RHINEBECK, N.Y. – Nevermind that the details of Chelsea Clinton’s wedding are being guarded like state secrets. The postcard-pretty town of Rhinebeck is ready for its close-up.
The former first daughter and her parents have not even confirmed that her wedding is being held in Rhinebeck. Still, signs congratulating her hang in shop windows, residents are talking to TV crews, and officials are bracing for crowds.
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Clinton, 30, will wed investment banker Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday, and this little Hudson Valley town of upscale boutiques and pricey homes north of New York City is expecting an influx of A-List guests, reporters and rubber-neckers.
It’s all but certain that the couple will wed Saturday evening at Astor Courts, a secluded estate along the Hudson River built as a Beaux Arts style playground for John Jacob Astor IV more than a century ago. The estate features the sort of commanding view that once inspired Hudson River School painters, as well as 50 acres of buffer space to shield the party from prying eyes.
The spot is a bit more than an hour’s drive north of Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s home in Chappaqua and about 90 miles north of New York City.
The Clintons — and the Mezvinskys — have been Sphinxes when it comes to wedding details. The cone of silence appears also to cover contractors, who are as reluctant to talk about their dealings with the Clintons as characters in Harry Potter books are about uttering Voldemort’s name.
The agent at the front desk of the Beekman Arms, which reportedly will put up wedding guests, politely said Wednesday he could not comment on anything related to the weekend. The story was the same at nearby Clinton Vineyards — unrelated to the former president — which has in the past bottled special “Victory White” wines for the Clintons during their political campaigns.
“We’ve been inundated with so many requests,” said Rita Flood, who works at the vineyards.
The silence has hardly stopped the media. The gossip website TMZ reported that the couple’s wedding playlist includes Abba’s “Dancing Queen.” Wedding planners not involved in the ceremony have quoted cost estimates as high as $5 million. Two Norwegian journalists were arrested last week for trespassing at Astor Courts.
On Wednesday, locals shared the sidewalks with camera crews conducting interviews. People were generally supportive, whether it was merchants expecting a boost in business or residents caught up in the buzz.
“We’re excited, and we’re respecting their privacy as much as we can,” Julie Turpin said.
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