

    Parent
    Just beautiful! (5.00 / 4) (#35)
    by NYShooter on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:19:10 PM EST
    Still pictures are rarely flattering; when I saw the "movie" of Hillary getting out the car last night, she looke simply gorgeous. The dress flowed in the breeze, her smile radiated, she looked like she couldn't be any happier.

    Kinda weird feeling, sitting here, less than 10 minutes away from all that hoopla.

    Anyway, This is your day, Hil & Bill; and nothing but happiness for you, Chelsie.

    You all earned it, and deserve it.

    Agree entirely (none / 0) (#43)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 04:53:00 PM EST
    I also think it's a wee bit too long, but otherwise looks great on her in motion-- and that's a dress that's always in motion.  I was surprised the still pix looked so bad.

    Parent
    Here's the short video (none / 0) (#58)
    by ding7777 on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 07:07:12 AM EST
    of Hillary's flowing dress

    video

    Parent

    OMG she looks so beautiful. Thanks for (none / 0) (#59)
    by Angel on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 08:27:52 AM EST
    sharing that video.

    Parent
    Thanks - yes, lovely in movement! (none / 0) (#62)
    by Untold Story on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 03:26:34 PM EST
    I hope they have a wonderful day and (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by Anne on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 04:07:59 PM EST
    a happy and fulfilling life together.

    As for what it's costing, we all probably spend more than we should on our daughters' weddings, but so what?  Yes, it's only one day, but when it's a day you have dreamed of, spent many moments planning in your imagination, why shouldn't it be everything you hoped it would be?

    And there's a reason they call it the wedding "industry:" all of the money spent represents jobs, and not just in the locality where the wedding is being held.  Everyone has to travel, has to outfit themselves, stay in a hotel, eat meals, buy a wedding gift (and probably an engagement gift, shower gifts, hostess gift), etc.  

    From my perspective, having put on one wedding so far: the food, the flowers and the photographs are things you don't want to do on the cheap.  People remember the food, flowers add so much to the ambiance, and great photos will take you back to the event for years to come.

    I wish them all the best (and as long as the mother of the bride feels beautiful in what she's wearing, it doesn't much matter what everyone else thinks).

    To me, band is (none / 0) (#49)
    by BackFromOhio on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 05:47:31 PM EST
    most important.  Part of the cost of this wedding is the transportation, for which Bill & Hillary are paying evidently.  

    Parent
    I like the dress (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by CST on Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 09:25:06 AM EST
    I think the still pictures look fine.  But I've always had a soft spot for green dresses - since I'm almost a redhead, that's my color.

    I really don't care how much the wedding cost.  Honestly, I don't expect rich people to pretend to be poor.  Frankly, the more they spent on the wedding the better for the overall economy and everyone else.  While everyone else is tightening their belts we should be encouraging rich people to spend spend spend.  Is it out of touch?  Yea, but who cares, it's to the benefit of all of us to get money flowing in the economy again.

    I have to wonder if the "reports" on (none / 0) (#64)
    by nycstray on Mon Aug 02, 2010 at 11:50:01 AM EST
    the spending are 'slightly' inflated . . .  after all, all those high profile people that were supposedly invited weren't there, it was mostly 20-30 somethings (aka as their friends!) :)

    I do agree that the rich should be spending. Think of the wait staff etc that got to pick up some hours etc on Sat . . .

    Parent

    Am I the only one a bit (none / 0) (#6)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:43:38 PM EST
    puzzled over the invite to John Major?  Ex Tory PM?

    And neither Al nor Tipper Gore were invited either, apparently.   Hmm ...

    I'm also a little cranky on Bill's behalf for the whopping $3-5mill this one is going to cost.  Fine if you're in the LeBron/Kobe/BP CEO income range, but last I checked, Bill is only a mere mortal on the millionaire scale.  Will he have to write another book/memoir to pay this one off?

    Otherwise, I wish the couple well and hope it works out better than mine did -- though we did manage to avoid spending millions for a wedding.

    He has one daughter (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:50:13 PM EST
    One child.....he can spend all of his money on it if he wants to my opinion.  And job creation for caterers :)

    Parent
    For sure, being a doting dad (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:58:33 PM EST
    and his only child and all.  Whatever she wants is the rule on these occasions.

    And Bill can probably make the money back fairly quickly.

    I think I'm just trying to get at the fact that this affair seems awfully pricey nonetheless.  Obviously a small issue there for me.  YAMMV of course.

    Parent

    Maybe the bridal couple is either picking up (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:12:07 PM EST
    the tab or kicking in.  Don't they both work on Wall Street?  Full employment section, with bonuses.

    Parent
    The doting dad (and mom) (none / 0) (#28)
    by christinep on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:45:20 PM EST
    Agree MT. Good for them. They look happy, very genuinely and unabashedly and beaming happy. I'm happy for them as well. Cheers! Salut! Na zdorovie!

    Parent
    The Press just makes stuff up.....example 28422987 (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by trillian on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:10:48 PM EST
    How much will Chelsea's wedding cost?

    RHINEBECK, N.Y. -- A longtime Clinton family friend is denying that the cost of Chelsea Clinton's wedding tomorrow in Rhinebeck will be more than $1 million.

    The friend spoke on condition of anonymity, because of the family's desire for privacy, but said the cost of the wedding won't exceed six figures....



    Parent
    That news item sounds (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:54:23 PM EST
    much closer to the truth -- six figures rather than millions.  Feeling quite pleased with myself that I brought up the price angle and before finding out the 3d-party estimates may be all out of whack.

    Not the best of times, in the optics sense of the overall politics of it, to be dishing out $3-5 mill on the exchange of vows, no matter how wonderful everyone feels about Chelsea and her beau.  I don't think that even the Lord family of The Philadelphia Story fame spent anything close to those high estimates.  

    Parent

    I can't help but wonder how much of the high cost (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by esmense on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 06:37:12 PM EST
    being reported is related to security issues? In a world where middle class people plan "destination" weddings and a couple of thou is, apparently, considered by many to be on the low end for a wedding dress, any wedding with this many guests to feed and accomodate, that takes place in any venue other than a family member's backyard, Church basement or the local Elks Club or Knights of Columbus Hall, is likely to be pricey. But, in this case, there must be a lot of additional and costly expenses that even quite wealthy and very spendy private citizens don't have to factor into the cost of their only child's wedding.

    Parent
    About the $$ cost (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by christinep on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:39:45 PM EST
    Obviously, at this point, noone other than the families involved know the cost...at all. Based on everything I've read, it seems to be pulled out of the air (or somewhere else)to justify speculation repackaged by the supposed MSM each day. Frankly, they can spend whatever they want. They deserve the happiness. And, I do not begrudge the bride, groom, and the Clintons their special of special days.

    Parent
    Yes. Pretty amazing that people (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by Joan in VA on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 04:46:07 PM EST
    complain about the lying MSM day in and day out yet have swallowed this 3-5 million sensational speculation whole. Are the Clintons known as high rollers who flaunt their wealth? Is Chelsea now some ostentatious attention-wh*re after being a privacy-seeking regular person all these years? Whatever the expense turns out to be, it will be due to the large number of guests because of who they are-not because it's some crass, inappropriate display of money. Sheesh.

    Parent
    The Clintons are worth approx $100M (5.00 / 4) (#44)
    by Untold Story on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 05:14:00 PM EST
    and Bill makes $8-$10M per year on speaking engagements - why is anyone worried about what they are spending on the wedding?

    Wasn't he Governor when Chelsea was born?  She has been in the public eye all of her life - and not one misstep all that time.  Wow!  They are proud parents indeed.

    Parent

    Very good post. You are so (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by hairspray on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 05:50:56 PM EST
    right.  The Clintons were always low key and eschewed the Washington cocktail/high living circuit to the consternation of the Bradlee/Quinn
    bunch.  They were so outraged by the Clintons lack of "style" that they skewered them endlessly and to this day as well.  Hilllary and Bill look wonderful and can be proud of the beautiful young woman their daughter became.  There is something to be said for staying power.

    Parent
    And you said it. Thanks! (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by christinep on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 08:08:23 PM EST
    Yeah, they had them pegged as the (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by Angel on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 09:18:06 PM EST
    "hicks from the sticks." They sure showed them, huh?  Congratulations to Chelsea, her husband, and both families.

    Parent
    Politics (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:54:05 PM EST
    And the millions spent will return tenfold, imo.  Fundraising doesn't mitigate the joy and generosity heaped on their beloved daughter..

    Parent
    The menu seems to be all in vogue fare (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 01:48:35 PM EST
    But I'm sure it is very well done and presented.  My Aunt made me Croque Monsieur when I visited her in C Springs in January.  It is baked ham and cheese (though very good cheese and ham) slathered in Mornay sauce at just the right point of crispness.  She said it was a spruced up ham and cheese sandwhich but it was very very good.

    "Yes-we-clam" (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by scribe on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:43:45 PM EST
    Sounds good.

    Parent
    I can't believe all the stuff on this (none / 0) (#32)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:05:34 PM EST
    menu that has arugula in it.  I planted a mesclun bed three years ago, and arugula never dies in Alabama.  I had it coming out of my ears a year later all over the place.  In frustration  I pulled all of it up I could find, now it is all gone....and there's arugula pesto now.  I am not creative with food, only reactive.

    Parent
    It's called "trendy" (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by scribe on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 05:21:16 PM EST
    Twenty years ago, you couldn't give away arugula.  "Too bitter".  "Too red".  "Too exotic".

    I'm waiting for dandelion greens with hot bacon dressing to come back.  When that happens, people won't be able to find a dandelion in their yards for love or money.  Haven't you noticed how zucchini are seemingly scarcer (and definitely more expensive) since they became popular?  Back in the 70s, you had to explain to people what they were and how to cook them, when you tried to palm them off.  A neighbor up the street has a pair of apricot trees and for the last two weeks everyone in the neighborhood has been getting their fill of them and he still has to rake them up.  Meanwhile, they're quite expensive in the stores.

    Parent

    Judging from these pix, (none / 0) (#13)
    by brodie on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:01:47 PM EST
    it looks like Bill did lose those 15 lbs Chelsea insisted he drop.

    Hillary doesn't look bad either.

    one report said (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:20:27 PM EST
    he lost 20, 5 more than she asked, by cutting out junk food.

    Parent
    Looks like he did the ... (none / 0) (#29)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:53:39 PM EST
    old movie star trick.  Drop all salt from your diet about a week before an event.  You quickly lose a bunch of "water weight" and look like you've lost more than you have.

    Parent
    I don't care for that particular dress on her. (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:10:04 PM EST
    Too long and flowy for her height, IMO.  

    The dress (craftan) would have come off better, (none / 0) (#22)
    by Untold Story on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:25:51 PM EST
    imo, modified.  

    Less flow, and a little shorter, with her wearing sandals (not black shoes and what looks like white socks!).  

    However, overall she looks great, tanned, relaxed and happy.  She is not a fashion figure in any sense of the word, but she gets an A for effort.

    Parent

    Love Rhinebeck, NY. (none / 0) (#18)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:13:09 PM EST


    My guess is... (none / 0) (#23)
    by desertswine on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:31:05 PM EST
    that they're not going to the Catskills for the honeymoon.

    Will she remain a 'Clinton'? (none / 0) (#25)
    by Untold Story on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:42:44 PM EST


    And will she convert to Judaism? (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 02:44:59 PM EST
    Inquiring minds want to know (none / 0) (#34)
    by jbindc on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:18:50 PM EST
    Link

    Rabbi Miller said he's heard that there will be a rabbi and a Methodist minister co-officiating at the wedding today of Clinton and Mezvinsky.

    But Miller added that: "What matters more than the Mezvinsky's Jewish heritage and the Clinton's mixed religious background is whether this couple will be able to live life together, share happy moments, raise moral children, weather difficult storms, and make each other laugh. I'm a Conservative rabbi forbidden by the Rabbinical Assembly, of which I'm a member, to officiate at Chelsea's interfaith wedding. But I'm not blind to this new reality. The borders are much blurrier than they once were and more religionists are opening their eyes to this new reality."



    Parent
    Hyphen (none / 0) (#33)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:17:53 PM EST
    Or, perhaps, Clininsky! (none / 0) (#39)
    by Untold Story on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:28:26 PM EST
    I like Mezvinton (none / 0) (#61)
    by Peter G on Sun Aug 01, 2010 at 01:29:24 PM EST
    better.  My wife's family and mine have called us by a similar mash-up joke family name for the 34 years we've been married with separate surnames.

    Parent
    I like her in green (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 03:28:13 PM EST


    If you wanted to get an idea (none / 0) (#48)
    by Anne on Sat Jul 31, 2010 at 05:28:56 PM EST
    of how much of an industry this is, there are a whole collection of shows on - of course - the Wedding Channel that will bring that concept home in a lasting way.

    Anyone who thinks the Clinton wedding is out of the ordinary need only watch a couple episodes of "Platinum Weddings," to understand that it isn't, at all.