Chelsea Clinton to Dad: Back Off Bill, It's My Wedding!

By Rob Shuter Posted Jul 29th 2010 09:00AM

With all the excitement mounting around Chelsea Clinton's upcoming wedding this weekend (July 31) to Marc Mevinsky, no one is more excited than her proud papa, Bill. Some say he's maybe a little too excited.

"What daddy wouldn't be on cloud nine about his only daughter's upcoming wedding," a Clinton family friend tells me. "The only problem is that when your father is ex-President Bill, a man with a healthy ego, everything starts to become about him."

Sources tell me Chelsea has been gently reminding her larger-than-life father that she wants the day to be on the low-key side, surrounded by her family and dear friends, rather than a huge event filled with Hollywood celebrities and people she hardly knows.

"The guest list is already up to over 400 people, way more than Chelsea originally wanted," a political insider tells me. "If Chelsea hoped this would be a low-key affair, she can think again. However, the good news is that her mom's boss, President Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle have not been invited. Neither have friends of her father's, like Barbra Streisand, Stephen Spielberg and Oprah, that had all been rumored to attend.

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Chelsea's Big Day

Clinton Fever has infected the town of Rhinebeck, New York with only days remaining before former first daughter Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky tie the knot. More Pics of the Madness >>

AFP/Getty Images

AFP

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

A bottle of Clinton Vineyards white wine is display at the Wines & Liquors shop on July 28, 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are to be married July 31in Rhinebeck. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Balloons with a wedding theme are displayed outside a shop on July 28, 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are to be married July 31in Rhinebeck. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

A painting by Diana Huff depicting Chelsea Clinton's upcoming marriage to Marc Mezvinsky is displayed at the Wing & Clover shop on East Market Street on July 28, 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are to be married July 31 in Rhinebeck. AFP PHOTO / Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Astor Courts is seen in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Chelsea Clinton plans to marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Astor Courts is seen on the Hudson River near the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Chelsea Clinton plans to marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Astor Courts is seen in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Chelsea Clinton plans to marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Astor Courts is seen in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Chelsea Clinton plans to marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Astor Courts is seen in Rhinebeck, N.Y., on Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Chelsea Clinton plans to marry fiance Marc Mezvinsky at Astor Courts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

A man walks on East Market Street in Rhinebeck, N.Y., where a sign hangs congratulating Chelsea Clinton and fiance Marc Mezvinsky Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Clinton and Mezvinsky plan to marry in the upstate New York village of Rhinebeck on Saturday. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

Residents and journalists on East Market Street, July 28, 2010 in Rhinebeck, New York. Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky are to be married July 31in Rhinebeck. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)

Chelsea Clinton Snapshots

"Chelsea is insisting that no one be given the location yet, all guests know is it is within driving distance of NYC."

As you'd expect, Chelsea's soon-to-be father-in-law is among those keeping their lips sealed on just about every aspect of the nuptials. Ed Mezvinskiy tells Inside Edition he's a "proud papa," but when asked to spill some beans he said: "The guidelines are we don't talk about the wedding, we just enjoy each other."

This won't be the first celebrity (or political for that matter) wedding shrouded in secrecy. John F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the 35th president, kept guests guessing to the very end in 1996, while Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were so secretive about their 'I do's' in 2004 that their guests thought they were arriving for a backyard BBQ instead of a wedding. And most famously, Beyonce and Jay Z were so concerned about leaks, they didn't trust caterers and cooked most of the food themselves. Still, most Rhineback residents think they know what is cooking right in their backyard.

Jeffrey Gardere, psychologist and host of VH1's 'Dad Camp,' tells me, "I would have to say that President Clinton is so used to being the center of attention it is possible that it may be hard for him to share the spotlight. He needs to take a deep breath, step back and realize that the spotlight should be on Chelsea. He should be content in knowing that whatever publicity Chelsea receives only benefits he and his family. This is evidenced by the way that he supported Hillary for President and then for Secretary of State."

Matt Titus, author of 'Why Hasn't He Called,' and founder of AskMattandTamsen.com, is a little more harsh, telling me, "Bill's involvement in his daughter's wedding has nothing to do with him being a dad, but everything to do with him being a world-class narcissist. It's always about Bill."

Ouch, however Matt does have advice for the former commander-in-chief, "The intention of most fathers of the bride on their daughter's wedding day is to celebrate the fact that his little girl has found true love. Bill's only job that day is to beam with pride as he walks Chelsea down the aisle and, of course, pay the bill."

Over the weekend, Chelsea was seen paying a visit to Vera Wang with her mother (who will be wearing Oscar de la Renta!). So now that the location, guest list, flowers and dress are all in place, all Chelsea has to worry about is her father remembering it's her special day, not his.

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Tags: Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton

Comments

(30)

Thursday 29 July

By csi8299

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I guess if Daddy's paying then Daddy gets to invite the "A" list and Chelsea should just deal with it. I always said Bill Clinton was a narcissist and now we have proof.

By mslyn

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Oh, don't be so hard on Bill, he wouldn't spoil his baby girl's big day for all the tea in China!!! Watch, he's gonna suprise us all!

By Joe

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Who cares????

By Cathy Bohen

This has nothing to do with narcissisom and everything to do with pride.........My husband and I gave my daughter a most beautiful wedding with family and friends...not only hers but ours. It is a day every parent wants to share with all friends
Chelsea is certainly lucky that her Dad loves her enough to want to do that for her and didn't tell her to elope because he didn't want to be bothered. The media, yet again, needs to mind its own business!

By Donna

I think "Daddy" is just so very proud, not only of his role as a Father, but how his daughter turned out, and he has every right to be so excited. What daughter wouldn't want her Father wanting to talk about the wedding, Chelsea should count her lucky stars, most Fathers don't even want to be bothered, they just show up and pay the bills, and I am not saying they don't care, they just don't want the involvement in planning. So what if a few of the parents friends are invited, Chelsea should realize who her parents are, and his parents are, and let them have a few really close friends who might not be hers there, after all they are footing an enormous bill, and I don't really think she actually thought she could have a small wedding (and by small I mean under 300). Everyone is simply being too hard on a very loving and proud Father, he has always been that way about his little girl, and I hope she knows that many many girls would give anything to have a Father like she has, and I don't mean being past President, I mean attentive and loving and there for her always.

By Jessie

Thank you for that lovely reply ... I could not agree with you more.

Chelsea has great parents, in that they are the "forgive and forget" sort of people that most us aspire to be.

By sskepticall

What a ridiculous, speculative article. What in the world has Bill Clinton done in the course of the planning of this wedding to deserve the criticism of him. He hasn't done anything. Sources have told him that Chelsea gently reminded him that she wants a low key wedding surrounded by dear friends. Well if the new measurement of "dear friends" is how many twitter followers you have she is still on the low side. Seriously - if she had said she wanted a small wedding, she would have a small wedding. Maybe she didn' say that but it is a convenient story for blaming her father (and mother by extension) that they are in control. I hate so called reporters saying they have sources. Anyone can say anything as long as they are not named. Today's version of reporters can use that cover to make a story.

Is this what I am paying AOL to have as news stories? I'm not too interested in continuing this paid relationship. I would read these stories if they didn't insult my intelligence.

One more thing...nice headline....but another example of bad journalism dung.

By Big G

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WHAT A JOKE....

By Diana

Chelsea should feel lucky her father cares if she gets a wedding or not. I know of woman who never got to walk down any aisle, because the family didnt want to foot the bill. Even for a very small wedding. I hope her day goes great for her, and all the others involved.

By peter

larger than life bill clinton you say. i need a microscope to see the guy. idiotic

By AtlantaLady

I don't think people, who don't even KNOW him, give Bill enough credit for being a decent guy and a good father. I don't think he's a narcissist. If he was, I don't think Chelsea would feel so close to him, as she obviously does and always has. Bill is a lot of things, but not a jerk, certainly not with his own child.

By Older Generation

Chelsea who? Let's just all move on. We have enough problems to deal with these days.

By Lisa

Seriously doubt that Chelsea thinks so little of her father that she would say something as ludicrous as your headline - the media sucks.

Enjoy your day Chelsea - I am sure it will be a spectacular one!

By the_fool

Back off?! This whole thing is for show. She should worry about her mother campaigning for President. Bill will just suck up the attention any way he can get it. Ideally Chelsea should have struck a deal. Look you were going to spend 3 to 5 million. I'll take 2.5 million, we'll have a small Wedding and we'll call it even.

By Angiebaby

If my father were here and he wanted to throw me a multi-million dollar party, I think I'd let him invite a few of his friends. Seriously.

By Tess

It's Rhinebeck not Rhineback.

By Cathy

if it's HER wedding, is she paying for it? seems to be ownership belongs to who is paying.

and I am sure the headline of this article is totally made up by the writer!

By buddy

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bills saying i cant belive this ulgy skank is my daughter im going home to punch hillery in the mouth

By Joyce

For Pete's sake Bill is the proud father of the bride & his excitement is showing. He & Chelsea have always been very close. She knows very well how to put him in his place. Every child should be so lucky to have a father who loves him/her so much. Many don't even know who his/her father is.
Let them all enjoy the day in peace. It is a very special time.

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