Modern weddings a social conundrum
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Sneaking into Vera Wang's bridal shop. Restricted airspace over Rhinebeck, N.Y. Closed-mouthed caterers, florists and photographers.
And unhappy friends who just can't understand why they weren't invited.
The secrecy surrounding Chelsea Clinton's wedding on Saturday is pretty tight, but one thing is certain: in this age of Facebook and Twitter, hurt feelings about the guest list are almost going to be inevitable, whether you're Bill Clinton's famous daughter or Jessica Bracken of the North Side.
The Clintons, ever diplomatic, announced that every one of the 400 or so invitees to what's likely to be the biggest social event of the year -- at an estimated cost of more than $3 million -- would be personally acquainted with Ms. Clinton, 30, or her fiance, Marc Mezvinsky, 32.
Even the Obamas are not invited.
A veteran political consultant who worked on the Clinton re-election campaign in 1996 has told The New York Times that "either you are a friend or you're not, and friends are defined at different levels."
Another longtime acquaintance noted many "noses are out of joint" from being left off the guest list.
The rich and powerful are not the only ones who agonize over invitation lists. With the way many 20- and 30-somethings spread every detail of their lives on Facebook and Twitter these days, every "friend" may expect to be included in the Big Day.
Ms. Bracken, 27, and Chris Franceshina, 26, were vacationing with friends in Greece when he popped the question. The groom-to-be changed their Facebook statuses to "engaged" that day.
"He caught me off guard," said Ms. Bracken, who works for an asset management company in Pittsburgh. "I hadn't even told my [future] bridesmaids yet."
Ms. Bracken said she tries to be discreet about posting details to her Facebook page for several reasons. First, she said, she treasures her privacy. Second, it's impolite to flaunt details of a big party that a relative few will be asked to attend next April.
First Published July 30, 2010 12:00 am
