Chelsea Clinton's Wedding: All Your Burning Questions, Answered [UPDATE]

(July 22) -- As you may have heard, Chelsea Clinton, 30, a Columbia University School of Public Health alumna (better known as the only child of a certain power couple), is set to marry 32-year-old Goldman Sachs investment banker Marc Mezvinsky on July 31. Though the wedding was supposed to be a hush-hush affair, the media have had other ideas. Here's what we know so far:

How did Clinton and Mezvinsky meet?
Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky have known each other for 14 years. The then 16-year-old Clinton and 18-year-old Mezvinsky met at a Young Democrats retreat. Both chose Stanford University and studied history. Finally, in 2005, they crossed the friendship line, the New York Post reported. Mezvinsky popped the question on Thanksgiving Day in New York, where they reside. Friends and family found out via e-mail.

Who are the parents?
Chelsea's, you've obviously heard of. Marc Mezvinsky is one of 10 children of former Iowa congressman and convicted felon Edward Mezvinsky (for wire and bank fraud) and former NBC reporter and congresswoman Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky. The Clintons and Mezvinskys have been longtime friends.

Where is the wedding taking place?
The small Hudson River town of Rhinebeck, two hours north of New York City. The ceremony is rumored to be taking place at the Astor Courts estate, an early-1900s Beaux-Arts mansion originally built for millionaire businessman John Jacob Astor IV. The current owners are real estate developer Arthur Seelbinder and wife Kathleen Hammer, who bought the home in 2005 for $3.2 million. Some guests may be bunking at Rhinebeck's historic Beekman Arms Inn, whose owner told the New York Daily News that his property was completely booked for the big weekend.

The choice of venue was bad news for at least one other bride-to-be, Brooklyn teacher Emn Haddad-Friedman, who has jokingly complained that the former first daughter has created a logistical nightmare for her own nuptials. Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley News, which has been dogged in its pursuit of wedding details, reports that presents for the couple are now flowing into the town.

How much is all this going to cost?
Although Rhinebeck residents aren't talking, they are very serious about the wedding party paying up for more security. On Monday, the Rhinebeck Town Council approved another $2,500 for extra police coverage.

ABC News breaks down some of the affair's costs:

Catering: $750,000
Flowers: $250,000
Music: $40,000
Wedding Dress: $15,000
Photography: $35,000
Video: $25,000
Lighting: $75,000 to $100,000
Hair and Makeup: $20,000
Invitations: $40,000 to $50,000
Party Planner: $175,000
Rehearsal Dinner: $250,000
Security: $30,000
Miscellaneous: $50,000 (valet parking, wedding cake, welcome gifts, favors and anything else that's been forgotten)

Who's the wedding planner?
Bostonian Bryan Rafanelli. He's done events for Hillary Rodham Clinton and produced inaugural balls for President Barack Obama, The New York Times reports. Find out more about Rafanelli.

Who will officiate the wedding?
Since Clinton is Christian and Mezvinsky is Jewish, they could be married by a minister, a rabbi or both, or have no religious officiates. The Clintons attended Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., during Bill Clinton's presidency, and Mezvinsky's parents used to go to Har Zion Temple, a conservative Jewish synagogue in Pennsylvania. There have been no confirmed reports of clergy from either congregations doing the honors.

Following traditional Jewish law, weddings are forbidden on the Jewish Sabbath, which lasts from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday. But certain rabbis may be willing to officiate during the Sabbath. This will depend on how traditionally Jewish the Mezvinsky family is.

What kind of dress is Chelsea wearing?
The gown was initially rumored to be Oscar de la Renta, but a source told InStyle in June that Vera Wang was designing a dress for the bride-to-be.

WWDEyeScoop reported that on Tuesday, Chelsea and secret service agents met up with mother of the bride-to-be at a Vera Wang shop. The word is Wang will be designing the bridesmaids' and flower girls' dresses. Meanwhile, Oscar de la Renta may still be in the running for some part in the wedding. On the same day, Hillary Clinton went to his Seventh Avenue showroom.

Keeping with the hush-hush policy, both designers declined to comment.

Who's on the guest list?
It's rumored to be 500 names long and includes plenty of A-listers, including Steven Spielberg, former Clinton adviser Harold Ickes, Clinton money man Terry McAuliffe and former British Prime Minister John Major. Al Gore won't be attending, London's Daily Mail says. According to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, President Barack Obama will not be attending.

Gawker and Human Events report that Oprah Winfrey, Ted Turner, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Barbra Streisand were never invited. Gawker adds that the Hudson Valley News was the misinformed popular source for every news outlet keeping tabs on the Clinton wedding.

AOL AisleDash also came up with a possible seating chart.

What are the party favors?
The Paper Trail, a retailer of paper goods, jewelry and gifts, is putting together 310 favor takeaways, The Daily Beast reports. Goodie bags will contain Rhinebeck Farmers' Market paper calendars and orange tote bags with woodcut honeybee prints; a Wall Street Journal article stated that guests will also receive bottles of local Clinton Vineyards wine.

Who's catering the event?
According to the Beast, the rehearsal dinner will be catered by Terrapin Restaurant owner and chef Josh Kroner and held at Grasmere, "a Revolutionary War-era private estate on 525 acres of farmland. The signature dish will be horseradish-encrusted Ahi tuna with miso aioli." Food duties for the reception, according to The Wall Street Journal, will be split by Blue Ribbon Restaurants, St. Regis Hotels and Resorts and Olivier Cheng Catering and Events.

USA TODAY, Ecorazzi and Life and Style magazine are spreading the word that the menu will have vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes -- including grass-fed organic beef.

Who's the florist?
AOL's AisleDash has heard that Jeff Leatham will be doing flowers and decor. Boston's Winston Flowers, a frequent Rafanelli collaborator, may also have a hand in some of the arrangements.

What about the cake and libations?
Chelsea's gluten allergy complicates things. More from AisleDash: "Calls to three top bakers in New York state, including family favorite Lulu's in Scarsdale, have not confirmed who will be making the couple's wedding cake, but a gluten-free cake is sure to be on the wedding menu."

The bride-to-be was recently seen at a winery called Clinton Vineyards. News media report wine from this winery will be served at the event.

What sort of gifts can Chelsea and Mark expect?
During Secretary of State Clinton's visit to Hanoi, she was handed two wedding presents from the Vietnamese government: a white tablecloth and a gemstone mosaic portrait of her with Chelsea during their 2000 visit to the country, USA Today reported.

Where's the honeymoon?
Those plans, at least, are still a complete mystery.


RELATED
Chelsea Clinton Wedding Calls For Air-Tight Security